Is There a Relation Between Spirituality and Fitness?
This has been something I’ve wondered for a while, and I’ve recently have been studying to find the answer to this question. I think it’s safe to say that America has a bit of a weight problem. Here’s some stats from the Center for Disease Control Prevention:
During the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. In 2008, only one state (Colorado) had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-two states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; six of these states (Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia ) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%. (*see graph below)
above photo by sirwiseowl
I think it’s safe to say that we all know the general health concerns with obesity: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain types of cancer, etc. But do you think that physical fitness has an effect on spiritual well-being? Maybe I can talk about this because I’m a “skinny guy”, but according to my Wii Fit, I’m precariously close to falling into the “Overweight” category.
As Christians we believe that the body is simply a vessel to house the spirit, but is there a relation to health of the body to the health of the spirit? Does exercise, healthy eating (*I write this as I chow down on a doughnut), or physical fitness help in developing a happier or better spirit? What do you think?
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If the body is a temple and we put in a lot of food that isn't bad for us, I think there's case to be made that we're polluting it.
I've been more active in fitness in the past year and a half than I ever have in my life and I've never felt better, slept better, or been on top of things as much as I am now. I'm not saying this is developing a better spirit, but it certainly doesn't hurt it.
ok, and I'm honestly asking, would you say that your 'spiritual life' or 'walk with God' has improved, decreased, or remained the same when comparing an active in fitness type life vs. before when you weren't exercising as much?
I had to think about this for a while. I can't say that fitness directly correlates with improving my walk with God (Christianese, amiright?), but it has made me more critical about choices I make regarding my body.
It's instigated me thinking about how we were designed and what we were meant to consume versus the things we ultimately do to ourselves. This isn't limited to food either. I see it as habits such as slothfulness, how I view accomplishing work (professionally and things related to responsibility), and so on.
And lemme be clear: I don't eat as healthy as I should. I don't like veggies, but I'm doing what I can to eat more of them. I cut out fast food and carbonated beverages a long time ago (now I only allow myself to indulge a little on the weekends).
I'm just saying that fitness has lead me to be more considerate of my body being not my own (as weird as that may sound).
I read the other day that in 2020 8-10 English men will be obese. Now I do not know if they are talking about England or what not, but I am sure America is right there with them.
This is a bigger problem then smoking I think. In the church we have always condemned those who smoke and drink alcohol while we stuffed our faces with food.
Seems like the same thing to me.
If you go to the link of Center for Disease Control Prevention , there's a animated (and scary) map that shows the United States obesity prevalence from 1985 through 2008. I can believe given the course that we're headed that in 2020, 8-10 men will be obese.
I agree in the church, we often condemn smoking and drinking due to health concerns, but not much is said about gluttony – despite the scriptural verses condemning it (Philippians 3:19, Jude 1:12, Proverbs 23:2-3 to name a few), and that it has been suggested that obesity can be just as physically harmful if not more than smoking. (http://goo.gl/5hSI)
Why do you think you see more said against smoking & drinking in the church opposed to obesity (or an encouragement of healthy diet and exercise)?
Would you say that smoking & drinking require extra attention because of the social connotation of hypocrisy in Christianity; compared to gluttony, or other eating disorders that are not viewed as being as hypocritical to Christian living?
(sorry, just playing a little devil's advocate here)
This is definitely an interesting question. I believe we can sweep things under the rug because they are socially acceptable, but I used to be one (in my early twenties) who said that life was too short not to eat what I liked (i.e., very few vegetables and lots of meat). Then I had a revelation that my life is not my own and I’m a temple of the Holy Spirit. I need to take care of, being a good steward of, what God has given me. If I’m undisciplined in one area, I am more likely to be undisciplined in others. Different people have struggles in different areas, but I believe we have to bring everything under the Lordship of Jesus. There are lots of things I struggle with now more than food, but for some, this is the ultimate. I think it’s bigger than just obesity. We should go through the process to become yielded to Him in every single area.
By the way, my Wii Fit tells me I’m obese but that’s Body Mass Index and takes no account into muscle mass. I’m not skinny, but I’m not obese either. I just ignore that part and go on trying to live healthy.
"I used to be one (in my early twenties) who said that life was too short not to eat what I liked (i.e., very few vegetables and lots of meat" <– With that mentality, the first about life being too short quite possibly have been even more so
Your thoughts about discipline and yielding everything under the Lordship of Jesus are both very interesting and true. Great thoughts.
This may be a bit off topic but fat does not always equal glutton! Yes, sometimes people are fat because of food choices but other times people are overweight due to medications, illnesses, etc. Practically every medicine I have been prescribed as an adult has "weight gain" as a side effect.
I have known several individuals in my lifetime that would definitely qualify as gluttons but had no body fat. One in particular was a boyfriend who wanted desperately to be in the Navy but he was seriously underweight. His parents put him on a "diet" for several months which consisted of: absolutely NO work, high calorie meals and shakes while he lounged around, and when several months had passed, he had not gained a SINGLE POUND! Is he an exception to the rule? Probably? But if he can be an exception, then undoubtedly there are fat people that are exceptions as well (i.e. cannot lose weight no matter how hard they try). Who are we to judge?
Another point to consider when lumping alcohol, smoking, drugs, and food together as additions. No one has to drink alcohol/take recreational drugs/smoke cigarettes to live. Can you imagine how hard it would be for someone who truly has an addiction to food to be "cured" when they have to face their "demon" on a daily basis?
I totally agree with everything that you said. The problem with speaking in generalities is that you never get to discuss the exceptions to the rule. Thank you for bringing this up!
To clarify, some of this post stems from me putting on some newlywed weight and not working out as much, and noticing a correlation between that and my general happiness; which in turns (for me) affects my spiritual happiness. It may be the Winter months, lack of outdoor activity, or many other things that would cause myself to get bummed, but I was wondering if anyone else noticed a relation between their physical fitness and spiritual well-being.
Believe me, I'm not calling for the condemnation for every "fat" person, but was looking to bring to light and to question if we should be promoting (to a certain degree) physical fitness in the church. What do you think?
I would agree that you don't have to drink alcohol, do drugs, or smoke cigarettes to live, but I believe you would face that "demon" on a daily basis similar to a food addiction. I've spoken with addicts who have not touched whatever for years, and it is still a constant, daily battle. But, I do understand your point in that they aren't expected to smoke/drink/etc. a little everyday just to survive.
Thanks for the comment. Good thoughts!
Nice post Brett– glad I did my ab workout this morning.
It seems to me the weight problem can be paralleled to our spiritual lives. Both take discipline. And we sometimes ‘pay’ for the sins of the past in the future–i e consequences to sin…and there is a consequence to over eating in our younger days–bad habits are made for our adult life–and/or health problems.
Now my brother likes to quote “bodily exercise profiteth little” but even Paul noted it did profit–yet it seems to me that He was drawing a comparison to spiritual.
Some thoughts:
Quick fix diets do they work? (spiritual and physical)
Sometimes we have to learn an extreme truth before we will change
Do weight/spiritual problems point to a deficiency in our lives?
What about those skinny guys who eat donuts and don’t seemingly gain? Could there be an internal problem going on we cant see. Compare with someone who sins in a blatant way–but God doesn’t outright ‘judge’
Overall I decided to become a fitter version of myself. I feel better, look better&generally WANT to do right by myself physically
The same can be said of your spiritual life. When you are in the Word, being faithful, looking for God–you tend to look&feel better spiritually!
There's definitely a parallel between the two. (Paul talks a lot about the two: run the race, and discusses boxing, and wrestling) Some good thoughts to help grasp the idea of spirituality.