The Pastor and Good Health
This year I turn 46 years old. While that may not be old, it does mean I feel the decline of age! In 2020, Covid affected me with long-term symptoms that are still not entirely gone. Two years ago, I tore my achilles tendon playing basketball with my son, and needed reattachment surgery. Recently, my lower back pain has been unrelenting (probably due to limping for two years!). Maintaining good health is not as easy as it used to be.
“Bodily training is of some value”
Along with the Apostle Paul, we should readily admit that good physical conditioning is not the most important aspect of life and ministry. That said, he makes a point to remind us that it is not useless either: “for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). It is no surprise that a number of Paul's illustrations for the Christian life come from the world of sport.
“Godliness is of value in every way”
For many people health conditions are beyond our control. Genetic disorders, injuries, and disabilities exist as part of this broken and fallen world. Oftentimes the Lord uses just such physical ailments or limitations to display His abundant power through us. Joni Eareckson Tada said, “My weakness, that is, my quadriplegia, is my greatest asset because it forces me into the arms of Christ every single morning when I get up.” It is not as if the pastor with the best physique wins some award. Rather, we should ask the question, how can we take seriously the call to extend and amplify our ministry through better health? How can I take care of my body to the glory of God?
Food, thy medicine
Hippocrates famously said, “Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” I love sugar. I’ll pass over a bag of chips any day for a warmed up chocolate chip cookie. I find sugar more addicting than caffeine or nicotine! That said, the discipline of trying to eat healthier has been good for my soul. Maintaining a discipline of a healthy diet says something to an observant congregation and a watching world about our self-control, or lack of it.
The American diet in particular is often harmful medication. Processed meats, fast food, and sugary sodas every day are a quick combo to a short pastoral tenure. Start to limit carbs, sugars, and fats and you will likely feel shocked at how much better you feel. From vegan to keto, find a diet that is healthy and that you can stick to for the long haul. It is important to remember that we are not gnostics; the same God who created the spiritual created this physical world - one inevitably affecting the other. The enjoyment of food can be good for the soul, too!
Getting good exercise
Health experts say exercise is like a magic bullet to stress. It is an elixir for mental health. Especially for pastors who spend a good deal of the week sitting with books and before a computer, the need to get up and move is critical. I think many would be surprised to see what an hour on the treadmill does for ministry anxiety.
The older I get, the more aware I am that if my regular exercise routine slumps, my ministry effort struggles. I’ll lack energy and feel sluggish. I’ll start to feel short-tempered and more frustrated with small stuff. Stress becomes an issue at home and in the office.
I love the gym. Others may prefer something outdoors like running or hiking. Team sports are not only a great way to stay in shape, they also provide a ministry opportunity. Long walks with your wife might be medicine to the soul and a key to marital health. Keep moving. Most would agree we are far too stationary than is good for us.
Steward your health
The average lifespan in the United States is about 76 years old. This average is going down significantly for the first time in decades. Out of those 76 years, you will only be able to spend a portion of them in pastoral ministry: 20, 30, maybe 40 years? How large that portion is may depend at least partly on the factors above.
Physical health is not the first priority in pastoral ministry, but it shouldn’t be your last either. What you do with your health may influence, indirectly, the long-term health of your church. It will affect your well-being as a pastor, and consequently the length of your tenure. May we be good and faithful stewards of our health.
Rick Harrington is a pastor at First Baptist Church - Haverhill in Massachusetts and the Provost of the (upcoming) BCNE Multiplication Center. He is the author of the books "How to Find a Church: Seven Steps to Becoming Part of a Spiritual Family" and "The Weight of Preaching: Heralding the Gospel of Grace".
