What to do with theology and fitness?
I have recently turned into somewhat of a health/fitness fanatic. I’ve started crossfitting and following the zone diet. I have been getting stronger and healthier and I love it.
So recently I’ve been thinking about what the connection between health and spirituality is. Platonic dualism has influenced many things–arguing for a divorce between the physical (as evil) and the non-physical (as good). As I struggle to move beyond thinking in Platonic terms into a more biblical view of creation as tov miod (very good), it makes me wonder if a connection exists.
My first reaction is to think in terms of the importance of the body. The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19) and it will remain, albeit transformed, in the new heavens and new earth (1 Cor. 15). So is there somewhat of a parallel?
If we are called to be stewards over the creation and to live as if we are already in the new age when it comes to preserving the environment, would that imply that we should be equally passionate about being good stewards of our own body?
I don’t know the answer yet, but I’m trying to think it through.
July 13, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I think our bodies are a gift from God and should be cared for like any other gift. And just like anything else, we can make an idol of physical fitness just as we might money or sex or power or stuff. Perspective is key. Our desire to be healthy ought to stem from an appreciation of gift and desire to honor the Giver, but must never become something that distracts us from the Giver. Most of the things we obsess over are good things without perspective.