The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines holism as a “method of treatment that is concerned with wholes or with complete systems.” It is a term often used in medicine, e.g. the healthcare provider cares for the whole human being instead of just addressing their symptoms. A holistic approach has been proven worthwhile in almost every area of life.
If we should adopt such an approach to our spirituality, we would move past nurturing our minds and souls to include our bodies too. Holistic wellness in Christianity includes the emotional, spiritual, mental, social, and physical well-being of a person from a biblical perspective. Even though this might sound like a foreign idea, we can grow in our understanding of it by considering the opposite…
What is the opposite of holistic spirituality?
There is a philosophical concept that will help us understand this better, namely “disembodied spirituality”. It is the idea that a person’s spirit is the only thing that matters. People can become more and more holy and at the same time less and less human.
Unfortunately, it happens sometimes that faith remains head-knowledge. It does not drop down into a person’s heart and it is far from being evident in their hands. The divide between the head, heart, and hands can be seen as the opposite of holistic spirituality.
“We cannot give our hearts to God and keep our bodies for ourselves.” -Elisabeth Elliot
What does the Bible say about holistic wellness?
The fact that God became flesh in Jesus Christ challenges the concept of a disembodied faith. John 1:14 tells us “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus knows what it’s like to live in a human body.
Our belief that God is only interested in our souls is not found in the Bible. The scope of sports and recreation in the world is massive, yet the Church has not dealt with this important field enough. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” The fact that we were created in the image of God, that life is a gift from Him, and that we get to share the Gospel with others should motivate us to desire health and wellness.
Even though the Bible does not speak directly about sports (although describes it metaphorically), it is full of principles that help us evaluate our participation as Christians in the world of fitness. A biblical theology of creation, humanity, rest, and pleasure can lead us to form a healthy theology of sport. Sports are the result of a combination of God-given abilities and creative expression through bodily movement, so it might be considered a form of worship.
There is not a single area of life that remains untouched when someone encounters the love of God. Our physical wellness is included. Your health and fitness matters because God wants you to flourish and have life to the full. We were created to live in relationship with other people and sports offer a great mode for developing missional discipleship relationships.
If physical issues that are caused by inactivity are keeping you from sharing the Gospel and living out your missional calling authentically, it might be time to pause. Reflect on your identity, purpose, and meaning. Ask God to show you what He sees when He looks at you. You are His beloved child, fearfully and wonderfully made for the praise of His glory.
“God created it. Jesus died for it. The Spirit lives in it. I better take care of it.”- Rick Warren
Integrating faith and fitness
For holistic wellness, health has to go beyond fitness programs and wellness retreats. In the same way that our faith should spill over in our bodies; it can be an equal danger to focus too much on our bodies. This happens when we make our bodies our idols and we spend more time caring about our own appearance or health than we care about the things of God.
A balanced approach is needed. 1 Timothy 4:8 tells us “…physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Even though this article made the point that a holistic approach to faith matters, we need to remember what is the most important.
“Armor before iron. If we haven’t opened our Bibles or hit our knees, then lifting waits.” – Jimmy Pena
If you want to serve through sport and recreation in the mission of God, check out our undergraduate and graduate Sports Management and Sports Mission courses at Missional University.
Eljoh Hartzer is combining theology and art to nurture faith journeys across generations. She is a masters-level practical theologian with the University of Stellenbosch. She is also a writer and editor in the niche of Christianity and children’s content and she illustrates children’s books. Eljoh resides in the Swartland area in the Western Cape province of South Africa. She is a staff writer at Missional University focusing on missional theology and practice.
