What Does The Bible *Really* Say About Body Image, Working Out, & Dieting?

Discussion:

• What are the common messages of the world about body image, fitness, working out, and dieting?
• How do you find these fit in with living a Christian lifestyle?

Related Scripture:

• 1 Peter 3:3-4
  • “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
• 1 Samuel 16:7
  • “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'”
• Psalm 129:14
  • “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
  • “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
• Proverbs 31:30
  • “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
• Genesis 1:26-27
  • “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may tule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in His own image, and in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.”
• 1 Timothy 4:8
  • “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
• Ephesians 2:10
  • “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:31
  • “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:13
  • “You say, ‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food and God will destroy them both.’ The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the Body.” 
• Song of Solomon 4:7
  • “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.”
• 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
  • “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
• Hebrews 12:11
  • “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
• 3 John 1:2
  • “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that ll may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

Further Discussion:

• Is anything in these scriptures new to you?
• What principles or ideas from the list we made earlier are reflected in scripture?
• What principles or ideas we listed earlier are absent from scripture?
• Are any principles or ideas we listed earlier contradicted in scripture?
• What are some scenarios in which this facet of Biblical Adulting might be useful to you?
  • In evangelism?
  • In fellowship/discipleship to other believers?
  • In your own life?