Here is a couple of “Don’ts” and a couple of “Do’s.”

Don’t:

Idolize your body

Here is where I draw such a fine line. On the one hand, having a healthy body is very helpful in giving me energy, focus, and longevity in serving God and others. On the other hand, if I get too obsessive about my body, which includes my health, I may be too anxious about death and aging and how my body may fail me. This anxiety stifles my reliance on Jesus for security.

Do you see the distinction? I am free to give my body over to Jesus, care for it through the wisdom I receive from him, and at the same time know that I will receive a new glorified body some day and will live with him forever.

1 Cor. 15:43 (NLT)

Our bodies now disappoint us, but when they are raised, they will be full of glory. They are weak now, but when they are raised, they will be full of power.

 

I’m getting pumped already!

 

Misuse your body

First, let’s all relax. Sometimes Christians get too choosy about this topic. Everyone seems to go to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 to chastise someone else about something physical. It is not even used in the right context most of the time, which is that of a client of a prostitute.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)

Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, [20] for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

 

“Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” has been used for everything from drinking coffee (though health benefits of moderate coffee drinking have been established here, for instance), smoking (OK, not helpful) and drinking alcoholic beverages (red wine is all the rage for heart health; moderation is the key…).

 

It’s interesting that people don’t usually use this same Bible passage for exercise and proper diet. The classic case is a preacher talking about the “temple of the Holy Spirit,” criticizing drinking or smoking when, as has been said, “their own temple has a big front porch addition.” The gut hanging over the belt is an occupational hazard for many clergy.

 

It is important for us to have a healthy diet and exercise. It is important for us to get enough rest. It is a national past time for us to be overworked, overweight and undernourished. Transforming our bodies includes all of this.

 

The other ways we can misuse our bodies I have already addressed. Trying to be sexually alluring, “power” dressing, body language, verbal manipulation, and such. We are to give ourselves over the Jesus, as we are now his body.

Why are we always so interested in the personal habits of others?