The Apostle Paul was NOT SOFT - physical fitness actually DOES matter

I don't know any Christian who would think Paul was soft. He lived a radical life full of Apostolic suffering (something most 'self-appointed' modern-day Apostles don't seem to realize). He fulfilled His purpose and destiny. He was operating on all cylinders until the day of his martyrdom.

For him to do what he did, to go where he went, to endure what he endured, would have most certainly meant he had a lifestyle conducive to accomplishing what he did.

He didn't write much about the topic of health and fitness, but we know he lived a life that glorified God in all areas. And I think all would agree that meant he was healthy, fit, and ate in such a way that God was pleased.

He glorified God IN HIS BODY (1 Corinthians 6:12). He spoke of our bodies as the TEMPLES of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) He exhorted people to IMITATE his life and habits (1 Corinthians 11:1). 

Let us resist the 'Gnostic' temptation to say that he only meant "spiritual things" when he wrote about our bodies. (The Gnostic heresy taught that what happens in our physical bodies doesn't matter to God and doesn't affect us) Yes, Paul was of course principally concerned that we weren't using our bodies as vessels for sin. But he would have undoubtedly modeled and exhorted God's people to also pursue healthy lifestyles. In 1 Timothy 4:8, Paul writes to Timothy acknowledging the value of "bodily training" and like I've just said, subordinates its importance to spiritual training.

But you would think when you look around much of the church today, which is very unhealthy, often obese and lacking even basic fitness, that Paul told Timothy that bodily training didn't matter at all. He didn't say that. He acknowledges its value.

The famous verse (1 Corinthians 9:27) where Paul speaks about "buffeting" his body is rendered interestingly in the Expanded Bible translation: 

It says: "I [Paul] treat my body hard [discipline/subdue/ pummel my body] and make it my slave [subdue it] so that I myself will not be disqualified after I have preached to others.

Sometimes a new rendering gets us to re-think a verse, or a teaching...

If we are imitating Paul, as we are commanded to do as disciples of Christ, are we in fact treating our bodies "hard"? Are we "subduing" them? Does this not speak of what we are doing to train our bodies so that like Paul we will fulfill our callings? Our destinies? And to not be "disqualified" as Paul himself was concerned about?

Throughout much of Church History, the sin of Gluttony was considered a serious sin. Was that a distorted idea? Was it unjustifiable Biblically? Maybe so. But today the opposite is more true than not. The Church has not emphasized holiness in this area. The Body of Christ if full of people who are gluttons and whose relationship to food and eating does not glorify God and does not look like "self-control". 

So rather than swinging the pendulum back to emphasizing Gluttony as one of the 7 Deadly Sins that threatens the very salvation of God's people, may we bring it back into the Biblical balance that undoubtedly Paul modeled in his Apostolic life. 

I watch many of my friends who at my age are quite unhealthy. Many are technically "obese" (more than 25% body fat for men, 30% for women). They cannot do many of the things they wish they could be doing. And their growing health problems (as evidenced by the medications they already are taking in their mid-50s) ultimately mean that their lives will end prematurely*

Paul wanted to make sure he was strong enough, healthy enough to carry on the work of the Gospel. This was God's will for Paul. It is also God's will for us. 

Can health and fitness become an idol? ABSOLUTELY. I live in Southern California and for many it becomes their 'religion'. And when that becomes our biggest problem, then we can address it. But at this point, I think the problem is the radical neglect of healthy eating and proper fitness. And for that reason, this blog post was written. I preach to myself as much as I preach to those reading it. 

For such a time as this...

*NOTE: No theological excuses are accepted here by those who say, "When it is my time, it's my time". God has left a lot more to our responsibility than many Christians believe.