I’ve often asked myself the question of how a Christian man should approach physical fitness. The more I think about it, the more I conclude that even though there might be valid discussions to be had as to the extent to which a man should care about it, pursuing physical fitness is an absolute necessity, especially for the modern Christian man.
Christian life is a fight. We struggle against our sins, against endless temptations, against the natural suffering of life, and seek standards of excellence that are just short of impossible. All of this demands endurance from us, and a strong back to carry our cross and help those around us carry theirs.
This is not merely a metaphorical truth. It’s a physical one. The fact of the matter is that a strong body begets a strong mind and soul. That means a fit, strong man will likely develop strength of spirit and will too. He will be mentally and spiritually ready to take on bigger challenges and bigger risks. He will be able to protect his people better. He’ll be able to speak with more authority. And he’ll be able to bring more people to Christ by becoming an image of higher values.
The Importance Of Training For A Man
Physical development will also allow us to become more useful for those around us and to The Lord whom we serve:
It makes you more fit to serve: Maybe right now, at your present role, you don’t see how physical fitness is of any use to you, but what if you are soon called to play a role that does require it? What if someone you loved needed your strength and endurance, and you didn’t have it because you chose to ignore this aspect of masculine development?
It helps give your message more weight: The messenger very often matters more than the message itself. If you want people to take you seriously, you need to embody your philosophy with every fiber of your being, and if you aim to share a message of strength, discipline, courage and honor, you have a responsibility to be seen as strong, disciplined, courageous. A powerful physique shows these are virtues you live by.
It shows you care about virtue, discipline, fortitude, and beauty: Again, the first impression that you give can be enough to prove that you value higher ideals and are committed to living by them.
It shows that our faith encompasses all areas of our lives, not merely the spiritual realm: Many seem to think the journey of faith is merely a spiritual one. But we are not just spiritual beings, we are physical ones too. True faith requires a constant pursuit of virtue not merely in the spiritual realm, but everywhere. As Christian men, we must be the leaders that show how holistic our faith is, and how it doesn’t keep us from pursuing greatness but rather pushes us towards it.
It teaches you to be consistent, toughens your mind, helps you battle laziness and gluttony: There is no better way to sharpen your mind than a rigorous physical training regime. You will develop self-control, discipline, and fight effeminacy by adhering to a strict workout program.
It helps you lead better, and provide a sense of safety for those who depend on you: Your physical presence should make others feel safe and protected. Only by developing your body will you be able to do this.
It’s important to note that physical training and being physically fit is a necessary pursuit, but it shouldn’t be the central one for a Christian man. Our mission is to pursue sanctity and perfection under Christ, and further God’s Kingdom on earth. Physical fitness is a useful tool for that purpose, but it cannot become your end goal or main focus. You are not supposed to idolize your body and fall into narcissism and self-worship. That’s a common pitfall for those who begin striving for physical improvement.
Where Most Fail
From what I’ve seen, most men tend to approach physical fitness in one of two —equally flawed— ways: they either disregard physical fitness entirely, claiming it to be irrelevant and unnecessary for anyone with a desire to grow spiritually, or they pursue it out of vanity, for the sole purpose of looking “hot” and being attractive. The former never develop their bodies at all, while the latter focus exclusively on their looks, forgetting to purify their intention and pursue fitness for the right reasons.
Very few actually take a holistic approach to fitness and pursue physical development properly, to develop their bodies so that they can move them better, use them for longer, and thus not only enjoy the full potential that God gave them when He made them men, but also to make sure that they have the capabilities to use their bodies in a useful way if their mission requires it.
Imagine your loved ones depending on your strength and you being unable to help them. Imagine them requiring your assistance physically and your muscles being just for show. We are called to serve others, to lead and sacrifice, and we will be better at this job if our bodies are not only strong and beautiful but also functional, resistant, athletic, healthy.
Conclusion
The Christian man who neglects his body has not really paid attention to the meaning of the Incarnation. God did not take on flesh as something secondary and meaningless, but to sanctify the body, and make it an instrument for holiness. Refusing to see it as such means perverting a beautiful, God-given gift. Train, then, but do it to please and honor God, not merely to look better or gain approval and attention. Do it because you have been given a body capable of strength and beauty, and you are accountable for what you do with it.
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
Just start somewhere. Pick up something heavy, run until it hurts, or simply find a way to experience what it’s like to be truly exhausted. Find a discipline and then hold it consistently. The specifics here matter way less than the courageous decision to take your physical formation seriously, with all that that implies. If you’re truly aiming to fulfill your role as a father and husband properly, you simply cannot afford the luxury of a soft, weak body.
Ad Maiora Nati Sumus,
Juan
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This is a terrific piece. I may write a column on this topic myself.
I really like the warning about making it central to your life. This is something that’s been bugging me lately. I feel like we definitely have the capacity for self delusion in alot of ways. We do exactly what the world does but we frame it in such a way that it comes from a place of selflessness. …”you can’t show up for others without first showing up for yourself…” or something like that. It’s narcissism and self help masked as something you’re doing for someone else. But if family time or service is replaced by meal prepping or whatever, then I feel we’ve lost the plot. I could be wrong but it’s been nagging at me lately and my actual motivations needed to be challenged