by Stephen Spiteri
I’m a gym junkie and I’m perfectly comfortable to confess that. I’ve been going to the gym multiple times per week for three or so years and in that time my health, strength and fitness have improved significantly. My physical appearance has also changed over those three or so years as — what generally happens with weights and resistance training — fatty mass is “replaced” with lean mass; more muscle.
My regimen is sometimes brought up in class, and there’s always one students that asks, “Sir, why do you go to the gym? Isn’t that vanity?” This question got me thinking: “Is working out compatible with Christian living? Is working out compatible with the Christian concept of modesty?”
There is a culture of vanity and immodesty in the fitness industry and I’ve certainly seen a fair share of it as a patron of a few different gyms over the past couple of years. Just this very evening I was at the gym and my attention was drawn to a younger man that “checked himself out” in the mirror in between each each set and strutted around like a male peacock showing off its tail-feathers. I could very easily be accused of the same thing since I’m a gym-goer, but the difference is your purpose for working out and exercising; the “why” behind it all. If you’re going to the gym because you want to improve your physical appearance and draw more attention from the opposite sex (and a vast number of workout “gurus” exploit this base desire and build an empire on it), then you’re working out for the wrong reasons. We read the following in scripture:
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. — 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The context of 1 Corinthians 6 addresses sexual immorality, but there is more than one way to read verses 19 and 12: our body is a sacred place and it is given to us by God; we are stewards of our bodies and we are to treat it as a temple — a sacred place — so that we may glorify God with it. The Church teaches us this about taking care of our bodies:
CCC 2288: Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good.
Concern for the health of its citizens requires that society help in the attainment of living-conditions that allow them to grow and reach maturity: food and clothing, housing, health care, basic education, employment, and social assistance.
And here’s where it gets interesting:
CCC 2289:Â If morality requires respect for the life of the body, it does not make it an absolute value. It rejects a neo-pagan notion that tends to promote the cult of the body, to sacrifice everything for it’s sake, to idolize physical perfection and success at sports. By its selective preference of the strong over the weak, such a conception can lead to the perversion of human relationships.
To “idolize physical perfection” is to treat our body as God, i.e. we, in a narcissistic manner, treat and worship ourselves as God. This, of course, is diametrically opposed to modesty and the biblical understanding of the treatment of the human body. By idolizing the body, we fail to glorify God with or through our bodies, but rather we glorify our body as God; this is idolatry; idolatry is a mortal sin (Exodus 20:3).
In short: it is perfectly okay to workout or exercise to improve your physical fitness and to take care of your body. It is not, however, acceptable to place the value of our bodies above all other things, especially at the expense of our relationship with God and the needs of others.
… for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. — 1 Timothy 4:8
I often wish, though, that all of that energy expended at the gym could instead be redirected to a useful purpose. Some crazy ideas: mow the lawns of people too old or sick to mow their own, walk a littered city street and do deep knee bends picking up trash, offer to load people’s moving vans for free, scrub graffiti off walls, running from one ‘work of art’ to the next. Get the idea? If all of that muscle output could be put to good use, wow, our cities could be pristine. And you’d save the cost of gym membership. When did gyms appear anyway? They’re ubiquitous now, but I have no recollection of them 40 years ago.
And let us suppose that everyone did that and there were no bodybuilding Neanderthals on the planet. Because boys obviously suck.
I guess we’d be super egalitarian, everybody equal, equally bored and miserable, just surviving with no higher goal, no way to affirm life, just busying ourselves with surviving and continuing the species.
Then you’d probably miss the gym. Or other goals that are unnecessary for survival but necessary for satisfaction.
Stop whining with your stupid pseudo-moralistic “I’m a good boy” crap.
I just want to ask one question, do we who workout, read our Bible just as much as we workout? From an ex-bodybuilder who has been shredded to huge to super huge, I realized that we are to be like Jesus and I don’t recall Jesus ever talking about being ripped or huge, I know I was deceived. Sure I looked strong, but I was weak against the devil
Did Jesus lift weights? Jesus walked, healed and he did feed the poor. He is our example to follow after.
Think.. would Jesus go to a gym and lift weights in the mirror? That is how people can answer this question. Jesus walked, healed and he did feed the poor. He is our lord and savior, walk after him.
I am a complete gym rat and i strive to make my body better. I completely acknowledge that i love going to the gym almost as much as i go to mass “often times multiple times a week” and I pray while i’m at work often. I don’t know if this is acceptable but i pray while i work out. i often think of others and how i wish to use each and every rep as a petition for those i am thinking of. my love of God is above all other things and i love all that he has given me including my body and i want to use all of it to glorify him.
Hmm…so can we accuse those who are punishing their body out of penance as ungodly…for disregard to what has been given to them by God?
yes, Jesus took on our punishment for us !
i think that working out is self-seeking and that is selfishness; in addition, when we work out, we are making idols of our bodies with oiur own hands which goes against the commandments of God. Pls take note that I also work out for 6 hours a week.
That can be debated–“when we work out we are making idols of our bodies.” How do you know why someone is working out? How do you know what’s in their heart? …There’s different intentions for every action. God has already spoke that our body is a temple and we should treat it as such so I can be judgmental and say “By not working out, you’re going against God by not treating your body as the temple God intended it to be.” Why wouldn’t you work out for your health? Even for appearance, it’s not vain if you want to be healthy and look good/keep your body in good condition….as long as you don’t place it over God. Placing it over God/idolizing means you care about it more than God. I may also ask you, do you idolize your gf/bf/wife/husband because you think your love for something else is love that will triumph God? God has placed love and enjoyment in our hearts and he has even set some people’s purpose out to be fitness instructors to better peoples health. Trust me the guy or girl you think is immoral, idolizing fitness, and immodest competing as a bodybuilder on stage–may have a god loving heart. People need to stop judging.
I have a passion for fitness so it’s really hard for me not to idolize it or my body…thanks for this article, it was a really helpful reminder!
After almost 2 years of my last posting, and 20 years going to the gym to have a “nice” body, i have reached the conclusion that going to the gym is something against Jesus´ will…”deny yourselves, carry your cross daily and follow me”
Hi Elias, glad to see what the Lord did for you and how He convicted your heart of something that was probably not in the best interest of your walk with Jesus. Trust me, I have just as of 3 months ago, put down the weights after 21 years of pretty intense lifting and I was starting to ask myself…”why am I doing this? What is my motivation?” Quick run-down on me, I was just saved and gave my life to Christ about a year and a half ago and for that first year I noticed that I was not looking in the mirror as much and concentrating on my body as much but I still was to some degree and, yes although I was working out primarily because it made me feel good about myself, it was also to hold up to some sort of status quo that our subconscious are programmed with telling us we won’t be accepted by society if we’re not lean and muscular. It has been one of the hardest things for me to let go of but I know the Lord is pleased when He sees that we are willing to deny ourselves for Him and trust that His ways are better than our ways. Anyways, I googled to see what was out there on this topic and stumbled across this forum and found that your response was what I was looking for. Blessings my friend.
I know for me, daily exercise increases my energy levels, improves my prayer life, increases my capacity to be alert and present, to love others and give praise or glory to God… and with that being the case, shame on me if I don’t do it. As long as it is done for the right reasons and kept in the proper order, sport and exercise and wonderful gifts from God
I agree with you. It’s really a question of motivation. I think everyone should exercise whether it’s at the gym, or at home, or sports. So many health problems, medical costs, and medications could be eliminated if everyone increased their circulation, improved their cardiovascular, strengthened their muscles and bones. I have to lift weights and do cardio because I have osteoporosis and high cholesterol. Nutrition and exercise is key to good health!!!!
I attend the gym every morning on weekdays before work. My gym is about 15 mins from my home, so I pray aloud the entire way. Before I would blast my music to get me “hyped” because it’s 6AM and I just dragged myself out of bed. I no longer do that. I shouldn’t need a catchy beat to get me excited about my day or my workout. I now pray with so much conviction and joy that by the time I make it to the gym I expect to be clothed in dignity and humility. Futhermore, I attend a gym that is filled with young, old, and all the in betweens. Practically no clothes, fully clothes, married, unmarried, you name it. As a married woman who is in great shape, I do not give credit to myself or my routine. I fully give glory and honor to God in how I conduct myself in the gym. I wear a flannel around my waist every morning because I do not want to be a stumbling block nor do I want anyone being a stumbling block to me. Such a humbling moment, because when I began to undress in the ladies room, women are always obsessed with my physique. Again, I do not take credit for my body. For it belongs to God first, then my husband. When I am at the gym, It is important that I am still a godly woman. I do not make eye contact with the opposite sex. I do not go out of my way to spark unnecessary conversations with the opposite sex. MANY men ONLY come to the gym to flirt. That is proven. I do not leave my beliefs at the door. I am constantly reminding myself of God’s goodness and grace throughout my workout. It has been such a life-changing experience for me. I no longer become anxious when I see half – naked college girls floating around. Instead, I see it as an opportunity for the way I conduct myself – to be a light.
Excellent post. Thank you for glorifying God. Your comments touched my spirit! God bless you.
I believe it depends on your motives I don’t think it’s all black and white or yes it’s ok to go and no it’s not ok to go. I think you could go and let it consume you making it very sinful I also think you can go for the right reasons making it perfectly acceptable.God weighs the heart. He’ll know where yours lays.
I’ve been struggling with this, I work out, but I dont want to enter into vanity and displease the LORD. I’ve been working out to spice up things with me and my wife, so basically buffing up just a little for my wife and to be a little strong and have more energy, Been having doubts if it’s ok to work out our Gods temple to be more physically attractive for wife?
I have also been convicted, I feel, about working out to “look good.” But it’s hard to let go. Thank you everyone for being so transparent. Any help is welcomed and appreciated.
My son is 6. I’m 48. I recently had to have an arterial stent put in to open a 90% clogged artery that could have become a heart attack. And my doctor ordered rehab. In rehab, because I once used to exercise (running, weights, other outdoor sports), I’m the only patient who has gotten up to running speed in 10 years. I should never have slacked on exercising to start with.
It’s nice to look good (athletic). The only spiritual struggle around that I have is wanting to show off for the opposite sex (I’m divorce/no longer enslaved, but it’s a bad motivation either way).
I don’t believe it’s idolizing the body to be in shape. People used to be in shape because our lifestyles were more physically active and our diets more reasonable. Our bodies were designed to run and lift heavy objects, so where’s the sin if there is no vanity.
My spiritual motivation (and I recommend it to all parents and grandparents): God very clearly wants fathers to raise and teach their children. He spared me and let me live for that purpose. I’m not ever planning to gain 30 pounds again.
In sum: Exercise is a way to honor God by a) doing what He designed our bodies to do for the purpose of b) serving His purposes for us for as long as possible. No reason to let the enemy take you out early. Just keep the vanity in check. Just thank God for the improvements instead of self-praising.
Someone might ask, “What about body building to have a ton of muscles? Isn’t that vanity?” It pretty much depends on your body type. Some people are a Samson types, some are Davids. You can always ask a trainer which you are and set some workout goals that accord with what God gave you.
I came here looking for thoughts on exercising on Sunday. I do think that would put the body before God and constitute idolatry, but I might take a walk.