Keeping a Tidy Temple in the Bible Belt

• By admin
• 21 October, 2012
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With a high obesity rate in Oklahoma, the belief that your body is a temple no longer seems relevant.

Corinthian 3:16 states, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple?”

To many, this is a verse that upholds the belief that Christians ought to maintain a healthy life style.

“The Old Testament really supports a very rigid way of life,” said Reverend April Coates of Wilburton United Methodist Church. “However, New Testament churches don’t see a biblical reason for a strict way of living.”

Comparing prevalence of self-reported obesity rates among U.S. adults against percentages of state populations who are characterized as very religious Americans seems to support a low rate of healthy lifestyle among Christian-Americans.

Comparing prevalence of self-reported obesity rates among U.S. adults against percentages of state populations who are characterized as very religious Americans.

A lot of Christians do not view a healthy lifestyle as part of their religion.

“The average person doesn’t link wellness and religion,” said Caroline Hicks, Recreation Coordinator First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. “Our walk with God brings us a closer relationship with him.”

Other Christians are trying to reconnect the ideas of wellness and faith among Americans.

According to Faith and Fitness Magazine, “Often the least healthy meal we eat is at church. We create the idea of church as a cocoon from life. Somehow it’s okay to set aside what we know about nutrition for the church potluck. Church is not an escape from life. It ought to be what real life is. If a church has to offer fried chicken to draw a crowd, then something is wrong with the message.”

So, what is causing this belief that church and health food do not mix?

“The lack of healthiness is because there is no strict admonishment in the New Testament,” said Coates. “’Arise Peter, eat and kill!’ Most Methodist and Baptists take this as eat what you want. There are rules about gluttony, but we tend to ignore this.”

What changes are taking place to try to reverse the lack of wellness support from churches in Oklahoma?

“The church has acknowledged it a problem because we have so many wellness conferences and receive annual training,” said Coates. “It’s a fact that we have parishioners in our congregation that obesity is a problem for. We need to be able to offer counseling and solutions.”

Others are trying to encourage fellowship through athletics.

“I think you can find fellowship through activities,” said Hicks. “Sports teams will pray. We try to always tie in a lesson with our recreation.”

Some churches in Oklahoma have put wellness plans in place to help their congregation.

According to the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Quail Spring United Methodist Church started a wellness plan in January of 2011 that resulted in 35 out of 38 people loosing weight and increasing their daily amount of exercise.

What is the best way to lead a Christian life that includes a healthy life-style?

“I’ve never had a sermon on wellness specifically, but I have had one on moderation,” said Coates. “All things in moderation that are legal, leave the illegal out. I got obsessed with exercise and it was really unhealthy for me. If you’re feeling a little crazy you probably are. Live your life. You’re human. God understands”