The author’s primary argument is that sporting and fitness are closely connected with our faith because they entail a propagation of God’s creative work. To come to this argument, the author raises weighty and honest considerations on the relationship between faith and maintaining one’s physical body. At the same time, the author seeks to find answers on the position of God on the world’s view of bodily perfection, especially regarding fitness and sport. The author also seeks to understand the critical intersections of faith and fitness and sport, and the value that fitness and sport may have for the Christian Church. In essence, the author seeks to answer the following question: How does Christian faith come into play in the sports and fitness cultural practices? The author hopes to establish a theology of creation care, Christina discipleship, and physical fitness by answering this question.
What evidence does the author give to support this argument?
The author gives several pieces of evidence to support his argument. First, the author assesses creation from God’s viewpoint and concludes that “Creation is Good.” He observes that it is also good that humankind should create as a further expansion of what God began. To bring this argument into context, the author argues that humans cannot just sit and relax to appreciate and maintain God’s creation fully. He argues that we are to keep ourselves busy as we wait for God to fulfill his promises. The author cites a couple of verses from both the Old and the New Testament to support this first evidence. The author asserts humans appreciate culture as one way of glorifying God.
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Another evidence that the author gives to support his argument is play is essential for the propagation of human life, and that culture cannot be truly conceivable without the aspect of play. Additionally, the author opines that as long as “plays” are carried out within the agreed rules and regulations without necessarily causing injury to the body, they are agreeable to God’s will. “For a play to happen, all participants must play along, observing all set boundaries, rules as well as the set limitations.”
The third evidence that the author gives is giving the historical considerations of leisure and how it might affect the church’s perspective on sport and any value that it might have. The author continues by providing more evidence on how the early church understood the concept of sport and how the context of the Roman spectacles and the Greek games can be understood in this context. In this argument, the author draws a demarcating line on “good sport” and “bad sport,” separating the two using the forces behind them – Christianity of Paganism. For example, the author asserts that while the church considered the Greek Games were noble, the Greek Olympic games were strongly connected with paganism. Therefore, most Christians never participated in them. Generally, through the three pieces of evidence, the author supports his primary argument that sports and fitness are a form of glorifying God in the creation of our bodies. However, the author is keen to note that not all sporting activities are suitable for Christians.
What is the most persuasive part of the author’s argument?
The most persuasive part of the author’s argument is the assertion that “leisure is valuable because it refreshes both the physical and mental capacities, and allows one to be more productive and more renewed as they go back to their work. This argument is the most persuasive because it is backed by scientific evidence and evidence from the Holy Scriptures. In further sustaining this argument, the author cites Aquinas, whose foundational argument that “man cannot work because he has finite powers equal to a particular amount of task.” On this ground, the author poses one of the most persuasive arguments on the importance of having leisure time.
What is the least persuasive part of the author’s argument?
The least persuasive argument of the author is the statement that “notions of obesity harbor moral undertones of moral failure.” This is the least persuasive argument because it is not scientifically proven and has no logical basis. The argument may lead to inconceivable and unprecedented conversations because it is partly true. While it is true that obesity can be caused by moral incandescence, it is not always the case that every obesity case results from immoral choices. Some types of obesity are genetically caused and therefore have no relationship with one’s choices.
How has this book affected your own understanding of the issue at hand? Do you agree or disagree with the author’s position?
This book has had a significant impact on my understanding of how faith and sport and fitness intersect. Generally, I agree with the author that our poor choices can lead to bitter consequences, such as inflicting us with diseases like obesity. The book has opened my eyes on the concept of faith and works. I agree with the author’s position that while God created all things and pronounced them good, that was not the end of creation. God still needs us to continue with creation even through our own bodies. I have learned that creation is not just limited to the outside of us. Creation can also happen right within us. By engaging in the cultural practices of sports and fitness, we are recreating ourselves and are thus glorifying God in our bodies. Overall, the author’s discourse has changed my perspective on sport and fitness. I have never looked at sporting activities as a part of religion before. I now clearly understand that disease is not the only retribution of failing to keep fit, but that we also lose spiritually.
How does the author’s argument impact how one lives out the Christian faith?
The author’s argument is an eye-opener to every true Christian. In this world infected with the “feel good syndrome,” recreation has lost its meaning. In a time when the media have completely distorted the understanding of bodily perfection, there is a need to approach the concepts of sport, fitness, leisure time, and recreation concepts with a lot more care. Perhaps, there is no better discussion that Christians can have to understand the meaning of these concepts better than to diligently and faithfully seek counsel from the Holy Scriptures. This book is calculated to not only ennoble humankind in their Christin journey but is also designed to invigorate the human reasoning faculties to come to the true realization of the relevance of sport and fitness cultural practices in the Christian faith.
Furthermore, the author’s argument encourages those who may have lost hope in their responsibility to keep themselves fit. By realizing that keeping fit is also an act of worship, one may be encouraged to change their lifestyle. Lastly, the author’s argument is an awakening call of our duty to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. Throughout the book, the author talks about the eschatological truths related to Christ’s second coming. By reading the book, the reader will get maximum benefit to prepare them both in this present world and in the world to come.
Reference
Dailey, E. W. (2018). The fit shall inherit the earth: A theology of sport and fitness . Wipf and Stock Publishers.
