Christianity and Fitness

I apologize if this is the incorrect forum for this, but it looked like a good place to start.


I am trying to convince my wife to start working out with me. She recently made the argument that there is no reason to workout now because this life is so short.

Basically, because the Eternal afterlife exists, there is no point in working out.

I disagree with this. While I agree that the Eternal Life is awesome, and something every Christian should strive for, I see no reason NOT to live this life the best we possibly can. Understand when i talk about fitness I do not mean physical attractiveness but actual health.

She says things like "I can't wait till I die" which yeah, I get it. Heaven is infinitely better than Earth. But is smoking and eating unhealthy and being things that speed up this process wrong?

She is far more religious than I. I am a n00b, if you will. In fact I have always believed, but I didn't really know much at all till I met her. So it is hard for me to have points that she cant trump.

If anyone can give me some good examples of why she should be more active and healthy that would be awesome. Also, she does not respond well to being told she is wrong. So if you could focus on the positives of being healthy according to the Bible that would be super helpful.

Thanks so much.

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Working out is a very healthy activity both for the physical and psychological aspects of our bodies. Therefore if we want our temples to be better and lasting for God's purpose it is necessary that we may work it out. That is not to say that we all need to be muscular, and skinny. But it is a healthy activity for our body and quite necessary for our well being in the flesh. For instance as I work out I find it as a challenge and I am sometimes in constant prayer in order to get it done. In fact I have had manifestations of the Holy Spirit even while I was working out. So I think it is a very important thing to do.

Thank you for the response Manuel.

I like the reference to the "Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit"

any other reference of that nature would also be a big help.

Thanks Again!

I have to give you some challenging answers here.

If you accept that "God will destroy those who destroy his temple" as meaning she is destroying her body by not physically exercising that even if that did work temporarily it is not in the context of what the verse means.

Or, if you point out Paul did say that physical training is of some value, that therefore it has some value, this also would be taking the verse out of context.

I have exercised and not exercised in my life. I have found times when I could go forever, physically, though I had been a couch potato. I could go without tiring because God gave me the faith that I could. I have found times when I was exercising routinely, that I could not go forever like that.

But your best bet is simply to see this as a sort of test of your mercy, open mindedness, and faithfulness. That you your self should go and work out as God has set it in your heart to do. And to let her be as she is as well as you can.

The big error I am hearing in what you are saying of her belief is that she believes she should just sit around and wait to die.

As Christians we are not to seek death. Death is not even necessarily in the picture, as "not all shall die". If Jesus returns, that means her and you.

While one's body may change, it is not said how this will be. It may not be that we literally transfigure on the outside. When Jesus appeared to the apostles from death he at least seemed to change appearance at various times. Angels are able to do that. Jesus was also able then to teleport, to use an awkward phrase. But, angels are able to do that as well.

But he did appear in the flesh to people.

His wounds from his death were able to be seen.

That is, even after the change, at the return of Jesus, it may be that we still have the outward self at first. If so, we should be able to change that, as angels can when they appear in the flesh, but this may take time to learn. There is no reason why to not consider that now.

Sometimes activity can help our weak flesh to make such changes, so make that change in your own self and let that sell her on the value of it.

You have your own great challenge in this, and that is to keep your eyes focused on your road.

That can be hard to do when we see our partner sitting around and seemingly on a different road.

But we should not allow anyone else to stop us doing what we filled from God to do. And we should be aware, they just may not be called to do that yet.

Sell by showing, not by saying, and try and be merciful in allowing her freedom. I know how hard that can be.

Well, I have just started getting into running and I think it's great you are concerned for your wife's wellbeing.

Yes we are temples of the Holy Spirit but you should be praying about this first so that the Holy Spirit will start quickening your wife. I think it's counterproductive to nag about it otherwise if she does agree to work out with you she may not enjoy it and see it as a chore.

Here is a suggestion, look around and see if there are any 'fun runs' being held in your town, where you can walk or run for charity. Enter them and ask your wife is she wants to join you. I think the experience of walking and running with others will lift her and then she will see that exercise isn't a bad thing!

God gave her life and a body. I believe that God requires that we be good stewards of BOTH. Look throughout the bible and show me where we are not to faithfully steward all that which God has so faithfully entrusted to us. To take such a nonchalant attitude towards one's phyical health (especially as a believer) is frankly, startling. I'm not talking about someone who knows they are out of shape and wants to change; I'm talking about someone who basically says "I don't care".

Trust me, she will care later on in life when she starts getting ill and can't do even regular things without help because she neglected her health during this time. She may not reap the results of her unhealthy ways right now, but believe me -- the bill WILL come due eventually. If there's one thing (myself included) that I see people take for granted it's their health. Then something goes wrong and all of the sudden that is what life centers around and we find ourselves asking God "why". I'm not saying getting ill is all our fault, but to simply cast caution to the wind and take a "whatever" attitude toward personal health is not what I would call a right attitude. I'd really get before God to ask him to work with your wife in the attitude of her mind concerning this.

Tell her working out now will make her the trophy wife everyone else wants as she gets older

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I would suggest that you don't say anything else to her about
her not exercising or eating healthier...I encourage you to set
the example by continuing your exercise and healthy eating program.

Merely extend to her the invitation to join you on a walk or to go ride a bike
don't pressure her about it, just ask her to accompany you. If she doesn't
that is her choice-- you go on an exercise.

Diligently pray for your wife and ask the Lord to work on her heart, tell Him
everything you have shared on this forum.

*I would encourage you to get a male friend to be your exercise partner.

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We don't change the message, the message changes us.

its VITAL..
here is a great online magazine with lots of infor

check a magazine called "faith and fitness" online

your expression of concern for her Health is great too! much respect..

I have a tonne more to say on this but have to run to church

Well, there were times in my life when helping others and following the Lord, meant I didn't live the healthiest lifestyle. I ate off other people's plates, ate the same thing everyday (bread, oranges, tomato sauce), ate food I found on the street. Sometimes the only thing I could afford was fast food upon fast food. Sometimes I was around the sick, diseased, dying, and got sick at times myself. Lice, bugs feasting on open wounds ... not on me, but directly around me. Eating near rotted meat. Being jumped, beaten, injured. Sometimes I was in physical danger, in war zones, facing down weapons.

Other times, I had only fattening foods to eat. No moments available for exercise, or physical activity. Instead, I was in sedentary situations, having unhealthy "garbage" to choose from (like fast foods, etc, what I personally don't like), but lots of it. Excess of it. I've fluctuated in weight as much as 80 pounds, for example, depending on the situation I was in and what was needed.

What I would PREFER .... would be to run, swim, bike, jog ... almost every other day. Enjoy sports. Eat fresh foods, vegetables, fruits. Make my own foods, baked goods, have a garden. I've been in top athletic shape in my life before, and I loved the way I felt, looked, etc. But sometimes this isn't an option, and I simply am not in a situation where those resources are available to me, or even a priority. Sometimes being fat and out of shape, actually helped me to connect with others in different ways, gaining their trust and such, and I didn't "outshine" them in an unapproachable way. The opposite has also helped me to connect with the "athlete" strata. I try to "give up the rights" to my body, but I do have preferences as to how I would like it to look, feel, and how I'd like to use it.