Book Review: A Little Theology of Exercise by David Mathis
David Mathis’s A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul is a concise book on the benefits of exercise for the Christian life. The subtitle “enjoying Christ in body and soul” is at the heart of the book. Mathis, a pastor at Cities Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and an adjunct professor at Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, attempts to demonstrate how we can and often should integrate exercise into our Christian lives, particularly in light of modern concerns about our sedentary lifestyles.
While we often downplay the importance of physical exercise, Mathis emphasizes its value and explores the numerous benefits it offers. The book is divided into two parts: “Move the Body” and “Condition the Soul.” Each deals with several aspects of exercise and the Christian life.
Sponsored
God at the Gym?
The verse that often comes to mind for Christians when thinking about exercise and faith is 1 Timothy 4:8: “physical training is of some value…” In recent years, much of Christian culture has taken this to heart, sometimes in commendable ways, and other times in ways that raise questions. While Christian athletes have long held the spotlight, the rise of social media has created a new category of faith-based fitness influencers. Men’s Health, for example, recently profiled Derek Lunsford, the 2021 Olympia champion and Mr. Olympia in 2023, who frequently uses Instagram to share his Christian faith. Alongside figures like him, brands such as HolStrength and Three Nails now market themselves as faith-driven alternatives to mainstream athletic wear companies like Nike and Lululemon.
Yet this growing movement inevitably raises concerns: how should Christians think about the focus on physical appearance, the pull of vanity and sexual temptation, and whether such pursuits align with, or distract from, the call to godly living? And more fundamentally, should the average Christian really be so concerned with their physical health?
The Body as Neither Idol nor Enemy
The introduction sets the stage by surveying how the ancient Greco-Roman world, familiar to the early church, understood the body. On one side stood pagan ascetics who treated the body as something we should subdue or despise; on the other, those who exalted it as nearly divine. Christian teaching, Mathis argues, should chart a middle way between these extremes. He quotes C.S. Lewis’ The Four Loves, who quotes St. Francis calling our body, “brother ass.” Our body is not either something to be despised as some pagans would have it, nor held in such high regard as to be an idol; it is instead “a useful, sturdy, lazy, obstinate, patient, lovable and infuriating beast; deserving now a stick and now a carrot…” This description frames Mathis’s theology: the body is not ultimate, but it is valuable, chiefly as an instrument for living the Christian life faithfully.
He continues to exclaim the benefits of exercise by pointing out that it can facilitate our doing good for others. Mathis states,
…consider how the orientation of our modern age on physical activity, compared to the preindustrial world, affects how we think about doing good for others.
Mathis, A Little Theology of Exercise, p. 13
The exertion of our bodies was a given to the biblical writers and almost all human experience until the present century. This physical exertion for Mathis is not simply for its own sake, but rather how it can help us to serve God and others, and to provide a healthy perspective on how Christians should view exercise.
Glorifying God in the Body
Part One
Part one begins with the question, “How do I exercise with God, not self, at the center?” Mathis points out that we were created as embodied creatures and that Christian theology speaks of the body in many ways. Not just our embodied existence now, but the bodily resurrection of Christ, and our new bodies in the world to come. He recommends praying along with exercise to keep God at the center, either during or before. After this practical advice, Mathis transitions to the second part of the book, where he outlines five key ways to orient one’s approach to exercise within a Christian framework.
Part Two
Part two outlines five reasons why Christians should exercise and condition their souls: for our God, to glorify him in the body; for our minds, exercise facilitates clear thinking; for our wills, exercise cultivates willpower; for joy, to seek Jesus; and for love’s sake. Mathis’s list focuses heavily on two things: the false god of workout culture and the Christian response to it, as well as his specific answer, Christian Hedonism. He states multiple times throughout the book that he is a Christian Hedonist, that is, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” This emphasis, however, may be the most controversial element of his argument, since Christian Hedonism remains closely tied to Piper’s influence and is not widely shared or recognized outside those circles.
Because of this, the pursuit of happiness or pleasure as the ultimate goal (rather than God’s glory or righteousness) requires fuller theological justification than Mathis provides, and it raises questions that extend beyond the scope of his short book. Still, readers can find his reflections valuable without embracing Christian Hedonism as a starting point. One helpful category that Mathis does not use but could be applied here is virtue. Training the body can also train the mind and shape the dispositions of the soul, orienting the whole person toward God.
Exercise as a Habit of Faith
As mentioned above, the verse “physical training is of some value…” is usually one of the first objections to exercise or healthy living. Yet, Mathis is right to point out that even though the verse continues “but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come,” that physical training is of some value. That value can and should be directed towards living a Christian life and oriented around the work of Christ.
This reminder is especially pertinent in our sedentary society, which demands far less physical exertion than the world of biblical figures. In their day, daily life itself required movement and labor: Jesus and his disciples walked long distances by foot, Peter worked as a fisherman hauling nets, and Paul supported himself by the manual trade of tentmaking. By contrast, most modern Christians must choose to exercise with intentionality, making physical discipline a habit rather than an unavoidable part of life.
A Practical Guide
Having trained most of my life in martial arts, as well as being an avid hiker among other physical activities, I found this book to be a practical guide on using physical activity for Godly purposes. Physical discipline has led to better mental discipline in my own life, so I recognize the value of this little book.
While I don’t subscribe to Christian Hedonism, I do believe that exercise has been beneficial for me in various ways, including becoming more disciplined in my walk with Christ. For example, karate training has made it routine to deny comfort and laziness in favor of more worthy goals. This has translated into being more able to deny my flesh when it would be so easy to sleep in on Sunday or scroll more when I should be reading or praying. Karate has also been an outreach tool to connect with others. It has even helped me navigate conflict by learning the skill of staying calm in stressful situations where there is disagreement. More importantly, it has kept me fit, allowing me to be more present with my family and pitch in at church or work when something physical needs to be done.
From Morning Prayer to Muscle Memory
In that spirit, Anglicanism is a tradition that already regiments time and routine. Besides the liturgy, we have the liturgical calendar, which regulates our worship and helps form rhythms centered around the Gospel. We also have our daily routines of morning and evening prayer, often done in the home with family. These times, as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer, shape habits of worship and daily life. Where Mathis’s theology of exercise could fit in is within this rhythm of prayer and worship. Anglicans already have a framework of a disciplined schedule that can easily accommodate exercise.
The Anglican practices of penitential seasons, such as Lent and Advent, already utilize bodily practices to temper the passions. We fast, denying our bodies and desires in anticipation of Easter and Christmas, not simply for a feast, but to conform our whole selves to the image of Christ. We also feast to enjoy the fruits of God’s creation in their appropriate times (and with moderation). Each of these practices cultivates a routine and rhythm of our lives centered around the Gospel. Exercise should also be a routine tool in this way. Indeed, many dioceses of the ACNA require not just psychological health for clergy, but also physical fitness. Mathis’ encouragement to center exercise around Christ fits well within this routine, and as he points out, physical exercise helps to relieve stress and think clearly.
Physical discipline, rightly ordered, is not a distraction from devotion but an act of it—forming strength, focus, and endurance for God and neighbor.
Image: Cover of A Little Theology of Exercise, © Crossway.
Book Review: A Walk Through the Prayer Book
Klukas, Arnold W. A Walk Through the Prayer Book: The 2019 Book of Common Prayer Explained. Anglican House, 2023. 118 pp. As the Anglican Church in North America celebrates its fifteenth year, its 2019 edition of the Book of Common Prayer likewise celebrates five years of use. Fittingly, Anglican House Publishers has released a helpful…
The Book of Common Prayer (BCP): A Rookie Anglican Guide to the Prayer Book
You can’t be curious about Anglicanism for long without running into the Book of Common Prayer—commonly abbreviated as the “BCP” or the “Prayer Book.” Based on the title, you might reasonably assume that there’s just one BCP out there. But then you type “Book of Common Prayer” into Google, and you’re faced with an overabundance…
