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Volume. XXXVIII, No. 67 Christian Perspective of Health and Fitness (Part 1) Introduction There is an inordinate concern for health and fitness recently in Singapore as many scramble to the gym or spa resort or, slimming centres for weight loss programmes or yoga and Pilates classes to keep themselves trim and fit. It is not wrong for one to be healthy and fit. 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." The New and Old Testament has "health" messages for God’s covenant people. The New Testament speaks of our body as the temple of the Holy Spirit and what is important within as well (Mark 7:18-23). We need clear minds and strong bodies to better serve God. What should Christians then focus on or avoid for certain? Let us consider what the Bible has to say about health and the Christian walk!
The Case for a Biblical Balance There is a need for proper biblical balance to all things. Some people focus entirely on their studies or work, to the neglect of their physical bodies. Others focus so much attention on the brawn, the form and shape of their physical bodies that they neglect God and spiritual growth, the word, prayer, Sabbath worship and maturity. Neither of these indicate a biblical balance. 1 Timothy 4:8 informs us, that physical training is of some value, but godliness has eternal value for all things, for both the present life and the life to come. Notice that the verse does not negate the need for exercise. Rather, it says that physical exercise is also valuable, but it prioritizes exercise correctly by saying that spiritual exercise in godliness is of greater value.
We are soberly reminded of 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in us, and we are not our own. We were bought with a price: therefore we are to glorify God in our bodies which are God's. We are to be good stewards too of our own bodies and not abuse it nor overly adorn it with seductive or unnecessary accessories as 1 Peter 3:4- advises all ladies, "Whose adorning let it not be that of outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
It is true that we need to be careful of what we eat, or drink. It is important for it affects our physical wellbeing. Eating healthily with a balanced diet of meat, fruits and vegetables for the necessary nutrients for the body is important. Consider the balanced diet in Ezekiel 4:9-10 which says. "Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and milet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof. And thy meat which thou shalt eat shalt be by weight, twenty shekels a day: from time to time shalt thou eat it."
The apostle Paul also mentions the metaphor of an athletic race and physical training in illustrating spiritual truth in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. He equates the Christian life to a race we run to "get the prize." But the prize we seek is an eternal crown that will not tarnish or fade. In 2 Timothy 2:5, Paul says, "And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. Paul uses an athletic analogy again in 2 Timothy 4:7. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith". While the focus of these Scriptures is not physical exercise, the fact that Paul uses athletic terminology to teach us spiritual truths indicates that Paul viewed physical exercise, and even edifying competition, in a positive light. We are both physical and spiritual beings. While the spiritual aspect of our being is, biblically speaking, more important, we are to neglect neither the spiritual or physical aspects of our health. Therefore, there is a duty for us to take care of our physical bodies with good regular cardiovascular exercise as well.
On other hand, there are some who are overly obsessed with their own fitness and health (i.e. 7 days a week in the gym to the neglect of worship, family and work) to the detriment of their spiritual lives. It can also be a selfish dream to show off one-self to others with a beautiful body and an escapist journey to run away from the reality of life and live in a utopian state of perfect health and fitness to the glorification of the flesh. This is dangerous and we need to be careful here.
Philippians 4:5 says. "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” More importantly than just physical fitness, let us cultivate the good character of the Spirit filled Christian as in Galatians 5:22-23 which says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Peter in 2 Peter 1:5-10 gives us a proper list of attributes to develop as well, "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall."
There is nothing wrong with a Christian exercising regularly to keep fit but do not be obsessed with it or do it to the neglect of God and His Word and Work (i.e. going to the gym for workout on Sunday morning instead of worshipping God on the Sabbath). In fact, the Bible is clear that we are to take good care of our bodies (1 Cor 6:19-20). At the same time, the Bible warns against vanity (1 Sam 16:7; Prov 31:30; 1 Pet 3:3- 4). Our goal in exercise should not be to improve the quality of our bodies so that other people will notice and admire us our external beauty, brawn or our sexuality. Rather, the goal of exercising should be to improve our physical health so we will possess more strength and physical energy that we can devote to spiritual goals to honour and serve the Lord with a healthy physical constitution.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:27 adds this good advice for us all in spiritual and physical discipline, "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." There is a proper place of physical and spiritual discipline as well in the Christian life that we do not fall into sin.
To be continued… By Rev Jack Sin |
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