Mockingbird: The Ripped and the Righteous: The Gospel According to Jack LaLanne

I made the following comment over at The Mockingbird blog. I thought you might find the article and my response of interest:

I'm wondering why you didn't make the obvious connection between physical exercise and spiritual discipline?

Simply because we make resolutions to be good, pray more, read the Bible more, go to church more, treat others better, be nicer to others, follow the golden rule better, and to stop being spiritually lazy.... does not mean that we will be able to reach those goals. In fact, the determining factor is not our personal resolve at all. It is the gracious gifts of God that enable us to progress, however slightly, in the process of spiritual growth and sanctification. We get none of the credit since all we do is for God's glory.

Furthermore, the spiritual bullying that goes on in the name of Christ and a gospel of faithfulness and works is no gospel at all. It is a thinly veiled form of self-righteousness and Pharisaism. "Look at me! See how spiritually fit and holy I am! Follow me as I follow Christ!" How different that message is from the message preached by Martyn Lloyd-Jones: "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!" (Galatians 6:14-16).

I can't bear to watch the bullying of the contestants on the "Biggest Loser" program; the very title is a put down. Likewise, I get sick of hearing the Pharisees boast in their own accomplishments. It gets worse when they begin to berate Christians with threats of judgment while pretending that the threats are the "gospel". What they don't realize is that they are merely judging themselves since no one has obeyed to the point of shedding of blood or of sinless obedience in that journey. Only one Person accomplished that and His final words were: "It is finished!"

Charlie


Mockingbird: The Ripped and the Righteous: The Gospel According to Jack LaLanne