“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 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 4:7-8 ESV
It’s a fascinating connection made right here. A serious surprise.
We’ve all seen the slick ads on social media where a very fit and articulate person tells you that you’re overweight or can’t get ripped because you’re doing this one very important thing wrong. You’ve got to click on something or another to find out what it is, of course, but that’s not the point. The issue is that we’re acquainted with the fact that we can work hard but nevertheless work the wrong way. We can use the wrong workout, do too much cardio, or not enough, or kill ourselves on a diet that doesn’t work.
It’s very much the same in martial arts and self-defense (my day job, so to speak). Often, people overcomplicate the techniques and they work fervently, and sometimes dangerously, on things that don’t work in real danger.
Well, the very same thing is in play spiritually too. In fact, it’s better to say that because it’s true spiritually – that is, that the Devil is a liar – we see the pattern everywhere else. Man the sinner is everywhere confronted with the possibility of earnestly doing the wrong thing. Life requires focus and because specificity is important we must vigorously “check our math” to make sure our focus is on the right things. That’s the point of this passage of Paul’s letter to Timothy. The grand theme of Timothy is that sound doctrine is the key to life because false doctrine destroys individuals as well as churches. This particular point, therefore, is a derivative aspect in support of the main one. It’s a quick jab to the body in the fight of the overall argument; it’s a part of the whole shebang. In order to be “fit” and have sound doctrine we must always be in training lest we get caught flat footed by the the Enemy’s lies. It’s to say that true faith is rooted in sound doctrine and sound doctrine produces great love, which also manifests itself, as we’ll see in the upcoming chapter, with concern for the weakest among us.
“Pure and unblemished religion [as it is expressed in outward acts] in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit and look after the fatherless and the widows in their distress, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the [secular] world.”
James 1:27 AMP
As always, the Bible surprises. Sound doctrine is the goal of life because it means the life of true faith. Faith, as opposed to the modern definition, has nothing to do with us and everything to do with our trust and knowledge of the true and living God. Without sound doctrine there’s no faith because biblical faith presupposes a body of truth in which one trusts. And more still, real doctrine produces a life of faithful love and compassion, a life of service to the glory and honor of God as James says.
Sound doctrine isn’t just knowledge, but action. It inspires a life of faith-filled love. A knowledge of doctrine that stays in our head but doesn’t change our behavior by inspiring holy living is a lie and contradiction in terms. Likewise, a knowledge of boxing doesn’t help the boxer in a match if he hasn’t been training. Road work, bag work, sparring…it’s the basics. It’s the same with Christianity! Read and study our Bibles. Pray earnestly. Worship and fellowship. It’s the basics and it’s our training. A prayer-less life is a sure ticket to spiritual trouble. A boxer who doesn’t do his roadwork and a Christian who doesn’t go to worship aren’t ready for the fight. The Holy Spirit is telling us that a boxer and a Christian are in training – except that the boxer might, in fact, lose…but for us there is the assuredness of salvation and victory in Christ.
“Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither]. Therefore I do not run without a definite goal; I do not flail around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing]. But [like a boxer] I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached [the gospel] to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service].”
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 AMP
Irreverent and silly myths are the sweets of the mind. They’re the junk food of controversies and wrongheaded spiritualism. They’re the temptation to get into theology/political/social debates at every turn and the goal of these debates is winning rather than Christ. If an endeavor of ours, or debate, or anything at all, doesn’t end at the foot of Christ then we’re doing it wrong. Sound doctrine leads us invariably and without exception to Him. Always. Paul’s point is that the Christian must be disciplined, not spiritually flabby. Like a great boxer who stays in the gym and keeps focused on the upcoming match, which in turn allows him to shrug off a guy who cuts him off in traffic, or some other slight, is the Christian fighter. An undisciplined life can and will lead to obesity, right? Well, just the same, Paul’s point is that the Christian life is one of training the mind so that it’s focused on the truth about God.
The key to doing this is to stay in training. Are you anxious or afraid? Pray…really seek Him and pour out your heart to Him honestly. If you’re struggling for the right words, pray a Psalm that speaks for you! Don’t drift along. Don’t “hope everything will just be okay.” Christianity isn’t a life of mindless optimism and wishful thinking; it’s a life of deep trust in the Lord and His promises. Our “training” is constant. We can and should seek His glory and our own growth in literally every circumstance.
Why does the boxer go for a run in the wee hours? There’s nothing particularly special about running at 6 in the morning over against doing the same thing at noon. The point is to make sure the fighter is in bed early the night before and not out carousing around town. It’s about good habits in the service of the primary goal. It’s the same in Christ. Being saved by grace inspires us to live the disciplined life of passionate gratitude toward the goal of pleasing Him who redeemed us. Christian grace isn’t free; it cost Christ His life.
So, bodily training is of great value but in the end we still die. Christian training has every advantage because it prepares us for the great reality in the age to come. This, of course, eviscerates the false notion that the life of faith is a passive one, or an unthinking one. Real life is about knowing God and the only way to do that is to come to Him in Christ, through faith alone, informed by Scripture alone. There’s literally no other way, which means that the path has been clearly and plainly set before us. All the particulars of our lives should reflect this as our ultimate goal. If we do that, if we stay focused on Him first and foremost, then we’ll avoid unfruitful arguments and controversies and have the wisdom we need.
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