Many Christians focus on the externals of serving God with their body--going through the motions--forgetting the spiritual dimension. The Jews also focused on externalism like fasting, sacrifices, Sabbath and holy day observance, circumcision, kosher rules, washing of hands and feet, and tithing. It was Jesus who first brought spirituality into this new realm of performance. We are not called to be a body-builder nor to elevate the body in such a way so as to distract from the spiritual element. Even non-Christians can diet, exercise, and be hygienic but this doesn't define any spiritual devotion--quite the contrary, it may be a focus on the physical at the expense of the spiritual. Paul did say that physical exercise was of some benefit but the discipline of godliness has a greater reward in this life and the one to come; though we must discipline our bodily passions, appetites, and desires.
There have been great believers who have been overweight for instance including Spurgeon and Luther, and there is no direct correlation between weight and holiness. It is far more significant whether one is a glutton or makes food the focus of his life than whether they are overweight. Some refer to 1 Cor. 9:27 that mentions that we can be "disqualified" after having preached to others, but this means being trapped in sin, not some physical standard to comply with or meet.
Preachers that work out may live longer, be more attractive, and feel better about themselves, but there is no direct correlation with spiritual hygiene and physical discipline, especially in the senior years. We don't need work-out heroes and champs but prayer warriors! I see ads for male testosterone that enhances a man's ability to gain muscle mass and think this is nothing but vanity--a no-no for one's spiritual walk. We need to learn to walk with the Lord, not walk our dog! This physical body will decay and it's not a contest to see what a good corpse will be in our coffin.
On the other hand, though we don't either exalt nor degrade it we ought to treat it with respect and not be abusive nor remiss. For instance, when good food is available we should have the discipline to eat our vegetables and even thank God we have them and not consume them begrudgingly. Our appetites can get the best of us and lead to lack of discipline overall. Our physical health is enhanced by proper diet and this, in turn, makes us feel better and more productive for God's work--but I do not believe we are called to be vegans or go on fancy and expensive diet programs. The key is to avoid extremes and to count all food as the blessing of God and none should be refused for His sake.
But let's focus on the real bodies that we must dedicate to God: our feet are meant to rush to those that need comfort and aid; we need to be lending a helping hand to those in need; we need eyes that see that world's blight and disasters; we have voices that sound off for God and spread His message of grace; God gave us ears that hear those crying for help (we must beware lest God's Word falls on deaf ears); our minds must be dedicated to thinking a divine viewpoint and expressing the thoughts of Christ with His cures; God gave us hearts to reach out in love to all in need and in our circle or orbit and we must pray for God to unite our hearts to fear His name; and our labor is meant to build and do the work of Christ in the world. The whole point of salvation is that God gives us a new heart to love Him and do His will in service.
Remember that true faith expresses itself! The faith you have is the faith you show, someone has said. Note that we are to love God with all our strength and this means putting our best foot forward and always doing our best for God's glory, with whatever bodily strength we can muster. As Mother Teresa of Calcutta, now canonized, said: Christ has no hands but ours, no feet but ours; and no heart like ours to share with the world in need.
Christians have problems with their spiritual bodies: they become hard of hearing spiritually and are not sensitive to God's will and mission; they become blind to things of the Spirit and need their eyes opened up as revealed in the Word--both ways they become callous to fulfilling their calling in life and using their gifts and all the resources God has granted them and will hold them accountable for. We are to walk by faith, not by sight nor feeling and this can only be done a proper focus on the way God reveals His will to us.
I would be remiss not to mention that the only sin against the body is sexual immorality, not getting fat! In the final analysis, we all need to admit we have feet of clay (flaws not readily apparent) and constantly need the eyes of our hearts and understanding to be enlightened by God's Word. In sum, we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices (cf. Rom. 12:1) unto God (for we all died and our life is hidden in Christ, cf. Col 3:3)--i.e., living for Him, His glory, and will. Soli Deo Gloria!
There have been great believers who have been overweight for instance including Spurgeon and Luther, and there is no direct correlation between weight and holiness. It is far more significant whether one is a glutton or makes food the focus of his life than whether they are overweight. Some refer to 1 Cor. 9:27 that mentions that we can be "disqualified" after having preached to others, but this means being trapped in sin, not some physical standard to comply with or meet.
Preachers that work out may live longer, be more attractive, and feel better about themselves, but there is no direct correlation with spiritual hygiene and physical discipline, especially in the senior years. We don't need work-out heroes and champs but prayer warriors! I see ads for male testosterone that enhances a man's ability to gain muscle mass and think this is nothing but vanity--a no-no for one's spiritual walk. We need to learn to walk with the Lord, not walk our dog! This physical body will decay and it's not a contest to see what a good corpse will be in our coffin.
On the other hand, though we don't either exalt nor degrade it we ought to treat it with respect and not be abusive nor remiss. For instance, when good food is available we should have the discipline to eat our vegetables and even thank God we have them and not consume them begrudgingly. Our appetites can get the best of us and lead to lack of discipline overall. Our physical health is enhanced by proper diet and this, in turn, makes us feel better and more productive for God's work--but I do not believe we are called to be vegans or go on fancy and expensive diet programs. The key is to avoid extremes and to count all food as the blessing of God and none should be refused for His sake.
But let's focus on the real bodies that we must dedicate to God: our feet are meant to rush to those that need comfort and aid; we need to be lending a helping hand to those in need; we need eyes that see that world's blight and disasters; we have voices that sound off for God and spread His message of grace; God gave us ears that hear those crying for help (we must beware lest God's Word falls on deaf ears); our minds must be dedicated to thinking a divine viewpoint and expressing the thoughts of Christ with His cures; God gave us hearts to reach out in love to all in need and in our circle or orbit and we must pray for God to unite our hearts to fear His name; and our labor is meant to build and do the work of Christ in the world. The whole point of salvation is that God gives us a new heart to love Him and do His will in service.
Remember that true faith expresses itself! The faith you have is the faith you show, someone has said. Note that we are to love God with all our strength and this means putting our best foot forward and always doing our best for God's glory, with whatever bodily strength we can muster. As Mother Teresa of Calcutta, now canonized, said: Christ has no hands but ours, no feet but ours; and no heart like ours to share with the world in need.
Christians have problems with their spiritual bodies: they become hard of hearing spiritually and are not sensitive to God's will and mission; they become blind to things of the Spirit and need their eyes opened up as revealed in the Word--both ways they become callous to fulfilling their calling in life and using their gifts and all the resources God has granted them and will hold them accountable for. We are to walk by faith, not by sight nor feeling and this can only be done a proper focus on the way God reveals His will to us.
I would be remiss not to mention that the only sin against the body is sexual immorality, not getting fat! In the final analysis, we all need to admit we have feet of clay (flaws not readily apparent) and constantly need the eyes of our hearts and understanding to be enlightened by God's Word. In sum, we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices (cf. Rom. 12:1) unto God (for we all died and our life is hidden in Christ, cf. Col 3:3)--i.e., living for Him, His glory, and will. Soli Deo Gloria!