‘Every Body Matters: Strengthening Your Body to Strengthen Your Soul’ by Gary Thomas – Book Review

When I read the title of Gary Thomas’ latest book, ‘Every Body Matters: Strengthening Your Body to Strengthen Your Soul,’ I wanted to be involved in the blog tour for same. I have been conflicted as to how much time to devote to taking care of this earthen body of ours compared to how much time to spend in the care of our minds.

Here is a synopsis of this book:

A Fresh Perspective on How Physical Fitness Directly Impacts Your Spiritual Growth.

Physical fitness, offered to God, pursued with God, has enormous spiritual, emotional, and physical benefits.

Every Body Matters explores the physical battles and eating and exercise and offers a fresh perspective and renewed motivation for making some major changes. Just as Sacred Marriage has changed the way contemporary church thinks about marriage, so Ever Body Matters will transform the way you look at body care and discipline.

Steering clear of judgment and criticism, author Gary Thomas keeps the focus of this important discussion on the positive impact physical fitness can have on your spiritual and emotional growth. Using the engaging stories of everyday people, Thomas illustrates how becoming physically fit can lead to:

·         increased sensitivity to God’s voice

·         renewed energy for God’s work

·         greater joy for living

·         a fortified soul better able and more willing to serve and love others

The goal in this pursuit is not sculpting thinner or more athletic-looking bodies. The goal is to cultivate stronger, well-nourished bodies that are primed to become, in the words of the apostle Paul, “instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”

By looking at your body as an instrument rather than an ornament, you’ll find new and compelling motivation to embrace the kind of active lifestyle that fortifies your soul.

Here is the book trailer for this book:

Here is the biography of the author:

Gary Thomas is a writer in residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and an adjunct faculty member teaching on spiritual formation at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of several books, including Sacred Marriage, Sacred Pathways, Pure Pleasure, Sacred Parenting, Sacred Influence and the Gold Medallion Award-winning Authentic Faith.

And here is Gary discussing his latest book:

Here are some of the most impactful passages from this book from my perspective:

Christians who don’t take their health seriously don’t take their mission seriously. What we’re saying by our actions is “My life doesn’t really matter.” But because of the ability of God to work powerfully in any repentant sinner’s life, every body does matter. (p. 20)

We don’t own our bodies; they are not ours to abuse or care for according to our own perceived wants or desires. On the contrary, not only did God create us; he paid a high price to redeem us. And when he redeemed us, he didn’t redeem our souls; he redeemed our bodies and claimed them for his use as well. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (p. 47)

In the end, I found that physical fitness offered to God, surrendered to God, pursued in cooperation with God has enormous spiritual, emotional, and physical benefits. It is not an easy battle, but I have found it to be one well worth fighting – even though I know it is a battle I will fight, with varying degrees of success, for the rest of my life. (pp. 62-63)

Laziness is an attitude that puts one’s personal comfort above all else – if I don’t feel like it, why do it? If it’s uncomfortable, why bother? If it’s not fun, what’s the use? Laziness ignores any sense of obligation and defines sin exclusively as something we shouldn’t do (conveniently forgetting that we are commanded to do), and it ends up wasting our lives in spectacular nonscandalous fashion so that we don’t see just how destructive it is. (pp. 101-102)

Mr. Thomas supports his thesis that physical fitness directly impacts our spiritual growth with lots of Bible passages, as well as personal stories from several people (including himself and Kristin Armstrong, Lance Armstrong’s ex-wife).

He closes out his book this way:

As I write this, my race isn’t over. I don’t know how long it will last. Maybe it’ll be finished tomorrow. Maybe next year, or several decades hence. God alone knows. But this much I do know: If you’re reading this, your race isn’t over either. God will restore us and refresh us along the way. He will provide moments of nourishment and rest, but he wants me, he wants you, to continue to run, to be available to do any good work. We need to keep going – even in the rain, no matter how dark it gets – and finish this race.

Christians, keep running. (p. 207)

I found this book to be deeply convicting to me – in a good way! Mr. Thomas exposed some of my thought patterns that I viewed as acceptable in a different light. The human mind does a great job deceiving itself… I thank Gary for bringing this important issue – that is so often neglected in the Christian church – to the forefront, and I pray this book reaches many hearts and minds. Although some sections read harshly, it is only because we as the Body of Christ (not to mention American society in general) have become so soft. That is certainly not how God wants us to live, and I appreciate Gary pointing us back to that important truth.

You can order this book here.

This book was provided by Zondervan Publishers for review purposes.

'Pure Pleasure: Why Do Christians Feel So Bad About Feeling Good?' by Gary Thomas - Book Review and Giveaway

So often, Christians fall into the trap of viewing the world as evil and to be avoided.  Gary Thomas, in his book, ‘Pure Pleasure: Why Do Christians Feel So Bad About Feeling Good?' provides a biblical defense of embracing pleasure as 
a pathway to worship and intimacy with God. 

Mr. Thomas provides a basis for his defense this way:

Here’s where I think the church has gotten off track:  We often fail to make the distinction that Paul makes when he wrote to Titus: “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure.  In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted” (1:15)… In context, Paul is arguing against hyper-religionists trying to saddle Christians with arbitrary rules and prohibitions. (p. 22)

This section reminds me of how Jesus railed against the Pharisees and Sadducees for following rules and regulations instead of showing and displaying love and compassion.

Mr. Thomas makes the point that each sin has an accompanying threat to true, abundant life.  He says this:

Name a spiritual failing and you recognize a vicious attack on a fulfilling life. I love Julian of Norwich’s take on this: She says that the God-touched soul begins to hate the vileness of sin more than it hates hell.  Instead of being dissuaded merely by the eternal consequences of sin, we open our eyes to the inherent maliciousness of sin – and so we lose our taste for it. She warns that those who focus primarily on the punishment of sin get distracted from focusing with friendship with God. (pp. 27-28)

I must admit that I have fallen into the trap of focusing on the sin and not the Savior – and have missed so much in life that God would prefer that I would have enjoyed.  I have attended some churches in which this mindset is perpetuated.  The world is portrayed as an evil place which is to be avoided.  This world view is very detrimental to the believer and to the watching world.  Why would anyone want to follow Jesus if it turns them into a sour puss?!  I am grateful to Mr. Thomas for writing this book, and potentially improving the lives and well-being of many people.

I am sure it truly grieves the heart of God when He sees us miserable and obsessed with the idea of the stench of sin rather than focusing on His great love for us!  I am glad that Mr. Thomas makes this point: “I walk with God because He is the true Creator and rightful Lord.  But I also walk with Christ because a life with Christ is a beautiful life, the most incredible journey you can imagine” (p. 29).

This is a terrific book to use as a personal study or in a small group setting.  Discussion and Reflection questions are included at the end of each chapter.  There are also online video sessions available at Zondervan here. 

This is the second book I have read by Gary Thomas.  Before we were married in 2005, Fred and I purchased and read together ‘Sacred Marriage.’  We found it to be very God-honoring and helpful.  Other titles by Mr. Thomas are:  ‘The Glorious Pursuit,’ ‘Sacred Influence,’ ‘Sacred Parenting,’ ‘Sacred Pathways,’ and ‘Seeking the Face of God.’

I am pleased to be participating in the Blog Tour Spot blog tour of this book with several other bloggers.  These copies were provided to me by Zondervan in affiliation with the Blog Tour Spot.  

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I have two copies of this book that I would like to pass along; I pray the book will be impactful in your life and in your walk with the Lord! 

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