Health and Spirituality.

[Ian Gentles]

How much does health contribute to our spiritual selfs?
In another thread on boards, some have discussed spiritual affects of some medication.
Is it that the healthier we are, take young in general for instance, the more spiritually positive we are? I know in healthier days I was much more spiritualy positive. I find my soul and body are affecting each other, and possibly medication!
I am sure there is a lot in scripture, and writen in theology, on this matter?

[Glenda Harvey]

This is almost a what comes first question. Our spirtual lives can effect our health and our health can effect our spiritual lives. They are intertwined, each effecting the other.

[Ian Gentles]

In some ways would be good if we could maintain our spiritual life's as separate from the physical, for its in weakness we need strength. I also find some illness to seeming put up barriers between ourself s and God, our weakness being a major hindrance. It would seem that when we need God most we sense Him less, thus robbing us of that divine support. I am sure God dosent intend this, well i presume He dosent, but its what we often experiance.

[Glenda Harvey]

Sometimes we have to remember that God is with us even when we don't "feel" him.

[Ian Gentles]

Sometimes we have to remember that God is with us even when we don't "feel" him.

Yes indeed, but belief can be hard at times of trail.

[Roy Richardson]

This is almost a what comes first question. Our spirtual lives can effect our health and our health can effect our spiritual lives. They are intertwined, each effecting the other.

Good point. I have found Ruth Haley Barton's work (http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/) helpful in my life in understanding some of that linkage. Her book, "Sacred Rhythms (http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1027221&item_no=833331)" was especially helpful.

[Billie Goodson]

I don't think the young are any better suited for spirituality than the old. I can point at some old, and young people that all seemed to have vibrant and alive spiritual lives. The opposite is also true. I have also known the very sick that have great spiritual lives, and the very healthy that also do. Again, the reverse is true. Are they intertwined, yes, I think most certainly. Just don't ask me to explain it.

[Anne and Dwayne Hood]

It has affected me different times in different ways. During an emotional breakdown, after Kent died, I could feel God, as a warmth on the left side of my face, as if I was cuddingly up close to the hearrt of God, for comfort.

During cancer, I could not feel Him anywhere, but it did not affect my love for Him.

I don't really have good health now, but I have a good connection with the Lord, it seems to me. Sunday morning at church, there was a Holy Quietness, and the pastor mentioned it. For a while, we just sat there, and bask in it.

But, when one is extremely sick, they get to the place that they may not be able to be the person that has faith. Sometimes, others have to reach out in faith for them.

When you are going through a time like Ian is, not knowing where the money is coming for to meet your financial needs, the feeling could easily be a frantic time, and it is very hard to believe and have faith. But, we can know that our anchor holds, even during the storm.

[Charlotte Mercer]

I can only reply by using the theology taught to me by a professor at SNU, Dr. Tim Crutcher. According to Genesis, God fashioned humans out of dust, and then breathed his breath of life into us. This means that we are more than just physical. What makes us human is the combination of the physical (dust) and the spiritual (breath). If this is true, then it does make sense that your physical condition can affect your spiritual condition, but then it would have to also be true that your spiritual condition can affect your spiritual condition. Jesus Himself told several people that their faith had made them well.

I do believe that illness can make us more inclined to feel less spiritual, but by God's grace, it doesn't have to.

[Ian Gentles]

When i was a ere little younger, ya know, jogging, playing soccer, badminton, hey i was good at that, and swimming a lot, it actually helped! Sadly its winter, in good weather a round of golf helped a lot. Now not saying exercise is spiritual, as many good saints are unable to do much, but i found health, well physical exertion has always helped. Ok didnt make me more spiritual, but helped me to cope spiritually!

[Hans Deventer]

When i was a ere little younger, ya know, jogging, playing soccer, badminton, hey i was good at that, and swimming a lot, it actually helped! Sadly its winter, in good weather a round of golf helped a lot. Now not saying exercise is spiritual, as many good saints are unable to do much, but i found health, well physical exertion has always helped. Ok didnt make me more spiritual, but helped me to cope spiritually!

Ian, there is most certainly a link between physical exercise and depression. A couple of years ago we had a German psychologist at the EuNC Leadership Conference who explained that actual tests had been done with groups of depressed people and it turned out that those that "merely" did physical exercise (like walking, hiking) were generally better off after 6 months than those that had received traditional treatment with talks and medication.

[Ian Gentles]

Why i often think manual workers suffer less!

http://iangentles.livejournal.com

[Bill Evans]

Consider the writings of Dr. Walt Larimore with his approach to a balanced view of health. He has a website in which it is explained in better detail than I can. However, he focuses on the importance of physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual health. His book/website explains the various elements and compares them to a car with 4 wheels. If one is out of balance, then the entire system is affected.