Fitness, Health, and the Christian

We've all heard these statistics, but I'm going to put them out here in order to lead into our discussion. According to the Center for Disease Control, a stunning 34 percent of Americans over the age of 20 are obese, and another 34 percent over age 20 are overweight. Catch that? 68 percent of all Americans (as of 2008) are over a healthy weight. The impact to health care costs in 1998 (the most recent figures according to the CDC) is that medical expenses associated to obesity "accounted for 9.1 percent of total U.S. medical expenditures", reaching as much as "$78.5 billion." This is over a decade ago, and the problem has only gotten worse.

Now let's take these sobering numbers, and apply a spiritual lens to them. What are the obligations of the Christian to stay healthy, and to stay in shape? Sounds like an odd question, doesn't it? I would hazard to guess that the subject of physical fitness doesn't make it into too many sermons across modern day Christendom. Is there Biblical support for the notion that people of faith should take care of their mortal bodies? The answer is a clear, resounding "yes." But before we get too far into this discussion, let's state something as clear as possible: we're not going to eat our way into Heaven, and the number of pushups that we do has nothing to with our salvation. What we're discussing here is following Biblical guidance, guidance that has been given to humankind for our own good. But even more fundamental, we're going to see that living a healthy lifestyle is a question of obedience.

When Jesus walked the earth, He traveled throughout the Holy Land, preaching repentance and the Kingdom of God. But He spent just as much time, it would appear, curing physical ailments. When disciples of John the Baptist approached Jesus and asked if He was truly the Messiah, the Lord answered "Go and tell John again those things which you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel proclaimed to them." (Mat 11:4-5). The first half of His answer telling of how prophecy was being fulfilled dealt with curing broken bodies. Why would this be? The hallmark of Christianity has always been on the Eternal and not the carnal. Why should the state of our "earthly house" (2Cor 5:1) be of any consequence?

The answer is, if you are a Christian, your body isn't yours. Just as all of your possessions are God's, your body belongs to Him. And the way you treat your body is important to God.

Many are familiar with Paul's assertion that "Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God shall destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which you are." (1Co 3:16-17). And I think there is a tendency to understand "defiling" as "spiritual defiling," meaning that we are to keep ourselves pure spiritually. While that is certainly true, Paul makes it clear shortly after the above statement that he is also talking about our physical bodies. "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own, for you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." (1Co 6:19-20).

So, our bodies belong to God, every bit as much as our spirit. We need to take care of ourselves in order to live life fully and bring glory to God. In the same letter , Paul exhorts the Corinthians: "Therefore whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." So we can eat to the glory of God. Does that mean we simply pray over a plate of deep fried pig, with glasses of sugary soda, clogging our arteries as we do so, and we've brought glory to Him? Such prayers may be sincere thanks for the food, but the impact on health is unquestionable.

The apostle John writes "Beloved, in regard to all things I pray that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers." (3Jn 1:2). The gluttony and slothfulness that characterizes the modern age today is at odds with Biblical principles of moderation and healthy living.

Paul, in his first letter to Timothy, writes "bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable to all things" (1Ti 4:8) This shouldn't be taken as a snub to living a healthy lifestyle. In the English Standard Version, this is translated "for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way." His comment was simply to remind us that our motivations for anything is to strengthen our relationship with God.

The statistics from the CDC indicate that in many areas the Temple of God is being left in disrepair. As Christians, we understand that God has blessed us with life and abundance, and every day is a day to glorify His Name. Every week many give to God of our abundance in the form of tithes and offerings because we know that He owns all. If this is the case, we need to take better care of our tabernacle on this earth. It belongs to Him. He purchased it at a great price. Take care of it, and live the life He wants you to live.

Sources:

Center for Disease Control FASTSTATS Overweight Prevalence

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/overwt.htm

Center for Disease Control Obesity and Overweight for Professionals Economic Consequences

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/causes/economics.html