Category: Spiritual formation

It has dawned on me lately that according to some "church leadership" experts, the #1 most important thing for a leader, is to have a great physical appearance. This is contrary to the message of the Bible. It is heresy. It is a toxic lie.

This is described as being "fit" or "healthy" but it becomes clear how much time and money is spent on gyms, personal trainers, food, clothes, watches, jewelry, makeup, and cars.

It should not need to be said for anyone who has read the Bible, but people with an obsession with outward appearance (1 Sam 16:7, 1 Tim 2:9), physical training (4:8), clothes (Matt 6:25), money (19:24), or asceticism with regard to food (Rom 14:20), are fools who destroy others.

The person fixated on their appearance cannot live in proximity to the poor. And they have no time for hospitality, for reading, or for serving others. Eating and drinking with others challenges their diet discipline and is awkward so they eventually stop eating with others.

Read the Bible and see if the emphasis is on being physically fit and disciplined or whether the Messiah "had no beauty to attract us to him" (Isa 53:2), Jesus was called a glutton (Matt 11:19; Luke 7:34), and Paul said to accept food when it is offered to you (1 Cor 10:25-27).

Here is a similar thread by me from January:

On why dieting and exercise and trying to look good and be fit and thin may not have as much to do with excellence as having a paunch, serving others, taking walks, and eating meals with people.

— Andy Rowell (@AndyRowell) January 18, 2021

Originally tweeted by Andy Rowell (@AndyRowell) on June 1, 2021.