Every Body Matters: Strengthening Your Body to Strengthen Your Soul

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Open Preview See a Problem? Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Every Body Matters explores how positively addressing our physical condition can lead to a fortified soul better able to serve and love others. Published November 22nd by Zondervan first published November 8th To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

To ask other readers questions about Every Body Matters , please sign up. Lists with This Book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Oct 27, Chris rated it it was amazing Shelves: Learned about this book yesterday. The one recommending it was so genuinely enthusiastic that I grabbed it on Audible in the moment. Then, last night and early this morning, I listened to it at 3x speed because I wanted to get a quick grasp of the content. By tonight, I'd ordered 6 copies on Amazon for other ministry friends I think would benefit from Thomas' clarity.

Will probably relisten--more slowly this time--starting tomorrow. A very timely and responsible treatise for the modern evangelical church on a subject that has been neglected too long for fear of offending some [of us] who aren't in great shape and who hide behind the excuses of business and "demanding ministry" rather than cultivate more healthy [and ministry-extending] disciplines. Too many of us, he says, are being short-sighted, living for near-term impact.

Good theology, responsible use of scripture, practical enough to be motivating. Over the last couple of weeks I've been reading a new book called Every Body Matters: The premise of the book is that a lack of discipline when it comes to our physical health is often a reflection of our spiritual health. Author Gary Thomas is very careful to make clear that he is not implying that all sickness and disease is a result of a lack of spiritual health. He is definitely NOT touting "health and wealth" prosperity theology. Instead, he sees the body as an instrument to be used for God's glory, rather than as an ornament or means to self-gratification and absorption.

On the contrary, it is to become, as Paul writes, 'instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Desiring a silver soul means that we stop treating our bodies like ornaments - with all the misguided motivations often displayed by those who build their bodies out of pride and ambition - and start treating our bodies like instruments, vessels set apart to serve the God who fashioned them. Whether we have strong or weak bodies, healthy or sick, overnourished or undernourished, how do we begin moving from where we are now to more purposefully building bodies that function like instruments?

Our mind and spirit, soul and body, are all working together.

Our attitude toward our physical health reflects our attitude toward our Creator. Thomas even goes so far as to say that it can be a sin to neglect our physical health. We hear often about sins like adultery, lust, lying, and stealing - and rightly so - but what ever happened to gluttony and sloth?

Read the rest of my review here: Under Creative Commons License: View all 4 comments. Apr 30, Steven R. This book completely blew me away. It was an amazing read. I think it should be in every church library and on every pastor's desk. It is a wakeup call to all Christians that we are body, mind and spirit and that in order to love and serve God to the best of our abilities we need to be nurturing and looking after all three areas of our life.

Back when I was a student involved with Campus Ministries, I heard a talk that stated the human body is a like a car with three gas tanks - one physical, on This book completely blew me away. Back when I was a student involved with Campus Ministries, I heard a talk that stated the human body is a like a car with three gas tanks - one physical, one spiritual and one intellectual and if any of the three run out of gas then the engine will have problems and not run well.

This book brings to light the fact that Christianity often focuses only on the two and it is something that is costing us - it costs us in our witness, in our effectiveness and in our possible length of service to Jesus Christ. This book is a series of examples from Gary's life and from a number of case studies.

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Another great strength of the book is the variety of examples and sources Gary uses to make his point. However this book is not a diet book, it is not a fitness guide, it is not a 'How to' this book is the theological argument for why we should look after and even work at improving or strengthening the body that God has given us. Jan 17, Karen Locklear rated it it was amazing Shelves: This simple statement captures the theme perfectly.

Every Body Matters is not a cautionary tale of heart disease or an indictment of our fast-food culture, which promotes both obesity and sloth. In fact, Thomas spends minimal time discussing thinness, and mostly seems to disregard specific numbers. In fact, he cites research which claims a fit overweight person can conceivably be healthier than an underweight out of shape person. He also is quick to acknowledge Every Body Matters is not for victims of abuse or other psychological issues far more significant than taking a walk or saying no to the Cheetos.

Instead, Every Body Matters is about self-improvement and dealing with the issue of our physical health as well as our spiritual health, and discovering the relationship between the two. Satan is pretty indifferent in regards to what approach he uses to end our personal ministry. That reason alone, improving ones physical condition, could be just as vital as intellectual or spiritual growth in regards to bettering ourselves as Christians.

And true to form, this marathon-running evangelical is not at all preachy. I have a really weird feeling similar statements have come out of the mouths of many others as well. He tackles a touchy topic with compassion and empathy, as Thomas is aware that weight is frequently an outward symbol for whatever battle is fought internally. His purpose is to shape the soul and allow the body to reflect its condition. We are all works in progress and Thomas is incredibly quick to acknowledge this. Jan 08, Jaimie rated it really liked it.

This is the second book I've read by Gary Thomas, and it does not disappoint. The tagline sums it up: It is the best book on marriage I've read so far. Additionally, I have ano This is the second book I've read by Gary Thomas, and it does not disappoint. The Power of a Fire-Tested Life. When I read Gary's books, I feel that I'm getting a fresh biblical perspective that is rich with humility.

Want a book that will encourage you but also hold you accountable to a high standard? Do you want to read fluffy things by an author trying to promise success through inspiring-yet-meaningless sound bites and ego-soothing? Better leave Gary's books alone. Gary starts by describing what any believer's true motivation to be healthy should be: And when he redeemed us, he didn't just redeem our souls; he redeemed our bodies and claims them for his use as well.

Therefore honor God with your bodies. It becomes a veritable steering wheel in Satan's hand. He can turn us in any direction he wants, and we become accustomed to letting this one sensation rule us.

Endurance is the confidence that you can withstand pain. Though there are still many overweight people it seems that America has gotten into a workout craze. I've seen more shirts with bicycles on them, and more news features about senior citizen taking up exercising. I personally am a person who has always ate in small portions considering my sensitivity to getting sick. It's very difficult explaining this to people who love to eat out often. I physically just can't. This book isn't a help guide to figure out what your workout plan should be, but in Though there are still many overweight people it seems that America has gotten into a workout craze.

This book isn't a help guide to figure out what your workout plan should be, but instead it's an argument as to why Christians should value being as physically fit as they can. I believe the author makes good points, and I completely agree that the Bible does strongly push humans to be aware of how they treat their bodies. Thomas is very good about keeping between the line of never saying it's sinful, and not desirable to abuse your body.

The only thing I wish the book had included was more focus on portioning your food. I don't believe you have to cut off sweets, or other things consider unhealthy in large consumption. I believe it's the same with alcohol.

Every Body Matters: Strengthen Your Body to Strengten Your Soul

You can enjoy things in moderation, but the author never seems to get to this point, which was disappointing. I personally don't exercise, and I don't think there is a strong enough argument for me to incorporate that in my day to day routine. I feel I'm active enough already without adding extra mileage. If you're looking for motivation to workout, or maybe you're wondering how large of a case there is or Christians to workout then this book provides some insight. It is well-researched, and provides some good versus on the topic. I would warn to read the Bible yourself and be very aware of the context before taking the snippets of versus as fact though.

This book was provided by Zondervan in exchange for a review. Dec 12, Jane rated it really liked it Shelves: I would like to have seen it develop more, though I understand the main part of the book needed to address the basics. I could see how parts of the book could be misconstrued but overall it was challenging. God views and loves us as a "whole" person and it is true that very few churches address the "body" part of the "body, mind, spirit and soul" - the sins of glutton "Strengthening your body to strengthen your soul" - I love the premise of Thomas's book and there were definitely some gems here.

God views and loves us as a "whole" person and it is true that very few churches address the "body" part of the "body, mind, spirit and soul" - the sins of gluttony and sloth aren't mentioned in your average sermon - I would love to see this kind of teaching more in churches. With our team members we have an accountability time with each of them individually and one of our 10 questions is about healthy eating and exercise - we include this for the same reason Thomas wrote this book - because God is concerned for us as a whole person, the physical, emotional and spiritual are all interconnected.

Also I appreciated his love for running and the examples that ensued and it was interesting to see him feature Kristen Armstrong, Dean Karnazes and Haruki Murakami, having read all of these authors specific "running" books. Jan 15, Andrea rated it it was amazing Shelves: It may be cliche, but I read this book as part of my New Year's goal to work toward better physical health. I'm so glad I did! Gary Thomas covers an extremely wide variety of topics in his exhortation to pursue health as a means of being available to do "every good work" for God. From inspiring stories of other believers who have struggled with overeating or inactivity, to insights from great theological thinkers from hundreds of years ago, to medical doctors and sports experts, he draws from an It may be cliche, but I read this book as part of my New Year's goal to work toward better physical health.

From inspiring stories of other believers who have struggled with overeating or inactivity, to insights from great theological thinkers from hundreds of years ago, to medical doctors and sports experts, he draws from an incredible amount of sources to inspire and inform. Above all, Gary constantly looks to the Bible for an accurate, godly understanding of the proper role our physical bodies play while we're on earth. He seeks to honestly interpret scripture according to its context and authorial intent and balances our need to be disciplined and diligent with our ever-present reliance on God's grace and sustaining hand.

Perhaps one of the chapters that best illustrates this balance is Chapter 6 which deals with the question, "Is being overweight a sin? I would strongly encourage the book to be read as a whole. There were a couple times where I thought the author might go too far in one perspective, but he adeptly balanced it out in other sections of the book. I would also recommend the audiobook version.

It's read by the author and not only is it fast-paced which is great for everything but taking notes , but the author's emphasis and the compassion in his voice really helped me to soak up the content. Some of my favorite points: Our bodies contain our souls and affect our souls. Christians who don't take their health seriously, don't take their mission seriously. We need to guard against the error that our bodies are irrelevant at best and our enemies at worst. Things that not only make us miserable but also keep us from more profound and deeper joys than we could ever have imagined Just as abuse of our bodies can gradually numb us to Christ's presence, so caring for our bodies can warm us up to his initiating grace.

Different methods of working out "won't substitute for regular study, prayer and spiritual devotions, but taking off the shackles of laziness, overeating at the physical debilitation brought about by ignoring physical fitness can set our souls on a course of pursing God with a renewed vigor, earnestness and delight. God is a God of activity. As his image-bearers, we also ought to be active.

Much of the work that produces it is unseen. No one is applauding or even recognizing our efforts, but the life it creates can be used by God to bless and serve many. The planting is grueling; the harvest can be great. Our bodies and our souls are encrusted with dross elements that make us less than useful or prepared for any good work. It has to be removed for our bodies to be refined. Make good choices with the resources you have today.

You may not be where you want to be overall, but each day, each moment, is a new opportunity to honor God. The soul and the body go hand in hand in this goal. There is much encouragement in this book about the use and purpose of our physical bodies for the glory of God. There's also practical advice, relatable anecdotes, conviction and humor. This is one I'll be coming back to. Aug 26, Ben Moser rated it really liked it. This book was very thought provoking. It focuses on 2 Timothy 2: The author argues we must battle against the temptations of gluttony and sloth while also incorporating healthy fitne This book was very thought provoking.

The author argues we must battle against the temptations of gluttony and sloth while also incorporating healthy fitness and eating regimens. He argues against this and clarifies his point about this often.

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His writing is full of grace and very empowering. My only qualm is I wish it incorpated more tips on living this out in practice, but I understand it looks different for everyone and intrntionally leaving that out could combat legalism in this area. A topic that needs to be addressed more in the modern, Western church. Jun 07, Rosalyne Arceneaux rated it really liked it. The book started slow for me Then out of nowhere this thing just hit home! Overall I'd say the book was a 4. Food, exercise, freedom, effectiveness Gary Thomas brings grace and awareness of the weakness common to all of us - yet gives biblical encouragement to the hope that renewing our minds has serendipitous effects!

Definitely recommend for anyone who wonders how to balance exercise, food, body I was really made to THINK about the concepts of this book Definitely recommend for anyone who wonders how to balance exercise, food, body image and worship - and how it can all work together in a way to please God! Sometimes a book hits you at just the right time in just the right spot. I can't believe you frequently over the course of reading this book I have been in conversations where I could apply and discuss something I had just read. For me, it started as great motivation to improve food choices.

By the end, however, it was so much more than that.

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I was personally convicted that the seemingly small choices in our lives be it about food, exercise, or controlling our temper in traffic constitute the Sometimes a book hits you at just the right time in just the right spot. I was personally convicted that the seemingly small choices in our lives be it about food, exercise, or controlling our temper in traffic constitute the whole of who we really are.

Convicting but more so encouraging! If you are struggling with fitness and you love Jesus, this book is for you! It is inspiring and motivational. Stewarding your body will Change your life This book is awesome, I recommend you do with a group , maybe work through the chapters weekly while working out. Sep 23, Marella Mylet rated it it was amazing.

Dec 29, Nikole Hahn rated it it was amazing. There are not many health books that pique my interest. Mostly, they seem to all talk about the same thing.

Every Body Matters: Strengthening Your Body to Strengthen Your Soul

Take this pill and lose thirty pounds with little effort. Do these particular exercises for a sexier body. Each book picks a flavor of the month of something to avoid because studies show it causes heart disease, or some such thing like that. Most people come to realize that diets can be enormously successful in the short term, but over the course of a couple of years, they almost always fail; for the most part, people gain back the weight they lose.

You see this particularly when celebrities—even celebrity Christians—succeed in losing weight, write a book about their breakthrough, and then, two or three years later, look just like their pre-diet selves. But many evangelical pastors who preach against these things are visibly overweight or obese. I don't say this to judge them -- I struggle with the same thing.

But sometimes I wonder. Sure, they may have conquered the online porn, but it seems like they're 'medicating' with food. To be fair to the pastors, the Bible does not say a lot about gluttony in comparison to its rejections of materialism, oppression of the poor, and abusing others sexually. As a general stewardship issue, however, the Apostle Paul's words are particularly challenging: You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

Therefore honor God with your bodies" 1 Corinthians 6: This is, on the face of it, an astonishing statement. According to the Apostle Paul, we don't own our bodies; they are not ours to abuse or care for according to our own perceived wants or desires. From this perspective, physical fitness isn't primarily a matter of wanting to look good or of not caring how we look; it's a matter of stewardship -- taking care of something entrusted to us. Though this is a message de-emphasized and all but neglected today, the great Christian writers of the past, from all generations and various Christian traditions -- Chrysostom, Jerome, John Climacus, Fenelon, John Wesley, William Law, Henry Drummond, to name just a few -- spoke with great force and fervor about the negative spiritual effects of a gluttonous and slothful lifestyle.

It was from the ancients, then, that I developed my own conviction that this was an area I needed to address. Growing up skinny, I rarely thought about it, but when weight started to cling to me in my mid-thirties, I realized it was "game on. Like so many battles, however, I discovered that this one would be largely won or lost along the basis of motivation.

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