Introduction to Fitness Theology

Fitness Theology is where Faith and Fitness meet.

To continue building our faith and fitness bridge, let’s begin with a few basic definitions:

• Fitness – the ability to perform a task; the expression of physical attributes resulting in a person’s ability to survive, work and play. Do you want to be fit? Choose a task you would like to perform (or perform better.) A fit mom can pick up her 3 year old without bothering her back. A fit basketball player can jump off of one foot without bothering his knees. A fit pro-lifer can stand on a side walk holding a sign for 6 hours without his back aching for the next three days. Fitness is relative to what you want to do, and each task requires specific attributes (strength, balance, endurance, flexibility, etc) to perform them. The more attributes you express, the more “fit” you are considered by most standards.
• Theology – the study of religion and the nature of God. Are we all not theologians to some extent? Sure we don’t have a divinity degree from the Catholic University of America, but aren’t we all thinking about religion and God. For this purpose, can we look at religion as a mechanism for communing, exploring and expressing our faith in God?

Fitness Theology therefore looks at the relationship between all of these ideas while primarily exploring this thought:

God did a really good job (perfect actually) making us, creating our food and providing us with the intuition and guidance necessary to live a happy, healthy and fulfilling life. The more we mess with it, the more we deny it, the more we choose to ignore it, the more problems we have.

Fitness Theology explores this idea in a variety of contexts, from our behavior, food, stress levels and thoughts to exercise and the effects these have on the expression of our physical and spiritual health.

Fitness Theology explores the idea that just as foods are healthiest in their most natural state, unlike processed food products, we are born in an open and spiritually healthy state before being processed by today’s modern, culture combined with our free will.

It seems the same things keeping us from being spiritually healthy, (defined as our readiness to hear and act on our calling that may lead to a “life of faith” or life of purpose) including our ego, worry about reputation, temptations, fear, sin, poor relationships, attitude, busy-ness, self-centeredness, selfishness, consuming modern day culture (TV,social media) – may just be the things that are keeping us from being physically healthy (defined as our ability to work, play and express ourselves coupled with the absence of sickness, disease, obesity and/or plain unhappiness.)

Fitness Theology goes on to explore three potential keys to restoring health (depicted by the Personal Health Stepping Stool to the right),

1. engaging in a strong, healthy, supportive community,
2. expressing one’s God-given talents and gifts to serve others,
3. being open to and discerning one’s purpose and actively living out this purpose.

These keys not only apply to restoring an individual’s health, but also restoring the health and strength of a church or parish community. Neglecting just one of these keys will make one’s fitness and/or spiritual journey much more challenging.

How are you currently engaging in each of these three keys to strong health? Are you a part of a supportive community? Are you supporting others in your community? Are you being supported? Do you feel you are expressing your God-given gifts and talents in service?

Where there is challenge, there is prayer. So here is my fitness theology prayer:

God, help us get back to the basics and simplicity of food, human movement and expression. Help us reach a place of higher thinking for the sake of de-cluttering our mind, body and heart in order to hear Your calling and live a life of purpose and fulfillment. Amen.

*My use of the phrase “higher thinking” refers to 1 Corinthians 14:20: Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. God challenges us to think like Him and be aware of when we are doing otherwise.

My goal is not to be a perfect Catholic or the most fit person in the world. My mission instead is to be a disciple of Christ. A disciple is first and foremost a student, and being a student of faith and fitness has been an exciting and enlightening journey for me. I hope you can follow along and share the experience.