Exercise is an important topic for Christians to consider. The Bible does not directly command or prohibit exercise, but it provides principles that can guide believers in deciding whether to exercise and how to do it in a God-honoring way.
The Body Is a Temple of the Holy Spirit
According to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, our bodies belong to God and are temples of the Holy Spirit. This means we have a responsibility to care for our bodies because they are not ultimately ours but God’s. As His stewards, we should aim to be good stewards of the bodies He has given us.
Regular exercise can be one way to care for our physical bodies. Through exercise, we can gain strength, improve cardiovascular health, prevent certain diseases, manage weight, and experience other benefits. In this way, exercising demonstrates respect for our bodies as gifts from God. He desires for us to be good stewards of our whole being, including physical health.
Our Bodies Are Instruments for God’s Glory
The apostle Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 6:20 that we are to honor God with our bodies. He repeats this admonition in Romans 12:1, urging us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God. Part of honoring God with our bodies involves using them for His purposes and glory.
Being physically fit can enable believers to use their bodies more effectively for God’s kingdom. For example, good health allows missionaries, pastors, and laypeople to serve God through demanding travel schedules, long work hours, and other rigors of ministry. Strong bodies empower Christians to fulfill their calling and bring glory to God through their service.
Exercise Promotes Soundness of Mind
There is a close connection between physical health and mental/emotional health. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Paul prays for the Thessalonians to be sanctified completely, with their whole spirit, soul, and body kept sound. Exercising helps maintain soundness of body, which supports soundness of mind.
Studies show regular exercise can reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. It boosts energy, cognitive function, mood, self-image, and sleep quality. All of these mental/emotional benefits can enhance our spiritual life. As Christians seek to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27), exercise can be a valuable tool for promoting wholeness.
Exercise Requires Good Stewardship
While exercise offers many benefits, Christians should be careful to do it in a wise, moderate, and safe manner. As with eating and drinking, balance and self-control are key principles from the Bible that apply to exercise as well (1 Corinthians 9:25; Titus 1:8).
It is easy for exercise to become excessive and physically harmful, for example through overtraining, inadequate rest, or unsafe techniques. Christians should be good stewards of their exercise habits, not abusing their bodies through extremes. Additionally, exercising should not distract from higher priorities like worship, family, and ministry.
Believers need discernment to exercise in a reasonable way that complements their faith rather than compromising it. As Hebrews 12:11 explains, disciplinary training like physical exercise can produce a harvest of righteousness when it aligns with God’s holistic purposes for our lives.
Freedom in Christ
The New Testament makes clear that Christians have freedom in cultural matters like food, drink, and holidays (Romans 14:1-4). This freedom in Christ can also apply to exercise choices.
No specific exercise routine is inherently holier than another. Some Christians may feel called to high-intensity training programs, while others prefer lower-key activities like walking, gardening, or recreation with family and friends. There is room for each person to follow their conscience and exercise routine they find most enjoyable and appropriate.
However, in exercising their freedom, Christians must be careful not to let activities become all-consuming idols. As 1 Corinthians warns, liberty should not become license to the point of leading others into sin (1 Corinthians 8:9). Believers should ensure exercise enhances rather than harms their walk with Christ.
The Body Will Be Redeemed
While physical exercise offers benefits for this earthly life, the Bible assures Christians that their current bodies are temporary. When Christ returns, believers will receive imperishable, glorified, spiritual bodies no longer subject to disease, decay, or death (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). We will no longer need exercise for health and fitness.
This future hope provides freedom from obsessing over the current body’s flaws and declines (Philippians 3:19-21). Our exercise efforts cannot earn salvation or prevent the inevitable effects of aging. However, because we are united to Christ, our daily habits like exercise have eternal value as they are sanctified by His redeeming work.
Exercise Can Develop Godly Character
Physical training requires discipline, endurance through discomfort, delayed gratification, and perseverance. The self-denial and hard work of exercise can yield spiritual benefits by strengthening godly virtues.
1 Timothy 4:7 instructs us to train ourselves for godliness. This training involves more than just spiritual disciplines; developing Christlike character requires exertion in body, mind and spirit. The trials of exercise can promote holiness as believers learn to overcome laziness, impatience, weakness, and pride.
Additionally, exercise can be a training ground for living out biblical virtues like courage, moderation, determination, and self-control. As Christians submit their bodies to God through rigorous and careful training, their character is shaped to reflect more of Christ.
Exercise Can Provide Opportunities for Christian Fellowship
Believers are urged throughout Scripture to encourage one another in the faith (Hebrews 10:24-25; Colossians 3:16). Positive relationships and community engagement are vital for Christian discipleship.
Exercise can provide a meaningful context for interacting with other believers. Group exercise classes, running partners, sports teams, and other activities allow opportunities to form friendships and mutually build up one another. Even solo exercising outdoors can lead to organic conversations where believers might share biblical truth.
The shared experience, effort, and goals of exercise can unite Christians in fellowship. By exercising together and spurring one another on, they reflect important biblical “one another” commands.
Jesus Set an Example of Healthy Living
During His earthly ministry, Jesus modeled regular habits of rest, prayer, fasting, and presumably, physical exertion. As an itinerant Rabbi and carpenter’s son, He likely maintained a vigorous level of fitness to fulfill His travels and work.
Jesus walked extensively, covering thousands of miles throughout Judea and Galilee. In one instance, he calmed a storm while sailing with His disciples across the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35-41). This account displays His stamina against the elements. Jesus also showed great strength while forcefully driving money-changers from the Jerusalem temple (Matthew 21:12-17).
While Scripture does not detail a specific exercise regimen for Jesus, His active lifestyle exemplified wise stewardship of the earthly body God gave Him. This provides a model for Christians to follow in caring for their own health.
Exercise Can Energize Christians for Service
Jesus called His followers to actively labor for God’s kingdom through good works. In John 9:4, Christ stated, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” Serving God requires energy and effort.
Proper exercise helps prevent burnout and fatigue, empowering Christians to fulfill their vocational callings and ministry responsibilities with excellence and zeal. An idle body tends toward lethargy, while a trained body is better equipped for an active life of service. Balance is key, but wise investment in exercise can enable greater kingdom impact.
Exercise Can Be an Act of Worship
First Corinthians 10:31 tells believers, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” This includes physical exercise. By exercising faithfully, Christians can honor God with their training.
Approaching exercise as a sacred act of worship transforms it from a mundane chore into holy service to the Lord. Believers can commune with God through praying, praising, and giving thanks during their workouts. They can meditate on Scripture or listen to worship music while training. When done for God’s glory, exercise becomes a spiritual, redemptive experience.
Of course, exercise remains only one aspect of life. Christians should guard against elevating it above proper balance. But as part of good stewardship of the body temple, exercise can absolutely honor the Lord.
Conclusion
The Bible does not directly require or forbid exercise. However, key principles of stewardship, holiness, worship, fellowship, service and Christlike character provide guidance for believers. While exercise offers many benefits, it requires wisdom and moderation to avoid idolatry and imbalance.
Within biblical parameters, physical training can help Christians glorify God in their bodies. But exercise must be pursued in faith, with proper motivations and an eternal perspective. By exercising to the Lord, believers can positively grow in both physical discipline and spiritual maturity.