Question:  Greg,

            This may be a silly question, but what does God think about someone involved with bodybuilding?

            Joseph

Answer:  Dear Joseph,

            There is nothing specific, as far as I know, in the Bible about bodybuilding.  As with many topics, we can view this practice from biblical principles, but in so doing we must be careful that we do not try to make the Bible speak where it is silent.  The Bible says that exercise profits, for a little while—it says that we should take care of our bodies.  It warns against excess of any kind.  It warns against vanity and pride.  All of these teachings can have some bearing on this topic, but I suspect how they apply varies in every person’s experience.

            Thus, bodybuilding itself is not a “problem”.  What it might become, how it might be utilized, etc., can be a problem.  However, that is true of so many things in life, whether they be our career, a hobby, an interest in sports, etc.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht