Benefits of Being Physically Active

 

Research conducted in 2018 found that pastors had higher cholesterol, higher rates of asthma, and more hypertension than other Americans. 41% were obese, compared to 29% of Americans overall, which is a major factor in these other health related concerns.

Since the time of these studies, pastors have been called upon to navigate a global pandemic, social unrest amid racial tensions, and a political discourse that is as toxic as they’ve ever seen.

The 2018 research found that an alarming number of pastors were overly stressed, experiencing anxiety and depression, and pressed by financial concerns. These risk factors are even more elevated among pastors now than they were then.

In short, pastors are in bad shape—in more ways than one.

There is little pastors can do to change many of the factors that are leading to their stress and anxiety. If pastors could, they would have shut off the pandemic three weeks in. But they can’t do that anymore than they can slow inflation or stop the insanity that is our national politics.

But that isn’t to say that there isn’t anything they can do to ensure a better quality (and longevity) of life. Pastors who focus on their physical health through a balanced diet and regular exercise will experience myriad benefits large and small, as will their families and their churches.

Here are at least three reasons why pastors need to invest in their physical fitness.

1. Your Family Will Be Grateful if You Live Longer and Healthier.

Maybe you are overweight, perhaps even technically obese, living a sedentary lifestyle—but generally doing okay. You don’t have any major health concerns. You can move around enough to perform your duties as pastor. So you’re not that concerned.

Be that as it may, now is the perfect time to consider increasing your physical activity, becoming intentional about your nutrition, and attempting to get your weight within a healthy range. Too many men wait until a major medical scare before they start taking their health and fitness seriously. For some, they never get the chance, as their health crisis is fatal or extremely life altering.

You might not be old yet. But you’re definitely not getting any younger. Get serious about your health and physical fitness.

Your family sacrifices so much by partnering with you in ministry. Don’t live in such a way that increases the likelihood that they will also have to sacrifice you to an early grave. Don’t live in such a way that increases the likelihood that they will have to sacrifice, both financially and emotionally, to come alongside you as you endure health concerns that you didn’t need to experience.

Invest in your physical fitness and eat a balanced diet, if for no other reason, because you love your family.

2. Your Mental Health Is Inextricably Tied to Your Physical Health.

As I said above, there is nothing you can do about the fact that you just had to pastor through a pandemic or that a new election cycle is seemingly always looming, each one more inane than the last. However, if you are physically healthy, regularly exercising and eating well, you will have a greater capacity to regulate your stress and emotions amid these challenges.

And that’s because the health of our minds is inextricably connected to the health of our bodies. When you’re not well, you’re not likely to feel well. What’s more is that our physical and mental health are also connected to our spiritual health.

That’s why Paul told the Thessalonian church, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

On a practical level, your mental health will be boosted when you discover that you can climb a flight of stairs without breaking a sweat, that your clothes fit better, and that you haven’t fallen into a food coma after lunch. These new realities will likely galvanize you, giving you enthusiasm for the important work you do as a pastor.

Your mind, your heart, and your soul are likely to be invigorated by virtue of your body being healthier.

3. You’ll Be More Effective in Ministry if You Aren’t Hampered by Unnecessary Health Concerns.

It’s difficult to avoid the fact that if you suffer from chronic fatigue or physical limitations due to injury or disease, your ministry will be negatively impacted. You will likely be less emotionally present for your people. Your mind will be less sharp, which means poorer decision making, and likely less insightful sermons. Your weekly schedule may be interrupted by an unusually high number of doctor visits or all-too-frequent sick days.

Focusing on your physical fitness through balanced nutrition and regular exercise will help stave off some of these things.

Now, some health concerns are unavoidable. Illness and injury are an inevitable part of living in our fallen world. Even if you live a healthy lifestyle, you may still get cancer. Even if you do functional exercise every week, you may still step off a curb and tear your ACL. These things happen.

In other words, please don’t take me to mean that if you suffer an injury or illness that keeps you from doing everything you wish you could be doing in ministry that you are morally culpable. Further, it is not outside the scope of God’s power and grace to use the very thing that you feel hampers your ministry to bring glory to his name in a way that you could not have otherwise imagined. Paul is our prime example of that (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Nevertheless, there are things we can do to decrease the likelihood that we will be hampered unnecessarily by disease and other health concerns. Be faithful to do those things.

Where To Start

If you haven’t been to the gym since you played baseball in high school, and you aren’t even sure how to put together a nutrition plan that will be in any way healthy, it can feel daunting.

The good news is that there is a ton of help available to you. It may cost you, both in terms of time and money, but these are worthy investments.

First, consider joining a gym. If you have a gym membership but aren’t exactly sure what to do once you get there, you may consider paying for a personal trainer or purchasing an exercise plan that will ensure that you have a well balanced exercise regimen.

If you are looking to join a gym, you may also consider something that is structured around classes with coaches, such as a bootcamp, CrossFit gym, or even a cycling gym. This way, all you have to do is show up, and a professional coach will guide you from there, making sure that you get a good workout without injuring yourself.

These kinds of gyms are also great places to build community, which helps keep you accountable and encouraged. It also allows you to build relationships with people in your community who don’t attend your church.

Looking at your diet, you will want to make changes that are sustainable. This may mean changing how you eat incrementally. Consider consulting with a nutritionist, who can help assess how many calories you should consume in a day, and teach you how to ensure that they are the right kind of calories.

In the process, remember that, just like everything else in your life as a pastor, it’s a journey. You aren’t going to go from couch potato to olympic athlete overnight. But over the course of a few months, you can go from couch potato to pastor who has better health, more energy, and greater strength to tackle everything that God has called you to. Strive for that.

This article originally appeared on ChurchLeaders.com and is reposted here by permission.

Dale Chamberlain
Dale Chamberlainhttp://ChurchLeaders.com

Dale Chamberlain is content manager for ChurchLeaders.com. With experience in pastoral ministry as well as the corporate marketing world, he is also an author and podcaster who is passionate about helping people tackle ancient truths in everyday settings.