Is Working Out Circumventing God’s Design?

[Skovand]

I don’t think it’s vanity to work out. Many enjoy it for their own personal fulfillment of
Gaining speed and strength and enjoy it as a past time verses watching tv. It’s also not wrong to want to create a better body to attract a certain type of mate. Wanting to look better to help open doors to more attractive people is not wrong. It’s normal and heathy.

When I was single and looking for a woman my typical process was this.
1. Find women I’m attracted to physically.
2. Get to know them and find women I’m attractive to physically who also shares common interests and we sync up well mentally.
3. Out of those women I find one that shares the same religious outlooks as me. They must be Christians.
4. Out of those find a woman who manages their own life well and are educated. I want a spouse who can help raise kids, not just pop them out.

So I looked for Christian , athletic science nerd women who was around may age (26-34) who enjoyed being in nature and had a college degree and career plan. In return I imagine they expected the same from me. They don’t want someone whose sloppy and at risk of a heart attack at 54 leaving them alone.

What we can’t do though is base everything in solely looks and neglect the mental and spiritual aspects of our life.

 

[ShelovesJesus]

Do

There is some questions as to whether or not Olive Oyl was the mother of Sweet Pea.

In a 1933 comic strip Sweet Pea appears at the door of Popeye in a box. Popeye adopts Sweet Pea. Olive Oyl and Popeye did indeed get married in a short movie theater production in 1939 and they had spinach for breakfast.

Based on this it appears that Olive Oyl was not made an unwed mother by Popeye but rather became Sweet Pea's mother by reason of her marriage to Popeye.

That is the Popeye, adopted son Sweet Pea and subsequent wedding of Popeye and Olive Oyl narrative, Regardless of whether or not the narrative is accurate please keep in mind that none of this stuff actually happened because these are comic characters after all.

I could also give you my take on Superman if you want me too but again, the Man of Steel is Not Real.

Do iron Man next😂 I've always wondered

 

[tourist]

Do
Do iron Man next😂 I've always wondered

I will try to get the metallurgical scoop on Iron Man and report my findings at a later date. In the meantime, glad to have you onboard with us. Welcome to CC.

 

[calibob]

I studied the body for years. In an attempt to perfect a training program that balances our hormones and uses them to naturally cause a desired effect, I became quite familiar with the endocrine system. This isn’t about how to, I figured that out. This is about, should we? God designed not just the body but He programed the system to react and adapt. When we hack this system albeit naturally, are we interfering with God’s intended design? For example, I know that many things cause testosterone production and release. This increases sexual appetite and aggression, basically Alpha engineering. If I have no reason for my libido to be in overdrive and no enemies to fight, is this just hormonal gluttony. It’s like building muscle for no purpose other than to look at. In many ways it is feeding the flesh and seeking approval from men and women and not God. This isn’t about fitness. When I was at my fittest and I would argue homeostatically perfect, I reached an undeniable connection with the Holy Spirit. This question is for bulking without purpose. I have no sports to train for, and am already more than physically capable to do my job. Is any excess vanity?

Oh brother. In answer to the opening question being lazy is against Gods design. Vanity is just a waste and can be sinful depending on other factors like pride and narcissism.

 

[SigP226]

Absolutely not. God calls us to take care of our bodies. I'll share with you a personal example. In Feb of 2020, I fell 14 ft off a shelving unit onto a concrete floor. I fell almost flat on my back. I broke my back, my wrist and hit the back of my head pretty hard. (was bleeding).

Until that point, I lived a very healthy lifestyle. I worked out, ate well, and was physically strong. The development of those muscles, the strength of joints, and the way I treated my body, allowed me to not only survive the fall, but to get up, and get myself help. It also allowed me to recover much more quickly than I would have otherwise.

Don't use God's design as an excuse. He didn't design us to eat the junk that we do, or be lazy sloths. Keep in mind the Bible also teaches against laziness.

 

[oldethennew]

as we age, we come to realize just how fragile and how swift is our 'time here', in this blessed, beautiful, GARDEN' -
the un-holy distractions that now beset our world and have over-taken so many of our kin/friends, etc., is beyond heart-breaking,
and out of our control -
hub and I can only receive Spiritual comfort from our grief through Christ's Love/Promises, and we know that our prayers are heard...

 

[Alyd20]

I’m so glad that he created me a woman I mean that I have the gift to be a mother and give birth it’s a wonderful gift but unfortunately I don’t have have kids because of my heart but I feel like the thing that God created me to I can’t do it I pray that I can have kids someday and I’m still young and have a long road ahead of me maybe in 7 years I’ll think about it. Hi

 

[Subhumanoidal]

I’m so glad that he created me a woman I mean that I have the gift to be a mother and give birth it’s a wonderful gift but unfortunately I don’t have have kids because of my heart but I feel like the thing that God created me to I can’t do it I pray that I can have kids someday and I’m still young and have a long road ahead of me maybe in 7 years I’ll think about it. Hi

Periods in sentences are your friend. As well as those that read your responses.

Your belief is that God created you to have kids? That was God's motivation?

You haven't had kids because of your heart? So not being married isn't the issue?

 

[TheIndianGirl]

Nowadays many people do not exercise; people drive to work and sit at their desks all day, and then drive back home and watch TV. If someone is not getting the recommended physical activity everyday, they should exercise to look healthy and prevent disease. I think working out is fine especially for health reasons and if you enjoy it as a hobby/relaxation, etc.; a better appearance is just a by-product of trying to stay fit and healthy. However, if you start to idolize your own physique/beauty (going overboard such as getting plastic surgery, unless for health reasons), that may be crossing the line. Everyone knows when they are crossing the line; I think some minor appearance enhancements is fine (teeth whitening, etc.) to build confidence.

 

[EnglishChick]

There’s an Asian proverb, “It’s better to be a warrior in the garden, rather than a gardener in war.” That was kind of what my training was about. It’s better to have the muscle and not need it, than need it and not have it. Lately I took some time off of training to do some much needed renovations. I found myself more peaceable. It’s hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it. I didn’t get a beach body for attention and feel dominant. It’s just the biproduct of the hormones. Without that extra aggression I get along with my family better and my sexual appetite is less ravenous. It got me wondering that at this stage in life where I’m not looking to battle for supremacy in the workplace nor extend my lineage, perhaps there’s a reason God causes testosterone to deplete at 40 years of age by design. Perhaps it’s in my best interest to not get attention from other women. There is a definite attitude that accompanies an athletic physique, not by pride, just by hormone response. Perhaps creating that hormonal response without necessity, is combative to God’s design.

Sounds like the fruit from what you are doing is good, if it brings you positive benefits. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Hungry]

Sounds like the fruit from what you are doing is good, if it brings you positive benefits. I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks for the response. It seems like much longer than a year ago that I wrote this. Since then I haven’t made exercise a priority. I do still maintain but not to the point it raises my testosterone like a twenty year old. Interesting enough a guy from work I respected, a devoted husband and father is going through a messy divorce this year. He decided to trim down and went all in on fitness a couple years back. He ended up having an affair with a trainer at the gym. Another happily married man I met with a great family, who owned a gym also had an affair. I don’t think they were Christians but I totally understand how it happened. From experience I can tell you women look at you differently and act differently around you when you’re abnormally fit. They are generally flirty. This coupled with the hormonal drive to alpha up and procreate, tainted with domestic quarrels because of increased aggression. There is no surprise it leads to cheating. Girls parading around in yoga pants and sports bras at the gym doesn’t help either. I’m confident I made the right decision. The risks far outweigh the rewards.

 

[posthuman]

what's the difference between manual labor & 'working out' ?

i.e. i load bales of hay all day vs. i lift weights?

seems to me that a lot of gym exercise is simulated physical work - because these days relatively few people in developed countries do that kind of strenuous activity naturally, anymore.

 

[Hungry]

what's the difference between manual labor & 'working out' ?

i.e. i load bales of hay all day vs. i lift weights?

seems to me that a lot of gym exercise is simulated physical work - because these days relatively few people in developed countries do that kind of strenuous activity naturally, anymore.

Would you agree there is a difference between getting stronger (your body naturally adjusting to physical labour) and pushing the physical capabilities of oneself triggering an endocrine response to release testosterone and growth hormone perpetually for years?

 

[posthuman]

Would you agree there is a difference between getting stronger (your body naturally adjusting to physical labour) and pushing the physical capabilities of oneself triggering an endocrine response to release testosterone and growth hormone perpetually for years?

This isn't really my purview, so I don't know that I can intelligently answer that - but I do know that there's a big difference between simply attaining and maintaining physical fitness and the results of 'body building' that some people go to extraordinary lengths to pursue.

I had meant to point out that a certain level of 'strength training' seems no different than what a farmhand or bricklayer ((for example)) might arrive at just by doing his or her work. But I gather you're talking about something pretty much beyond that.

 

[Alyd20]

Periods in sentences are your friend. As well as those that read your responses.

Your belief is that God created you to have kids? That was God's motivation?

You haven't had kids because of your heart? So not being married isn't the issue?

Thanks I forgot.
Yes I believe that. Yes I’m 20 I’m taking about the future I’ll be married

 

[MoonCresta]

I'd say its less about the action and more about the intent. Different people have a natural draw to different aspects of life. Engaging in those areas, be they physical or mental or creative, etc... does not mean, by default, vanity. I'd say look at your own motives and see what's there. Do you want to bulk up for attention? Or does that aspect of life simply bring you joy and something you want to further?

Good afternoonaroonie!

Hey Sub, I was laughing so hard at this thread, but then I got to your comment about vanity muscles - and I came around - I do think that excessive exercise designed only to make yourself look attractive, well, it might not be wrong, but it does show where your heart is. You're right again!

 

[mustaphadrink]

I studied the body for years. In an attempt to perfect a training program that balances our hormones and uses them to naturally cause a desired effect, I became quite familiar with the endocrine system. This isn’t about how to, I figured that out. This is about, should we? God designed not just the body but He programed the system to react and adapt. When we hack this system albeit naturally, are we interfering with God’s intended design? For example, I know that many things cause testosterone production and release. This increases sexual appetite and aggression, basically Alpha engineering. If I have no reason for my libido to be in overdrive and no enemies to fight, is this just hormonal gluttony. It’s like building muscle for no purpose other than to look at. In many ways it is feeding the flesh and seeking approval from men and women and not God. This isn’t about fitness. When I was at my fittest and I would argue homeostatically perfect, I reached an undeniable connection with the Holy Spirit. This question is for bulking without purpose. I have no sports to train for, and am already more than physically capable to do my job. Is any excess vanity?

I believe the Ecclesiastes tells us all is vanity. I walked through a department store one day from front to back and the whole floor was dedicated to the selling of beauty products. Apparantly it was valued at over 1 miilion dollars. Talk about all is vanity.

In the days of Jesus, no one except the rich had the time or money to get fat. If they did not have a donkey they walked everywhere. If they did not have a cart, they carried everything. They did all their washing by hand. If you wanted water you had to go to a communal tap. All meals were cooked without modern cooking helps. All vegetables were prepared by hand. There were no childcare centres so you to had bring up the children yourself. Mind you it did help that the children obeyed their parents. If they wanted toys, you made them yourself. Virtually every male had a trade of some kind. Most did not sit at desks all day long.

So the outcome was fit healthy people who were use to the hard graft. Mind you they usualy did not live beyond 50 years old because they did not have the answer to many diseases at the time. Health care was very basic and crude. In many cases, if you caught a particular disease that was a death warrant.

So they could say with all honesty, eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. The fact is they did.

 

[mustaphadrink]

One has to ask if the way we live is God's design? It has been said that affluence is the biggest barrier to full on Christians. In parts of Africa where their income is a 10th of what we earn, they are on fire for God.

The scripture says not to lay up for ourselves treasure on earth. I have to ask myself if we should have superannuation as that is laying treasure up on earth. Why do we do that? Is it because we do not trust God to meet all our needs as he said he would? Or is it a case of we love affluence? Do we feel that we are a second class citizen if we don't have the latest car? Do we feel that we are less that the best if we don't have the biggest house. Do we feel ashamed if we haven't got a boat or a caravan in the drive. Do we feel shabby if we are not wearing the latest designer clothes.

In other words, are we making the ways of the world our standard or are we following the teaching of scripture. More amd more I am convinced that "things" do not make us happy. Happiness comes from the inside out. Not from the outside in.

I did some background checks of life in the New Testament and it had nothing at all to do with owning an aircraft. Prosperity was having enough to eat and some left over for the next day. So simple and so relaxing. Perhaps we need to go back to that way of living and that will deal with a lot of the problems we have today created because we are striving to live a life that is not sanctioned by scripture.

 

[Hungry]

One has to ask if the way we live is God's design? It has been said that affluence is the biggest barrier to full on Christians. In parts of Africa where their income is a 10th of what we earn, they are on fire for God.

The scripture says not to lay up for ourselves treasure on earth. I have to ask myself if we should have superannuation as that is laying treasure up on earth. Why do we do that? Is it because we do not trust God to meet all our needs as he said he would? Or is it a case of we love affluence? Do we feel that we are a second class citizen if we don't have the latest car? Do we feel that we are less that the best if we don't have the biggest house. Do we feel ashamed if we haven't got a boat or a caravan in the drive. Do we feel shabby if we are not wearing the latest designer clothes.

In other words, are we making the ways of the world our standard or are we following the teaching of scripture. More amd more I am convinced that "things" do not make us happy. Happiness comes from the inside out. Not from the outside in.

I did some background checks of life in the New Testament and it had nothing at all to do with owning an aircraft. Prosperity was having enough to eat and some left over for the next day. So simple and so relaxing. Perhaps we need to go back to that way of living and that will deal with a lot of the problems we have today created because we are striving to live a life that is not sanctioned by scripture.

I earn a living that I would say is “comfortable”. In Christ’s day I believe there was a different demographic. I think most were poor or slaves, a small middle class and smaller upper class. Today where I live most are middle class/comfortable. In order to reach the largest demographic I think they need to see a face they can relate with. That doesn’t mean I need two homes and a boat but putting my kids in hockey, going on vacation and enjoying a pool shouldn’t make me feel guilty.