Book Review: A Little Theology of Exercise by David Mathis

As the new year begins, I am sure many of you have made New Year's resolutions. If I had to guess which resolution most will have their list, I would say losing weight or exercise more than last year. There is nothing wrong with that goal yet some many give up within a month, a week, or even a day of trying. 

There are some that say exercising is not that big of a deal in the Christian life. Some would say our spiritual growth is more important. So, the question is our spiritual health more than important than our physical well-being or are both important? David Mathis addresses this question and others in his latest book, A Little Theology of Exercise.

Mathis points out that our spiritual formation and maturing in Christ is vitally important but caring for our bodies are essential as well. He said, "We train our souls through conditioning our bodies. and what we do with our souls can greatly affect our bodies." Mathis is not being legalistic here. What is saying that the body does matter and we should do our best to take care of it. Not caring for our bodies does affect us in various ways.

Mathis goes on in the book saying we can make exercise Christian as we seek to honor the Lord as we take care of it. Mathis points us various passages of Scripture regarding our bodies. Mathis shows his readers that God has made our bodies even though sin has seized it. Jesus came in a human body and God dwells in the body through His Spirit. The body is not something God cast to the side. He made it to honor Him. 

Mathis shows us we honor God by caring for our bodies and it does help condition us spiritually. While physical health is important, it does not mean it is more important than spiritual growth. As the Apostle Paul wrote that "bodily training is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:8, LSB). 

There are not many Christian books on exercise that I am aware of. If there are any, it is usually from a worldly point of view. Mathis gives a Biblical worldview on exercise that does not make anyone feel guilty because they have not done enough exercise in their lifetime. So, take, read, and then go for a walk to the glory of God.

I received this book from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.