This is my response for a school assignment. They are just my personal views. I hope they are helpful or at least encouraging.
Lifestyle has been an extremely relevant issue for my wife and I since we were in high school. One of our first conversations on our first date was about how much we value a healthy, active lifestyle. Now as we are married, we are committed to striving to please God as we honor the temple he gave us. Not only do we want to please God, but we want to be an example to those in our community of what a healthy God honoring lifestyle looks like. We have much to grow in this area as it is so easy to become lazy with time or simply busy. But we are convinced that gluttony and laziness is a sin that the Church in this nation has swept under the carpet. If Paul address’s it in 1 Corinthians and Colossians, I know it is important to us as well.
I was taken back to read that smoking is the leading cause of preventable diseases. When I think about it, I am not surprised. I cannot imagine my grandparents era when a cigarette was portrayed by Hollywood as “in” or “impressionable” as Disaronno or Bacardi Limon is now. The coined phrase is true: cigarettes are cancer sticks. In my further discussion of lifestyle, I do not wish preach a false representation of what it means to “glorify God with our bodies, (1 Cor 6:20) as Paul says with our bodies. I realize in the direct context of this verse, Paul is speaking about sexual immorality and not putting the Holy Spirit through prostitution. I think this truth correlates and relates to health as well as Paul address food a few verses earlier in chapter 6. So in the following two paragraphs I will address my personal views on what it means for me to live out 1 Corinthians 6:20 in our present age of culturally accepted gluttony and debauchery (of all major issues discussed in the chapter.)
I believe at my age of 23, I should be considered fit, athletic, or in shape (they all have the same meaning to me). I have no medical or genetic disabilities that I am aware of. I believe sweets that are high in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, and other similarly researched dietary foods should be regarded as a treat, or a non consistent pleasure. Studies show trans-fat has virtually no positive effects for the body. While there may be few in saturated fats, I tend to err on the side that these foods should be eaten once a week as a treat, or at minimum a very low daily amount. I obviously have no training or formal education in nutrition, but from my experience and what I have read, this has worked for me. I try, (and since I have been married there have been stretches of time when try is far too strong a word), to balance my diet with the adequate amount of protein, carbohydrates, mono and polyunsaturated fats, and fiber. A typical meal for me consists of red potatoes, a form of meat, and vegetables. My snack tend to be nuts, fruits, and vegetables, however cereal and peanut butter mixed with chocolate chips tends to be my downfall. I have much to grow in. I don’t give my body enough vitamins and minerals and am very ignorant about them. But I do strive to have a balanced meal plan.
Exercise is another passion of mine, at one time an idol. I do not think everyone must sign up for a gym or even do the exercises I do. But I believe everyone must exercise, and exercise consistently. I now realize how authentically difficult it is for an adult to carve out even a half hour a day to exercise, and I don’t even have children! There was a stretch the past few months when I went two weeks without exercising. One day I ran up our three flights of stairs and was out of breath. I realized I needed to get back in cardiovascular shape because I am twenty three! That is unacceptable. So, I believe people should work out with God what exercise looks like for them, but I believe that we should exercise. Daily walking has been a proven exercise that puts low stress on joints, burns calories, and stimulates blood flow. I think this is a great place to start. For most men and women, I think pushups, pull-ups, hiking, biking, walking, and swimming are all phenomenal exercises that have low risk for injury. I will conclude my section of fitness with an advisory. I have talked with three certified and trained personal trainers, two of whom are CrossFit certified. They all have seen more damage done in a traditional gym (I am speaking of weight training) than good. Many go to a gym go for reasons of cultural and “adult peer pressure”, if you will. The Lord wants us to be excellent in all we do. I think if we are going to commit to a traditional gym membership, we must know personally how to properly lift weights or at least know that the trainers the gym hires are certified personal trainers. We cannot risk injury or permanent muscle, joint, bone etc. damage.
Lastly and thankfully, we come to the issue of tobacco and alcohol. Simply put, I don’t smoke anything for health reasons, cultural reasons. I have not researched the Old Testament and Hebrew views on fumigation to give a personal opinion. I drink socially and only socially. I drink in controlled moderation. I have seen the tragic effects of drunkenness and it scares me.
All in all, this is my personal application of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. And I will leave with this verse, for my words are just mine, but God’s stand the test of time. “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, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
JN
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