With the rise of social media, and the world placing a high emphasis on external appearance, bodybuilding is more mainstream than ever before.
This provides challenges for Christian parents, with sons and daughters who may be lifting weights, taking supplements or/and following strict diets.
Does God approve of bodybuilding, or is it something Christians should avoid if they want to live a holy life?
Firstly, there have been several famous Christian bodybuilders, who’ve used their platform to share the good news about Jesus Christ. This is obviously a positive, helping to reach out to lost souls.
Some of these same bodybuilders have also spoken about the dangers of using anabolic steroids and how bodybuilding can be spiritually dangerous (due to fame and fortune).
Many professional bodybuilders have confessed to taking steroids at some point during their career, the most famous example being Arnold Schwarzenegger. The reality is you cannot build unnatural amounts of muscle, without exogenous drugs.
Anabolic steroids are illegal in many countries without a prescription from your doctor. Thus bodybuilders are effectively breaking the law by taking them. The Bible teaches that God is the one who installs our laws, so we are to abide by them:
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Romans 13:1-2
There are also many serious health risks associated with steroid-use. They have the potential to cause the following:
- Enlarged heart
- High blood pressure
- Kidney disease
- Liver failure
- Low testosterone levels
- Infertility
- Hair loss
- Masculine features in women
The Bible teaches that our bodies aren’t our own, thus it’s our responsibility to take care of the temple given to us by living a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, taking anabolic steroids would be in violation of this verse:
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Also women who take steroids can develop masculine features; such as a deep voice, hair loss, clitoral enlargement and smaller breasts.
This cannot be pleasing to God, as he states that even a woman with short hair goes against nature and his plan (1 Corinthians 11:15-16). Thus women should remain looking like women, and the same with men.
Bodybuilding can also lead to pride and vanity. Many young men and women participate in bodybuilding because they feel pressure to look a certain way, or as a means to attract the opposite sex and fornicate (or commit adultery on their spouses).
When someone is very attractive it can lead to vanity or pride, due to an increase in attention.
God warns us that he doesn’t look on the outside, but the inside (1 Samuel 16:7). Thus concentrating too much on physical appearance, can have a negative impact on our spiritual walk with God.
If bodybuilding doesn’t become an idol and steroids aren’t used, it can bring glory to God.
Exercise is important to keep God’s temple healthy, and weight lifting is a great form of exercise. Especially when individuals have low levels of muscle mass, bodybuilding has the potential to save their lives.
Bodybuilding can also bring income into a household through sponsorship deals, seminars or competition winnings. Thus God may gift someone with exceptional genetics, so they are able to provide for their family.
Another benefit to bodybuilding is that it requires a high level of discipline. Workouts can last for hours and a person needs to be conscious about everything they put in their body, as nutrition is a crucial factor when determining body composition.
Bodybuilding promotes healthy eating, with athletes eating unsaturated fat sources and unrefined carbohydrates. Junk foods are kept to a bare minimum and alcohol is avoided.
Once a person becomes disciplined in one walk of life, it’s easier to transfer this into other areas, such as their spiritual walk with God. This may result in them praying or reading their Bible more frequently.
Summary
There is a strong case that natural bodybuilding is pleasing to God. Especially when that individual places more emphasis on him, rather than how they look in the mirror.
However, when steroids are used, this is when bodybuilding can become sinful. Taking such drugs can result in death or being put in prison, which is not a good representation of Christ.
It is important to love those who are taking steroids, as they can be very addictive. By giving steroid-users much love and support they may be able to come off them; improving their health, relationships with their family and most importantly – Jesus.
