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FIT
JUSTIFICATION
Overeating and physical inactivity have been responsible for constituting what is referred to as the “obesity epidemic.” Obesity is one of the fastest growing health risks in western society and is one of the major causes of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, prostate, colon and rectum cancer, sleeping disorders, breathing problems, arthritis, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, and liver disease.
The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study indicated that over seven million adult Australians aged 25 years and over (60%) were overweight. Of these, over two million (21%) were obese. While many factors may influence an individual's weight, overweight and obesity is due mainly to an imbalance of energy intake from the diet and energy expenditure through physical activity.
Quite possibly, the most frequently disregarded sins in the church are those related to our physical health. Be it lack of self-control or discipline in the area of diet or physical fitness, or the over-indulgence and over-consumption of food (gluttony), the church is quick to condemn other sins that result from a lack of self-control and personal discipline, yet overeating and inactivity are like the proverbial elephant in the living room that everyone sees but no one talks about.
This relatively overlooked aspect of healthy Christian living emerges from a wrongful approach to, and interpretation of the Christian scriptures. One such scripture is found in the book of Timothy, which states “for physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Notice that the verse does not say that exercise has no value. It says that exercise is valuable, yet simply maintains the priority of godliness as of greater value. Verses such as these have wrongfully been interpreted as justification of a divine permission to recklessly neglect our physical health.
1 Corinthians 6:13 tells us our bodies are “for the Lord.” In verse 15 of the same chapter, Paul says, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?” Later, in verses 19 and 20, he said, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.” Our bodies are important, and it therefore follows that the health of our bodies is of paramount importance. Just as Jesus offered his body as a sacrifice for our sins, Paul tells us in Romans 12:1 to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.”
Eating right and having a healthy lifestyle is directly correlated to self-control, a theme that permeates the bible (2 Peter 1:5-7, 2 Timothy 3:1-9). Self-control is the translation of the Greek word “enkrateia,” which means “possessing power, strong, having mastery or possession of.” Another translation defines it as “holding in hand the passions and desires.” Self-control thus refers to the mastery of one’s desires and impulses and is described as one of the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Personified as one of the deadly sins, gluttony is referred to in scripture as the over-indulgence and over-consumption of food and the bible warns us against this type of conduct (Deuteronomy 21:20, Proverbs 23:2, 23:20-21, 28:7). Other sins of the flesh such as adultery, fornication, and drug abuse are clearly wrong. Yet all of them are perversions of things acceptable. Eating is one of the things God has created for us to both need and enjoy. When food is eaten in excess for the purpose of merely indulging the flesh, outside of the biblical purpose that God created it to be enjoyed in, then it becomes a sin.
From Atkins to South Beach, fast and easy weight-loss programs tend to be the goal of those seeking a new diet. But virtually every health expert agrees that the path to decent and lasting health lies not in the latest diet craze but in a permanent lifestyle change. The answer to losing weight and gaining fitness is to make small healthy changes to your eating and exercise habits. These changes should be things that you can maintain as part of your lifestyle – that way you will lose weight and keep it off. Eating a balanced diet and being active will usually put you in your healthy weight range.
Being fit and healthy improves your strength and fitness, gives you more energy, increases your flexibility and mobility, helps you to manage stress, boosts your self-esteem and self-confidence, gives you clarity of mind, helps you gain a better night’s sleep, improves your metabolic rate which helps prevent weight gain, and helps you to manage anger.
Just as we are to care for God’s creation as wise and responsible stewards, our very own bodies, as with nature, are something borrowed or held in trust and are to be taken care of and preserved. Therefore, we ought to glorify God in the health and preservation of our physical bodies. Moreover, it is imperative that healthy eating and healthy lifestyles are promoted in church or we will be guilty of showing partiality by condemning some fleshly indulgences and ignoring others.