Idolatry and Our Bodies By Dr. Joshua Trock

Note: This is the fourth installment of a seven part series we will feature on Sunday on the important topic of a Christian Theology of Health by Dr. Joshua Trock.  His Twitter account can be found here.

Idolatry and Our Bodies 

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor 6:19-20 

Gym rats. Cardio queens. Muscles Heads. CrossFit fanatics. In my previous articles I began each premise with the assumption that most of us are not eating healthy or exercising on a regular basis. I put focus on showing why there is a theological “ought” behind glorifying God with our health that included eating right and exercising. In this article I want to shift focus to the other extreme where a Christian may be taking healthy eating, sports and fitness to the point of idolatry. My hope is that we can use the same biblical grounding I put forth in my previous articles to create a robust guide to curb either extreme and to help align our thinking and planning to best glorify God with the freedom that we have regarding our health.  

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Invent Your Own Religion, You Could Win Up to 5 Grand

Huffington Post has an article titled “If You Could Invent A Religion, What Would It Look Like?” which tells us that apparently “one organization is paying $5,000 for the best suggestion.”  I imagine whatever that made up religion that would win first place wouldn’t look like Christianity.  It definitely wouldn’t emphasize on the sinfulness of man–it’s too much an affront against man’s desire for self-righteousness.

According to the HuffPo’s article, “The challenge is being run entirely on Facebook and is one of several contests 92Y is hosting in the lead up to its “7 Days of Genius” festival.”  I thought it was interesting that the word “Genius” was invoked.  What does God think about it?

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth ^[l]in unrighteousness,¹⁹ because that which is known about God is evident ^[m]within them; for God made it evident to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.²¹ For even though they knew God, they did not ^[n]honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and ^[o]crawling creatures. ²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. ²⁵ For they exchanged the truth of God for ^[p]a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed ^[q]forever. Amen.

Romans 1:18-25

Far from genius.  The whole endeavor reveal the inclination of man to construct idols.  Invent Your Own Religion, You Could Win Up to 5 Grand.  But then the costs of making your own religion is not worth it in light of Romans 1:18.

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