Lately I’ve been rethinking if I want to continue my gym membership.  Right now, I’m leaning toward no. I had this thought recently pop into my head, “I wonder, if Jesus had a six pack?” My conclusion, yes, I think He did. Now, I don’t think Jesus did crunches, planks, px90 or other ab exercises in order to obtain that “washboard” look that body builders go after. But I think he was in excellent physical condition. Core strengthening exercises do help and have an impact on our abdominal muscles. However, diet has more to do with it than exercise. The six-pack is already there, but for most it’s hidden due to excess body fat.

Jesus was a carpenter who engaged in daily physical labor, walked 100’s and 100’s of miles, ate healthy, and rested well. Jesus didn’t obsess over His body, but I’m certain He knew how to take care of it. After all He was there in the beginning with God when He fashioned our bodies and breathed into the nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being.

I’m and avid exerciser, I love to run, I enjoy sports and engage in physical activity, and do some strength training.  So, my decision to likely discontinue my gym membership is more about motive and mindset rather than minimizing my exercise program.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made, God created us body, mind, and soul, and I believe He expects us to take care of all three. And please don’t quote 1^st Timothy 4:8 “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things” as an excuse or argument to not take care of your physical body. You need to look at the context of that verse and not use it in isolation. There are dozens of verses in both the Old and New Testament that address the care of our bodies including gluttony, dietary considerations, observing Sabbath rest and others.

I recognize 2000 years after Jesus walked this earth that things have changed. We drive our cars rather than walking where we want or need to go. Most of the jobs in today’s work force involve little to no physical labor or activity, and so the need for exercise and physical activity is for sure needed. Our food supply has changed drastically, and highly processed foods have replaced natural healthy ones. They are convenient and require less preparation, even though they do anything but contribute to good health.

So here are a few things to think about. Instead of walking on a treadmill like a hamster on a wheel, riding a stationary bike that goes nowhere, try walking or running in a local park or a hiking trail, ride a real bike. Rather than doing sets upon sets of bench presses, curls, leg presses or deadlifts, I’d rather bench press and curl my grandchildren. Consider long leisurely walks, work in the yard, dig in the dirt, plant a garden, rake leaves. Play in a park, try tennis, basketball, soccer, get outdoors. If you want to do strength training, you don’t necessarily need a gym.  Body weight exercises requiring little to no equipment and are quite effective for strength training.

Also, I don’t need to be in a gym environment where I  Constantly must guard my mind and eyes because of the skimpy workout gear others are wearing that are designed to draw attention to themselves and have nothing to do with improving exercise performance.

Want abs? Engage in physical activity, eat healthy, stop putting toxins in your body, get the physical rest and sleep your body needs. Let’s remember the reason and purpose for exercise is to achieve optimum health and physical well-being so we can live well, not to impress others with bulging muscles or look like a trophy to be gawked at.  If anything, we are God’s trophy and we need to understand the end goal. Romans 12:1 says, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship.”

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