Is It a Sin to Exercise on Sunday? Should Christians Work Out?

[Ave Maria]

Hey everyone. Would exercising on Sunday to lose weight be considered unnecessary work and therefore a sin?

 

[lonnienord]

probably not

 

[skatepixie]

I doubt it. Plus, if you do something you find fun, it isnt work.

 

[Ave Maria]

I doubt it. Plus, if you do something you find fun, it isnt work.

Ah okay. I wouldn't exactly call it fun but it is recreational.

 

[skatepixie]

If the exercise you choose isnt something you find fun, pick something you do find fun. Otherwise, it will become a drag. Then you will find excuses. You should do something that you look forward to doing.

 

[geocajun]

no. The key word to consider is 'servile' - in other words, are you doing something a servant might do, or something you would normally pay someone else to do?

It is not always cut and dry either, consider that normally one would pay someone to work on their car, however some folks do it as a hobby. Thus, working on ones car for me would be servile, and for the hobbiest it would not be.

 

[Ave Maria]

If the exercise you choose isnt something you find fun, pick something you do find fun. Otherwise, it will become a drag. Then you will find excuses. You should do something that you look forward to doing.

Well, I like doing it cause I get to be with my Dad and his girlfriend.

 

[skatepixie]

What about going to work on sunday? I mean, I know my parents cant help it...thats when they have to work...

 

[skatepixie]

Well, I like doing it cause I get to be with my Dad and his girlfriend.

Good, as long as you like doing it...

 

[jukesk9]

no. The key word to consider is 'servile' - in other words, are you doing something a servant might do, or something you would normally pay someone else to do?

It is not always cut and dry either, consider that normally one would pay someone to work on their car, however some folks do it as a hobby. Thus, working on ones car for me would be servile, and for the hobbiest it would not be.

I like your analogy. I used to wonder if mowing the yard on Sunday was a sin. But I enjoy yard work. I actually look forward to mowing the yard, trimming, etc. It's relaxing. When I'm done, I like to sit on my bench, drink a cold beer and look at my yard...wierd, I know.

 

[Ave Maria]

no. The key word to consider is 'servile' - in other words, are you doing something a servant might do, or something you would normally pay someone else to do?

It is not always cut and dry either, consider that normally one would pay someone to work on their car, however some folks do it as a hobby. Thus, working on ones car for me would be servile, and for the hobbiest it would not be.

Hey that's a good explanation. Thank you geocajun!

 

[Irenaeus]

Everyone, good answers!

Exercise is a praiseworthy recreation. It is good for the mental and physical health of a human being.

I think you're doing the right thing, Holly. Personally, I wouldn't go to a gym on a Sunday because I don't like funding open businesses on that day, but if you have a treadmill at home or something, I think that's okay.

 

[Ave Maria]

Everyone, good answers!

Exercise is a praiseworthy recreation. It is good for the mental and physical health of a human being.

I think you're doing the right thing, Holly. Personally, I wouldn't go to a gym on a Sunday because I don't like funding open businesses on that day, but if you have a treadmill at home or something, I think that's okay.

Well, generally I just walk around town with my dad and his girlfriend.

 

[TexasCatholic]

I like workin' on my car... Too bad I don't have one right now. Heh. I miss my Camaro. But even with my truck, I actually get some sick enjoyment out of changing the oil and such.

-Michael

 

[Irenaeus]

I personally like to work on my garden or do some minor cleaning chores around the house on my Sunday; it fits with a spirit of ora et labora...(work and pray)...and its relaxing to me.

 

[PetertheRock]

If you can have "a day of leisure" on Sunday that's good, but the fact is most of us have to work on Sunday. My job as a security officer is a 24/7/365 job just like a firefighter, police officer, EMT, doctor, and many other professions including some industrial jobs. People can't tell their employers they can't work on Sundays anymore. It's nice if you can but most people can't.

For the first time in a long time I was unable to go to weekend mass this week. I had to work all day on Saturday so I missed all the Saturday masses and I work tonight (Sunday) so I have to sleep during the day. I had planned on going to the 7am mass before going to bed but by the time 6AM rolled around I had been up for 26 hours and couldn't keep my eyes open as I was dozing off on the lounge chair so going to mass would have put my life and other people's life in danger because I shouldn't be driving in that condition and if I had made it to mass I probably wouldn't have remained awake during mass since I couldn't stay awake standing up in my living room. So, it just worked out bad this weekend that I couldn't possibly make it. I had a talk with a priest about this situation before and he said it was acceptable to miss mass in this situation but I should try to make it during the week. I usually go to weekly mass anyway but it's even more important when you miss a Sunday obligation. But sadly, for most people there is no day free from labor anymore.

 

[bostonlass]

no. The key word to consider is 'servile' - in other words, are you doing something a servant might do, or something you would normally pay someone else to do?

It is not always cut and dry either, consider that normally one would pay someone to work on their car, however some folks do it as a hobby. Thus, working on ones car for me would be servile, and for the hobbiest it would not be.

Ok......a servant might do the four loads of laundry amoungst the other things I did today. Did I sin since I don't take any joy (not even a little) in these tasks?

 

[geocajun]

Ok......a servant might do the four loads of laundry amoungst the other things I did today. Did I sin since I don't take any joy (not even a little) in these tasks?

Hi Sweetcaroline,
Aside from cooking you should avoid doing housework on Sunday, except of course for the nessecary things. If you can avoid doing laundry on Sunday, but working extra diligently on Saturday, then you should do it. My wife certaintly enjoys this practice of resting on Sunday

 

[Angeldove97]

Well isn't something like excercise... or gardening or yard work... or anything that we enjoy good for the body, which is considered God's temple?? So I would think that stuff like that would be alright. And I'd agree with the idea of if you're going to go excercising that you should spend it enjoying God's creation (aka take a walk or a bike ride outside) than paying money to a business who's open on Sundays. Just a thought

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

Geo-

Question about my housework yesterday...

Is doing housework (not fun) considered work? I would think so...however, I don't know if it is unneccesary, since I did it for my wife since she wasn't feeling well and won't have the energy to do it during the week.

Is that a sin?