I grew up in a tradition that was vicious about that little thing called drinking; and then there was that little thing called dancing; and then there was that other thing called playing poker; and then there were about a hundred other things that consumed some pulpit time, and a lot of ink. My father tended to be a bit more moderate on these issues privately, but by and large the tradition I called home cared a whole lot about matters of liberty which offered myriad of opportunities for inconsistencies. It’s an important note to affirm that the Bible does address drinking (Eph. 5:18, I Tim. 5:23), dancing (Jer. 31:4), and playing (Zech. 8:5). All these things are good in and of themselves, but can also be abused. But for these authority structures with whom I spent my early years, all these things could only lead to our demise.
In that large scale of diatribes, I do not recall once a pastor speaking of the need for healthy bodies. It could have been a footnote in a sermon on gluttony, a brief monologue on a sermon on Romans 12, or it could have been an observation on the nature of living well. Not once! And I have a sharp memory when it comes to sermons and lectures I have heard over my lifetime.That incongruity struck me back then and still does today.
Since then I have heard my fair share of exhortations on health and a hearty life unto the Lord. Thankfully, we have slowly but surely taken a few hits on the Gnostic icon and from the looks of it, there is some slight discomfort. At least those are the rumors! But we should ask ourselves why is it that in a time of crisis where our health is in many ways–though not always–a pre-condition for the virus’ abode we are hearing so little about the importance of living a healthy life. And, of course, the Holy Bible, yes, even my tradition’s favorite translation, the blessed and most ever pure King James Version mentions its value. “It doth profit,” says the 16th century King.
I have always been relatively concerned about my health. In my early teens, I played beach volleyball and soccer. Once I entered the academic world, there was a lot more discussing about sports than the engaging of it physically. Still, I kept some relative common sense about exercise. I come from a tribe of feasters. My fondest memories growing up in Brazil are of a multitude of family members enjoying an all-day churrasco with festive music. The whole thing was glorious. But when kids come along, there is an uncertainty about what ought to take precedence: exercise of changing diapers? And really, we are making friends into enemies. We should prioritize our family precisely by being lucid, energetic, and present for your family. I have failed in this area numerous times and have asked God to forgive me numerous times.
Godliness is supreme in the Bible. It profits much, while exercise in comparison to godliness profits little. The comparison stems from man’s fascination with self-glory. If we make our bodies central, we turn our bodies into the telos, but if we view the well-being of our bodies as a means to pursue godliness, we will be well. Caring for the body is not a neutral matter. The Bible specifically cautions against gluttony and sexual immorality and it ties it to the body as the temple of the Spirit precisely because God intends to use you to be strong when others are weak; to be sober-minded when others are drunk; to be physically equipped when others are not.
So, don’t waste your body. Be the most equipped to serve physically and mentally now. Don’t wait until you are later in life to turn things around. Like C.S. Lewis go for a walk. Like Eric Liddle go for a run to the glory of God. Even good Frodo had to do his share of walking to destroy evil. It’s a conversation we need to have. Th exhortation is fairly direct: Strengthen your body so that your mind can be ready to answer, your hands ready to lift, your legs ready to run with the kids and your mouth ready to sing praises to God.
