CHRISTIAN HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL WELLBEING

Christian health and spiritual wellbeing simply means the wellbeing of individuals who identify as Christians. It entails the interconnectedness of physical, mental and spiritual aspects of health to the Christian faith.

In this article, we will be discussing how the Christian faith interconnects with the three dimensions  of health mentioned earlier.

 

PHYSICAL HEALTH
To be physically healthy, the bible teaches us to treat our bodies like the temple of God that it is. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20(NIV) says, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.

This text is often used in teachings against sexual immorality which is right because sexual immorality is one of the fastest and easiest ways to taint our God given treasure which is our body. There are hosts of diseases that can be contacted through sex out of wedlock which will automatically dampen your physical health.

Also, things like tattoos and improper piercing of the skin are some of the unhealthy ways a Christian can reduce his or her own physical health, these things have adverse effects on the body like skin infections, irritations and cancer.

As a Christian, we should ensure to have proper nutrition. Some people relate having proper nutrition to eating costly meals in fancy restaurants or cooking exorbitant meals which is wrong. A proper nutrition is another term for a balanced diet, which will help you keep fit and healthy enough to serve God. Exercises and proper rest or break from your usual activities help to keep you engaged in kingdom work.

MENTAL HEALTH
Another dimension we will be talking about in Christian health is mental health. Mental health applies to every human because a poor mental health will automatically lead to poor physical health and that will lead to poor spiritual health. Mental situations are very tricky, and an individual might not realise he or she has a mental problem in time. Christians battling a mental illness like depression find it hard to worship God in their full potential because they are often overthinking and subconsciously ignoring the grace or gifts of God in their lives.

To be in the best frame of mind, that is, to improve our mental health as Christians, we need to make prayers, study of God’s word, and meditation our sword and shield. In all situations, be full of faith, believe in God’s control over all things, and be careful of what you feed your thoughts.  As I said earlier, it’s hard for a person to realise the extent at which their mental health has been damaged so its advisable to seek professional help or speak to figures in the church that can provide proper counsel.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH
In furtherance, spiritual health is another dimension of Christian health. Being spiritually healthy means being fully engrossed in the gospel of Christ and living as a role model for other Christians and non Christians. Having faith, being prayerful and living according to the standard of God’s words are ways to be spiritually healthy as a Christian.

 

As Christians, we are sometimes unsure or confused about the application of modern medicine and the application of Christian Faith. When your physical health or mental health is down, a certain degree of faith is needed but most importantly seeking medical help first is necessary and does not compromise our faith in any way. Receive proper medical treatment and back it up with faith and prayers, that is the way to balance our faith and modern medicines.

In conclusion, to be a healthy Christian we need to incorporate physical health, mental health and spiritual health. These three dimensions will help us achieve our goals in Christ without mishap. Knowing when and how to fast will reduce any risks to our physical health, a person battling ulcer can’t fast while a person who can’t walk can’t go to church of his own accord. It is very essential to seek medical help in any health related situation and also complement that with enough faith in Christ. Doing this will fully integrate the three dimensions of wellbeing discussed in this article as a Christian.

 

The following bible texts teach us about Christian health
Study them to further gain knowledge on Christian health.

Psalm 34:18

2 Timothy 1:7

Exodus 23:25

Romans 12:2

 

Content Credit / Ajibola Emmanuel Adebayo

Picture Credit / Marisa D’amore – https://marisadamore.com/blog/10-christian-perspective-on-health-and-wellness
The Baptist Messenger – https://www.baptistmessenger.com/christian-health-savor-the-flavor/