Often times I am asked how does my faith and being a
spiritual leader reconcile with my approach to fitness? The answer is quite
simple, though the foundation is extensive. My faith and my focus on fitness,
as well as health and wellness reconcile quite well, in fact, they are
inextricably connected. Fitness and Christianity are not opposing forces in any
way. Christianity is the foundation for all that is whole and complete in the life
of the believer. Wellness, fitness and holistic living are simply particular elements
that are erected upon the foundation of Christianity as they take their place
in the aggregate form of the edifice which is the Christian way of life.
Because fitness has been so heavily associated with physical
pulchritude and appeal, many associate its nature with being self-centered and
superficial. The truth is that fitness, wellness and holistic living have very
little to do with outward appearance and quite a bit to do with providing the
proper foundation for executing God’s plan for your life. When God designed you
he designed you perfectly. There are various components and external influences
that have negatively impacted and corrupted the original design.
One of the most impacting directives for Christian living is
proper stewardship over all that God has entrusted you with. Whether it is your
children, your finances, your marriage, and yes, even your body, it is paramount
for the believer to be a good steward. Being a good steward requires the proper
management, supervision, maintenance and execution of what one has been
entrusted with.
We are told through the first Pauline epistle (letter) to
the Corinthian Church that our bodies are the temple of God (1
Cor. 6:19-20). This means that in the same way that God indwelled the
tabernacle initially, and later the temple, He now indwells our bodies. The
apprehension of this fact has immense implications. If God has taken up
residence within us, how much more does this fact magnify the need to take care
of His dwelling place?
So much emphasis has been placed on the epidemic of obesity and its wide
ranging negative impact on the health of Americans. As devastating as the
obesity epidemic is, it is simply a small reflection of a much massive and
broader reaching issue; poor stewardship through poor health and lifestyle
choices. If the believers in this nation would address the core issue of poor
stewardship, the secondary issue of obesity and its far reaching implications
would be nullified.
It all begins with a will to effectively execute the
protocol plan of God and it subsequently flows fluently through every orifice
in your life to fill your life with power, impact, influence, effectiveness and
the assets necessary to live out your divine purpose and fulfill your destiny.
When I survey the American health landscape the results are
quite alarming. More than 50 percent of the nation’s population can be
classified as officially obese (having a BMI [Body Mass Index] of 30 or
higher). The implications of this are far reaching and carry the potential to
produced unparalleled and devastating results. Obesity has been directly linked
to numerous deadly and debilitating diseases, such as coronary heart disease,
diabetes (primarily Type 2 Diabetes), Hypertension (High Blood Pressure
[especially prevalent among blacks]), High Cholesterol, Cancer (increasing the
chances of developing 3 forms of deadly cancer by 50 percent), Infertility (creating
hormonal imbalances that cause major ovarian issues in women that effect their
ability to reproduce), osteoarthritis (debilitating joint inflammation directly
associated with severe pain and limited physiological capability), Skin Infections,
Ulcers, Gallstones and much more.
When these multitudinous health issues are examined in depth,
it produces quite a gloomy portrait of health in America, and it all stems from
a failure to execute good stewardship. When I look at the number of believers
that are obese in America, the numbers are staggering. What these numbers
reflect is even more staggering. Believers are failing in executing proper
stewardship over one of their greatest assets, their bodies. God has designed
each of us with a specific purpose in mind. We carry out our purpose through the
vessel provided, our bodies. How we take care of our bodies determines the
quality of life and length of life. What this means is that we have great
influence on the effectiveness of our personal ministries.
The following question is often posed to me concerning the
conundrum of failed health: What can possibly be done at this point? Whether you
are a believer or not, you must understand that change is always possible, no
matter how far along you have progressed in your journey. For Christian
believers, the apprehension of this truth should be magnified with great
measure. You are equipped for positive change, but this change is not
accomplished through mystical pursuit. It is not achieved through empty prayers
and proclamations. True change begins with the renewal of your mind; the
attainment of a fresh way of thinking.
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| Dr. Rick Wallace |
Simply making the right health choices and developing a
healthier way of life, while decreasing the daily abuse on your bodies will
produce efficacious results. We have an extremely long way to go in America,
but for everyone reading this article, it starts with you today, and the
possibilities are endless. ~ Dr. Rick Wallace
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