Christians Should Be the Healthiest

Why Christians Should be Healthier

When one is "born again" do all diseases and body weaknesses disappear? Obviously, that is not the case as seen in the scriptures that the Apostle Paul had a "thorn in the flesh" that he asked God to remove three times and God said no. We see other examples of God's people in the Bible being physically afflicted without being restored to normal health. Also, experience has taught us this is not true.

However, I feel Christians should be healthier than average because the Christian faith involves caring for the physical body...the temple of the Holy Spirit. We know to avoid illegal drugs, smoking, drinking in excess, immorality, and other sinful and harmful practices. Living a life that does not include violence and involves loving our neighbor protects one from physical harm. Having the "peace that passes understanding" cures emotional and mental problems.

Why Is There Little Difference in America Today?

In a typical church we see life-style caused diseases to be widespread among the young, the elderly and all ages. Large numbers within the average church are taking drugs including anti-depressants, anti-acids, and medications for blood pressure, ulcers, heart disease, diabetes, thyroid and so forth. Many are over-weight, in poor physical condition, and have had multiple surgeries for various conditions.

Why is the Christian's health status basically the same as unbelievers? Why is it a major expense for us all? It is because we have adopted the world's ways in lifestyle, diet and health care.

When We Do What They Do... We Get They Got

We tend to eat the same altered and nutritionally destroyed food in excessive amounts. We spend too much time sitting instead of being active. We load ourselves up with stressful work, and debt, and unrealistic expectations. We push too hard, and rest too little, and spend too little time in quiet meditation. Our lives often are a whirlwind of activity like the worldly system instead of "living a quiet life" as taught by scripture.

To Much Confidence in Technology...Too Little in God's Creation

Since science and technology has done so much for our lives, we may come to believe it has the answer for a long life and there is a pill or surgical procedure to solve every health problem. We forget that the almighty God with infinite intelligence and resources has created the body with an incredibly skillful, built-in doctor whose capability far exceeds any human or machine.

We take pills (all of which have harmful side effects) for everything....depression, poor digestion, foggy thinking, low energy, dizziness, heart problems, over-weight, pain, constipation, and hundreds of other disorders. More often than not, these do not cure the problem but only cover it, and require additional pills to counteract the side effects from the ones we are taking. This results in an endless cycle of dependency by failing to address the underlying cause of our health problems.

We have come to have little confidence in the body's ability to heal itself. We want an instant fix that tends to cover up the problems rather than deal with the root cause.


An Appeal to Change

I appeal to all Christians to depend first on God's way for whole person healing. Use medicine and surgery only when we have given the body a change to heal itself through prayer, optimal nutrition, and life style change.