Christians have a mixed reputation when it comes to living healthfully. Individuals who are involved in a religious community and consider themselves highly spiritual do many things right. They tend to have fewer problems with substance abuse, engage in risky sexual behaviors less often, and generally rate their physical and mental health more positively. On the other hand religious people are more likely to be obese, and some studies describe higher rates of depression and anxiety in this group.
Many aspects of spirituality are beneficial to physical, mental, and relational wellbeing. However, some religious people live dangerously, and see their relationship with God as a way to escape the negative consequences of harmful behavior. That’s not the way things should be.
True Christianity is anything but passive. The Bible presents God’s people as being very active in most circumstances, even fighting when necessary. David praised God who “trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” (Psalm 144:1-2 NIV) Paul talked about the need to “discipline my body and bring it into subjection” in order to win the prize for which God had called him. (1 Corinthians 9:26-27) The Christian life involves striving not to save ourselves, but to live out the kind of life God calls us to.
