Some churches around the country are pushing new efforts to fight obesity in their communities. From an article in today’s NACBA newsletter titled, “Churches pair faith with fat-fighting to curb obesity”, Colleen Jenkins (I like her first name, by the way) talks about various churches who are banning foods like fried chicken and promoting things like “Salad Sundays” along with regular exercise.
This is not only great for fighting back against the growing numbers in obesity ratings, but it is placing respect back onto our bodies and treating them in a way that is reflexive of God’s word:
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own…” -1 Corinthians 6:19
The article goes on to say that this trend is growing and many of these communities are working towards healthier lifestyles. In 2009, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was even awarded $5 million in grants to 22 faith-based organizations that work to increase exercise and healthy eating through community advocacy.
“The gospel is a gospel of spirit, soul and body,” said Flowers, senior pastor at the Faith Outreach Center International in San Antonio. “We pay a lot of attention to the spirit side and very little attention to the body side.”
Does your church do anything to promote good health?