Strong in Body, Strong in Spirit

We live in a world that often separates the spiritual from the physical, as if our faith is something that happens only in our minds or hearts, while our bodies are mere shells. But the testimony of Scripture and the wisdom of our Reformed heritage remind us: God made us whole persons - body and soul, inseparably united, both destined for redemption in Christ.

Your Body: A Gift and a Calling

From the dust of the earth, God formed Adam and breathed life into him, declaring his embodied creation “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Paul tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), not just containers for our souls, but instruments for worship, service, and obedience. As Reformed believers, we reject any notion that the body is ethically inferior or spiritually irrelevant. Instead, we affirm that body and soul together bear God’s image and are both included in Christ’s work of redemption.

Muscular Christianity: More Than Muscles

The Muscular Christianity movement of the 19th and early 20th centuries sought to reclaim this biblical vision, calling men to discipline, strength, and service for the sake of Christ and neighbor. While some aspects of the movement were culturally bound, its core conviction - that bodily health and strength can support spiritual health and Christian mission - remains both biblical and deeply relevant.

• Physical training builds stamina for service - whether that means loving your wife sacrificially, serving your church, or caring for those in need.
• Discipline in the gym can foster discipline in the soul. Paul himself uses athletic metaphors to call us to spiritual perseverance: “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (1 Corinthians 9:25).
• Physical health is a stewardship issue. We are called to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1).

Body and Soul: A Reformed Unity

Reformed theology teaches that our bodies and souls are distinct yet inseparable in this life. The health of one affects the other. When our bodies are weak, sick, or neglected, our spiritual vigor often suffers. When we pursue physical health-not for vanity, but for service and obedience - we often find renewed energy for prayer, worship, and good works.

Yet, we must keep perspective:

• Spiritual health is ultimate; physical health is not. Godliness “is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).
• Our hope is not in perfect bodies, but in the resurrection. Even as we train and care for our bodies, we groan for the day when Christ will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:21).

Practical Encouragement for Men

• Train your body as an act of worship. Whether you run, lift, hike, or play, do it with gratitude, prayer, and a desire to honor God.
• Let discipline in exercise spill over into spiritual disciplines. Use your workouts as times to pray, memorize Scripture, or meditate on God’s promises.
• See your strength as a resource for service. Use your energy to serve your family, your church, and your community. True strength is measured not in pounds lifted, but in burdens borne for others.
• Pursue brotherhood. Find other men who will encourage you in both physical and spiritual pursuits. Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17).

Conclusion: Strong for the Glory of God

Men, your body is not your own - it is a gift from God, redeemed by Christ, and indwelt by the Spirit. Care for it. Train it. Use it. But above all, remember that true manhood is found not in the size of your biceps, but in the strength of your faith, your love, and your willingness to lay down your life for others, as Christ did for you.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

- 1 Corinthians 10:31

Let us be men who are strong in body and strong in spirit, for the glory of God and the good of His people.