Seven Principles for Whole Health
This is the introduction to a series of study sketches called “Seven Principles for Whole Health.” In each installment I hope to share Scripture, scientific research, and personal reflections on how each of these principles apply to our spiritual and our physical health. The principles to be discussed in this series are: real food (Bread of Life), pure water (Water of Life), cleanliness (Washing of Regeneration), sunlight (Light of Life), exercise (Running the Race), rest (Return and Rest), and positive thought (Rejoicing Always). I look forward to examining with you each of these aspects of whole health. I welcome you to contribute in the comments section!
You don’t have a soul—
You are a Soul.
You have a body.
C. S. Lewis
Many of the needs of our spirits correspond with the needs of our bodies; or perhaps we should regard it conversely. It is our physical needs that remember and reflect our spiritual needs, and we see in the Scriptures many times that physical events are often signs and symbols of spiritual events. This is not to discount the firm reality of these physical things; rather, it makes the physical things all the more real and meaningful. Granted, we must not in our zeal apply unwarranted, unscriptural interpretation to physical events, as Jesus’ disciples did to one man’s blindness. [John 9:2] Even so, Jesus did apply spiritual meaning to this man’s blindness and miraculous healing. [John 9:39]
When we come to end of our earthly lives and shed our bodies like worn garments, it will not matter much that we ate organic vegetables or drank herbal teas, but it will matter a great deal whether our souls are dead in sin or alive in Christ. How is your soul?
If spiritual health is the final thing, then why does physical health matter?
Even in the remembrance that our body is a vessel of the soul, we must not forget that, both here on earth and in Heaven after the resurrection of the body, Jehovah has ordained that our souls, mysteriously, should find their expression in our bodies. It is through our bodies that we are able to fulfill his commands. Even sin found its expression not only in the wounding of our souls, but of our bodies too.
Our bodies are not our own; they are a trust from God that we may use them in the furtherance of his glory. [Romans 12:1] Let us be good stewards of our health, that we may be ready and able for any good work he gives us.
What is our responsibility in the area of physical health? and how should we view disabilities and sickness?
There is no mistake that responsibility is given to man to work for himself, to till the field while ultimately depending upon the Lord to bring the rain and quicken the seed. Likewise is it with man’s care for his own body. We seek to glorify God in our bodies, not squandering or taking for granted the health that is a divine gift, but exercising good stewardship of our bodies that we might be instruments of his glory, resting in the final assurance that his will can be, indeed is, accomplished in both our health and our sickness. Even in the weakness of our frames we can display the might of God.
A Balanced, Comprehensive View of Health
Let us adopt toward health a comprehensive, eternal perspective such as the Scriptures advance. Let us not consider health fragmented, as pertaining to the body alone. Neither let us be fearful or anxious for our bodily health, vigorously seeking an Eden-like state of perfect well-being, or greeting disability or disease as an unredeemable catastrophe. Nor let us discount God’s own miraculous work in accomplishing physical healing through such physical mediums as food, herbs, and physicians.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Third John 1:2
The world’s fragmented notion of health has left us restless and unsatisfied in its neglect of our souls. The Scriptures themselves refuse to treat health as the purely physical state it is regarded today, instead presenting a comprehensive view that emphasizes its spiritual aspect.
God be merciful unto us, and bless us;
and cause his face to shine upon us. Selah.
That thy way may be known upon the earth,
thy saving health among all nations...
psalm 67:2
Photograph: Littlest Sister in the local butterfly garden.
Photograph and text © 2011.
Friday, February 25, 2011