The July 19 issue of the Biblical Recorder is about your health. We don’t raise the issue to create some kind of beauty contest, or to see who can run the furthest, or lift the most or have the lowest resting heart rate. It is not about comparing your triglycerides, LDL, HDL, or blood pressure.
When it comes to your health there is only one thing to compare: Where are you compared to where you should be?
This is important enough—and you have ignored it long enough—that we didn’t mince words. You may think the Recorder takes a strident tone on this subject and we should be kinder and more tolerant of people who struggle with health issues, primarily the weight burden at the heart of so many of the chronic illnesses that plague us.
We take the tact of a New York cardiologist who spoke plainly when asked by Reader’s Digest to say what he really wanted to say about patient relationships. Here is what he said in the July issue:
“I am utterly tired of being your mother. Every time I see you I have to say the obligatory ‘You need to lose some weight.’ But you swear you ‘don’t eat anything’ or ‘the weight just doesn’t come off,’ and the subject is dropped. Then you come in here complaining about your knees hurting, your back is killing you, your feet ache and you can’t breathe when you walk up half a flight of stairs. So I’m supposed to hold your hand and talk you into backing away from that box of Twinkies. Boy, do I get tired of repeating the stuff most patients just don’t listen to.”
Instead of doing what you know you need to do, you ask your doctor for “something” to make you feel better; to lower your blood pressure, arrest your diabetes and scrape the cholesterol from your veins. He’ll prescribe something because that’s what doctors do. But the prescription you likely most need is a pair of walking shoes. Apply to feet and take three times daily.
GuideStone insures 60,000 Southern Baptist staff members and it offers free health screenings from a booth at the annual SBC meeting. Since Baptists believe, “If it’s free, it’s for me,” there’s always a line. Seventy-five percent of those tested are overweight or obese by current health standards. Nurses there have actually sent people directly to see a doctor after finding their vital signs under stress.
Let’s be clear. You alone are responsible for your health care. Lifestyle choices you make contribute positively or negatively to your health. No one is going to pull that funnel cake or second helping of potatoes and gravy from your hand.
Experts estimate that the chronic illness caused by obesity costs America a trillion dollars annually in lost production, higher insurance and sick days. Baptists are not alone in this crisis, but Baptists’ lifestyle does place us among the worst offenders.
We joke about never having a meeting without food, and “Baptists love to eat,” and about our pot lucks, dinners on the grounds, chili cook-offs and cake baking contests. All these are fine and fun, but they establish a culture in which food is the central player.
Gluttony is the only “acceptable” sin in the Baptist garden of eaten’. We proudly pat those bellies that hang over our belts and say, “I’ve been working on this a long time,” or, “I’m pushing this out front where I can keep an eye on it.” And your church’s best cook giggles and gives you another helping of her prize winning cobbler.
In the stressful world of ministry your peers cluck and nod knowingly when you relate the busyness of it all; when you share the late night calls, the counseling, the hospital visits, the miles, the sermon preparation, deacon demands and multiple meetings.
Would you receive the same affirmation if you declared your commitment to regular exercise?
Ask Baptist State Convention President Rick Speas about ministry opportunities when he’s working out at the YMCA. Ask Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary President Danny Akin about the health and subsequent ministry advantages of sleeping 8-9 hours a night. (See story.)
Carl Johnson, all 5-8, 130 pounds of him, was in bad shape because of his eating habits. He wasn’t a glutton, nor fat, but time crunch and work stress prompted bad eating habits. (See story.) We love to use “time” excuses to justify our bad habits. Who has time for exercise? We’re too busy taking care of everyone else.
If you don’t have time to exercise to preserve your own health to the extent of your ability, what in the world do you have time for? Can you preach discipline when you present an example of an undisciplined life?
Ask any recovering heart attack patient if he can find 30 minutes a day to walk when ordered by his doctor. Why do you have to wait until then to justify the time?
When Harold Chandler had to sit and catch his breath while his granddaughter and wife played at Sea World, he was an embarrassment to himself and it frightened his granddaughter. (See story.) He made the commitment then and there to change. He admits he was not nearly the effective minister he should be. How could he be when it took so much effort just to move?
The simple truth is taking care of yourself is your business. You owe it to yourself. You owe it to your family. You owe it to the God who indwells you.
No more excuses.
Health Care Crisis
Fat America tips scales toward health care crisis
Churches build for fitter future
NAMB encourages healthier missionaries
Seminary president practices what he preaches
Seminary, college encourages students to exercise
Parish nurses attend to health, wellness of church members
Health epiphany prompts Johnson to wellness theology
Pastor half the man he used to be: Granddaughter worried when he couldn’t keep up
Busting the top four food myths
Obesity in the body of Christ
Spok’n: No waiting for magic medical bullet Editorial: You do have time to care for your health