{This was a paper I submitted last week. I really enjoyed writing on this topic because it is easily my greatest passion as a member of the body. I’m so excited to close this chapter on my education (for awhile) and step out on mission in my community. Regardless of how grim things may appear, Christ always has the power to move, He just needs willing warriors. I hope this gets you fired-up.}
Biblical Support for Population Health
“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Genesis 3:7, KJV). Was this awareness the beginning of a physical attack that still wages today? According to Scripture, God created man in his image; He looked upon his creation and deemed it “very good” (Genesis 1:31, KJV). Prior to the fall, Genesis 2:25 states, “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed”(KJV). The shame that came with biting into fruit from the tree of knowledge still lingers today and manifests itself in so many ways regarding our health.
I am a personal trainer and operate a faith based wellness blog. When I examine the multidimensional attack on our physical, spiritual, and emotional health, I can’t help but reflect on that moment in the garden; that moment when the eyes became aware of the flesh and the feelings of shame were introduced. It paints a far larger picture of health. It indicates that health is not just diet, exercise, or a number on a scale, but rather it is deeply tied to our spiritual and emotional wellbeing. Poor health has the ability to derail a spiritual mission, and render a society useless against supernatural assaults. For the body is the first gift we receive as we enter this world, and it is the last gift we surrender as we transition to eternity. It is the vehicle for which we carry out His plan, His purpose, and our unique piece in the story He is telling. The following will examine this concept in depth using the support of Biblical Scripture. I will present and analyze the blueprint for health that I believe our Father so generously wove into His Word. Finally, I will solidify my stance that population health should be part of the Christian mission.
The Spiritual Importance of Health
Given the health epidemic that this nation is facing, I believe it is vitally important to consider spiritual warfare as the root cause. As previously noted, our bodies are our vehicles for this life, and while the devil is keen on capitalizing on external situations in our lives, he is the controller of flesh and that will always remain his first line of attack. He resides in the extremes that bound our physical health. We see it in gluttony, just as we see it in vanity. Proverbs 23:30, “Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh” (KJV). Gluttony does not only spawn excess, it is the father of bulimia and anorexia as well. For at the heart of gluttony is a lie. The lie tells us that the void that must be filled with God can be replaced with the instant yet fleeting comfort of food, or the beauty that can only be defined by the Creator can be substituted with the false gratification that comes from fitting into a severely distorted and ever changing image of beauty. In an instant gratification and excess driven society, how do we continue to miss that the inventor of theses lusts is at the heart of it all?
The good news is God provided us with a blueprint for health, as well as warnings against this assault in His Word. Indeed, there is not a current physical, spiritual, or emotional health issue that God did not provide an answer for. He is very clear in his instruction: “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11, KJV). This includes our temples. As 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (ESV). As Christians we must not minimize the importance of our health, as by doing so we are crippling our spiritual lives as well. My personal motto is, “temple stronger to serve Him longer”. This is a major part of the Christian calling that is not to be ignored, and should arguably be one of this nation’s Christian’s chief concerns.
Physical Health
In terms of physical nutrition, God provides a wealth of knowledge in the first book of Daniel. In fact Pastor Rick Warren, Dr. Daniel Amen, and Dr. Mark Hyman (2013) base their scripturally based weight loss plan on the book of Daniel. They combine the nutritional guidance of Daniel with the Scriptural instruction to stay in fellowship with one another, to help Christians find health and balance in their life (Warren et al., 2013). The foundation of his book comes from Daniel 1:8-17:
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams (ESV).
God not only rewarded Daniel with physical youthfulness, but He also blessed him with wisdom and knowledge; both the mental and physical benefited from these sound dietary adjustments. What’s additionally wonderful about this story is that modern science continues to support that healthy eating increases mental soundness and clarity, as well as physical longevity and vitality (Partridge, 2012).
In terms of physical activity, I believe that much can be inferred through The Sabbath that was inspired by creation. God created the universe and all that it contains in six days and He then rested on the seventh day (Genesis 1:1-31, KJV). He commands His people to honor that work, rest cycle as well. He commands, “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest” (Exodus 34:21). In fact, it is a powerful theme of the Old Testament. However, in the New Testament the concept of the Sabbath as being a “command” is clarified by Jesus when he states, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). In my opinion, this is very thought provoking in terms of health. If the work, rest cycle commanded of us in Exodus is for us, then in what way? I would venture to argue that it is about our health. God as our creator knows exactly how much work we need, as well as rest. He gives us instructions because He knows what it takes for us to physically and mentally thrive. In fact, I have tested this theory in my personal life. When I am active and productive for six days, and commit to rest for the final day of the week, I have more energy, mental clarity, and my mood is elevated. However, if I do not take rest or I take too much rest, I feel fatigued, moody, and weak. In a society that tends to either be overly obsessed with productivity or shamefully lazy and lifeless, I believe following the instruction presented in Exodus 34:21, could produce dramatic improvements in our health.
Spiritual Health
Just as the Scripture consistently presses the importance of working hard and avoiding idleness, there is also great emphasis on balance and placing your energy on things of value. As Jesus is visiting the home of Martha, her sister, Mary, sits listening to Jesus speak, while Martha is busy working. Martha is upset with her sister and says to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work myself? (Luke 10:40, NIV), Jesus replied, “‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41-42, NIV). Nothing speaks louder to a generation of busy bodies. We work so hard at things that are fleeting because we are socially conditioned to do so, yet Jesus reminds us of what is important, Him. Stress is such an incredible burden on our physical, spiritual and emotional health. Sadly, our environment is the ideal breeding ground for stress. Stress causes worry, and worry is the antitheses of faith. An excellent way to combat the stress of life is to slow down, honor the rest, and make time to kneel at the feet of Jesus.
Emotional Health
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV). If life is a race, and we are the runners, then is it our Christian mission that drives us. An individual who spends time with The Lord will inevitable see that they are created for a great purpose. There comes a moment when you no longer ask God for more, but you being asking “what more can I do?” Surrendering brings freedom, and in that freedom a new level of emotional health is found. According to Matthew 10:39, “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (NIV). The most emotionally healthy people are focused outwardly to God and to the services of others. For it is self-focus that often brings emotional stress. Perhaps the greatest freedom from self comes through fulfilling this Scripture: “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24).
Conclusion
Total health cannot be achieved by being only physically, emotionally, or spiritually healthy, but rather total health is found by devoting energy to all three areas. First, we must surrender our lives to God, and through that surrender we discover a fire that motivates to us to live our lives for Him and His children. In order to fulfill our purpose and make a difference with the time we are given, it is imperative that we take care of our temples and go on mission in our local communities as advocates for health. The corruption of the food, health, and fitness industries are ours to fix, and it is our duty to lead the way in this effort. A healthy Christian population is a powerful one capable of igniting a revolution and taking our nation back for Christ.
Love You Guys,
Alaina XOXO
References
The Bible. (ESV).
The Bible. (KJV).
The Bible. (NIV).
Partridge, L. (2012). Diet and healthy aging. The New England Journal of Medicine, 367(26), 2550-1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1261051499?accountid=12085
Warren, R., Amen, D., Hyman, M. (2013). The daniel plan: 40 days to a healthier life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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