Hi. I have always loved working out at the gym. However, I have given it up on many occassions because I thought it was an idol. I felt convicted about being around woman dressed the way they do in the gym plus the secular music. Giving it up was a hard thing. I am over weight now. Tomorrow I plan to get a 3 month membership ($66.) at a small city owned gym close to where I live. I really need the exercise. I notice however that not all Christians feel the same what as I do about the gym. I've met allot of pastors who work out. Just looking for some opinions.

1. Thanks,
2. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Take care of it. Exercise only becomes problematic when you put it ahead of your spiritual life. Idolatry? LOL. You're more likely to be making an idol of your TV set.
3. Taking care of the body that God has given you is not a sin. I would also say that letting it go and getting fat is probably not a sin either, unless you've let self-pity and indulgence rule your life. What is your focus in your life?

   Just working out and trying to make yourself better is no problem by itself (as a lot of other activities), but people sometimes get sidetracked in any activity and become prideful or let something else become the focus of their lives instead of God. Keep your focus, bring your own music/headphones and you should be fine.

   In my opinion, being a Christian is not about a set of rules (eat this, pray at this time, don't do that…etc) except that you know what God wants from the 10 commandments (I don't recall seing a commandment against working out). I believe that it's about what is in your heart. Jesus' sacrifice washed away the sin of the world…believe in him and know God. That's not to say that you can just go ahead and do anything you want but if God is really in your heart, you'll know what is right and wrong. Good works by themselves or following a bunch of rules will not get you into heaven or get you to know God.

4. Work out to keep your body fit. It is our responsibility to keep our bodies in good shape, to be a good steward to what God has given us. Of course, avoid common traps of turning into a false idol and lusting after women.
5. Pray for self-control before each workout, but continue to workout.
6. Go to the gym, work out, keep your eyes to yourself and bring a cd player with the kind of music you prefer to listen to.
7. http://web.express56.com/~bromar/…
8. Yes it is
9. By all means, go. What you have discribed tells us you need the exercise. Also, by what you discribed, you need some mental health work. Anyone who is that paranoid about secular music and clothing needs some serious head shrink time.

   Sir, you have a problem. Get help.

10. Why wouldn't a Christian be able to work out? Aren't you supposed to treat your body as a temple? Everywhere you go women dress, well, the way they dress! And if you don't like the music, buy an iPod and bring your own!
11. Sure why not? There is nothing wrong with wanting to be healthy.
12. Go for it!! Just don't flaunt your body in front of others and remain humble. There isn't any harm in staying healthy! Just a friendly reminder, all of that muscle will eventually turn to flab, just kidding about the flab part!!
13. I think its healthy to work out you should not let religion stop you from doing this I don't think it says in the bible that you should not go to a gym
14. Yes it is good to keep your body in good shape
15. If you love it more than God, then you should give it up. Sorry.
16. Sure, its great to take care of the body that God created. Put God first and do all for the glory of God. You can be a witness to Christ with your behavior as you work out. There may be men there that could ask you questions about God and Jesus
17. Proverbs 4:7 "Wisdom is the principle thing, but in all your getting, get understanding." That's the reason why so many Christians are so sad and look like witches….no of fence Paul…I am a Christian too, but I enjoy life to the fullest without trying to consciously sin.
18. If working out takes priority over doing God's will for your life then it could be wrong for you personally to work out. We all have areas in our lives that we have to surrender to the Lordship of Christ. But in general taking good care of your body so that you can serve the Lord is a good practice as long as it isn't polluted with pride or a desire to intimidate other people.

    1 Timothy 4:8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

19. Your body is supposed to be a temple of God, so I think you should make it as strong as possible. What you do with all the secular things at the gym is an entirely different issue.
20. I work out! I enjoy it and feel that it helps me relax. I often pray when I'm on the cardio machines.

    Yes, it's distracting with the music and some of the "outfits" …but these are just temptations and they are everywhere. Unless you feel that this particular arena is an extreme temptation for you, then just keep focused and remember what you are there for. If you find it to difficult, consider getting some weights and working out at home.

21. It's perfecly fine for you to work out at the gym! Just as long as you don't give in to lust for the women, as you mentioned how they dressed (yuk) and maybe you could bring an ipod or cd player to drown out the music- if you don't have one talk to the manager or file a complaint about the music. I would suggest maybe a gender- divided gym, usually those are best to meet your physical needs and less distractions. Concerning it as an idol- pray that it won't be and don't hold it above church or friends and family time. don't view it as something that needs to be done but something doing good for you. Enjoy your workout and I hoped I helped.
22. Isn't vanity supposed to be a sin?
23. What does exercising have to do with religion?

    Start paying attention to what you're at the gym for and not the other bodies that are around you. It's your temptation not theirs!

24. Going to the gym is a good way to take care of your body, which is a temple of the Holy Spirit. However, if it is a source of temptation for you, perhaps you may be better off to try running instead
25. Christians are free in Christ to do anything we wish, all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial. God wants you to exercise the body, just don't make it your God and try and stay away from the girls, unless your single> I went 5 days this week.

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