Recently I’ve noticed an alarming tendency, there are more fat Christians than ever!
These overweight followers of Jesus are having a hard time keeping pace with their leader.
What is causing these obese disciples to put on the pounds?
Fast food
What I’m talking about is high calorie, low truth content teaching. This kind of teaching focuses on “how to” and “felt needs” yet fails to emphasize the “why” and the “what” of theology. These types of books are usually easier to read because they don’t force you to chew through any tough concepts. As a result they are also some of the biggest sellers in Christian literature.
Inactivity
Even healthy food can make you unhealthy if you don’t use the energy it gives you. If you consume truth for long enough without putting it into action you will eventually end up with heart problems. Yes, it’s possible to be right on doctrinally and completely off practically. When Scriptural teaching doesn’t result in spiritual toil, there’s something wrong!
Over consumption
Too many Christians have become consumer oriented when it comes to truth intake. They have entered the all-you-can-eat eat online Christian buffet and haven’t come out! They search the internet for the best speakers and authors. They have a consistent diet of downloaded doctrine from megachurch pastors. Yet their theology lacks of personal application and inward heart change.
It’s time to get fit!
You’ve probably figured out by now that this post isn’t about our physical body but rather about the fitness of our spirit.
What can you do to shed the spiritual pounds and get back to a healthier fitter christianity? Here are my suggestions.
Pay attention to what you’re eating
Are you consuming high truth content teaching? Are you focusing on personal Bible reading and personal Bible study? Are you listening to preachers who base their preaching squarely on God’s word?
Check out 2 Timothy 4:2-4
Schedule time for exercise
By “exercise” I mean the practice of your faith. Every truth you learn demands application in your life. If you don’t exercise your faith you can quickly become callous to the truths of God’s Word. It is helpful to be intentional about this process. You might try to write out specific ways you can apply Scriptural truths every time your read the Bible. You also need to make sure you engaging in a ministry in your local church. What needs could you fill?
Check out James 1:22-25
Don’t feel like you need to try everything
The amount of teaching that is available today is amazing. There is no way you could consume it all. You need to focus on listening to healthy preachers, focus on preaching in your own church, focus on your own Bible reading and study and then choose one or two other preachers to supplement that, but always remember that it’s Jesus we follow and not megachurch pastors or anyone else!
Check out 1 Corinthians 3:4-7
Debi @ DebiStangeland.com
June 25, 2013This is really good. I like your tips and the scriptures you included. You hit the nail on the head. It’s a participatory relationship – not a sit on the couch and entertain me one. Thanks!
Caleb
June 25, 2013Yes, Debi, I think it’s really important that we not forget that we are called to serve and work in the Kingdom of God. Too often we just want to sit on our rumps and be “ministered” to. Thanks for your comment!
tcavey
June 25, 2013Great post- love the “fat” analogy!
I posted this week on the importance of knowing the word of God, of having a relationship with Him.
It’s sad that there are so many Christian’s who never open their Bibles except on Sundays (and maybe not even then because so many churches have slides with the verses on them).
I don’t need man to teach me God’s word. The Holy Spirit will guide me into the Truth if I will take the time and seek Truth in the Word of God.
Caleb
June 25, 2013TC I’m convinced that we sometimes we follow great teachers and pastors more than we do Jesus. You’re right we need to be opening God’s Word ourselves and asking the Holy Spirit to teach us.
Dave Arnold
June 26, 2013Good post! You are so right: many folks have bought into the consumer mentality. As result, we have church “shopping” and 7-steps to whatever teachings… It’s disconcerting. I think having a regular diet of Scripture is vital!
Caleb
June 26, 2013Dave, we live in a consumer oriented society and unfortunately much of that has spilled over into the church. Thanks for stopping by.
David
June 26, 2013This can be applied in so many ways. Personal application is huge. Regardless of content or talent, if people are hearers only, they are deceiving themselves. It also carries with it the responsibility of the teachers. Teachers must guard themselves, their hearts, their families, their motives, their humility, and their teachings.
Caleb
June 26, 2013You’re right is applicable in other areas. I think God’s Word tends to be like that. Thanks for commenting!
Michael Holmes
June 26, 2013Yes…I’m becoming a fat Christian. This is one of the reasons I went on a Daniel fast for 40 days. Besides a major spiritual issue in my city I needed to learn to disciple my stomach.
Caleb
June 27, 2013Discipline is all areas of life is a good thing! So what is a Daniel 40 day fast like?
Eileen
June 26, 2013“Don’t feel like you need to try everything” That’s the hard one for me, Caleb. When there are so many choices it’s hard for me to pick and choose and then it becomes hard to manage my time. Good reminders.
Caleb
June 27, 2013I have to keep reminding myself that there are a limited amount of hours in each day and even if I had all the time in the world I still wouldn’t be able to read all the books I wanted to and listen to all the sermons.
Julie Mattern
June 27, 2013Caleb,
As one who needs to get fit physically as well as spiritually, I can relate to both kinds of fatness! Am working on both, by the way.
Caleb
June 27, 2013Julie, blessings to you on your pursuit!
Dan Black
June 30, 2013What an important topic Caleb. God calls us to be stewards of our body and health. Which means we have to take care of our body.
Caleb
June 30, 2013You’re right Dan, being a steward with our physcial and spiritual health is vital if we want to be faithful to our God!
Loren Pinilis
July 2, 2013At my heaviest, I topped out at probably about 280. But by the grace of God, I’m down to about 195 now. I’ve got a little ways to go yet but pretty soon I will be a fit and healthy Christian!
Caleb
July 2, 2013Loren, that’s an amazing amount of weight loss, almost 100 lbs! The most important thing is to be spiritually fit and then physically fit.
When I work out I usually say this prayer, “Lord make me strong physically and stronger spiritually!’
Barb
July 5, 2013For me it helps to take one area of my life and actively work on renewing my mind, looking at things from God’s perspective, and changing my thoughts and actions. I love just general reading and studying of the Word, which I usually do in the morning, and then work on the specific area throughout the weeks whenever it comes up.
Caleb
July 13, 2013Barb, sounds like a good idea. How do you come up with what you will focus on?
Barb
July 14, 2013Sometimes God brings it up, and sometimes I choose the area of my life that is giving me the most trouble at the moment. Some of my past “projects” were eating, anger (annoyance), worry, and procrastination. And for the past year and a half I’ve been working on all areas of writing/blogging – not to get better in skills, but to bring those areas into submission under God – writing in submission, in fellowship, with pure motives, not procrastinating, not going into workaholism, not worrying about what others think, etc – writing is a huge area of temptation for me.
Guest
December 19, 2013You hit the nail on the head in this post! A lot of people are not even willing enough to put in the time and work to maintain a healthy life style. They chose convince over eating healthy.
My wife and myself are starting to eat out less and keeping meals at home. We have found this takes a little more time but we are saving money and maintaing a healthy weight in the process. Great post!