Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

[Big Hoss]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

Thanks Hoss, and Alec you are not alone. Thank you Baby as you are always there for Nikki and I, and we love you. There is a song on the radio that has a verse "have an angel on my shoulder, and the devil in my head"...as my mind is my worst enemy at times. As far as my faith, well it has been renewed as of last year, so I look at it as if I am a novice in this, although like I said was baptized as a family 12/16/14...a very powerful day for our family as a whole, as well as for myself. I am reading the bible daily, as well as taking this day by day. I love this lifestyle of ours and no don't see myself turning away from it anytime soon...if ever. I am a man that has always lived my life doing the next right thing, I do not hurt anyone around me intentionally, I have been in two fist fights in my entire life back in high school, had a bout of drug use back then too, but ended it and picked up weights and this lifestyle to save me from further destruction in my life. I had a career that I was proud of (yes we should not be prideful), I have always worked hard to take care and support my family, always being the best father, husband, friend, brother, mentor, man I can be. I do not drink alcohol, I do not smoke...used to but gave it up, I do not cheat nor ever have, and love my wife and daughter with all my soul and being. I do carry resentments but working on them, I know they harm me more than they do others, there are some close relationships in my life that I can learn to be more forgiving and let go of those resentments...but working on them. When I was laid off my job of 23+ years it hit me hard, and as most will think that this really isn't much to be down and out about (yes I never wanted to talk or complain about MY problems to others because why were MY problems greater than other peoples, so kept them to myself and my close family...but am a man who wears his heart on his sleeve unfortunately). So when I decided it was time to give my life over to God and Christ as I had no control, and to work on my relationship with God and to surrender myself to his path for me, this is pretty much the only thing I see as a question to it all. Is it getting in the way of my relationship to him? I don't feel it is, I talk and pray to him daily, am active in our church, involved in a growth group at church, as well as volunteer in the youth program my daughter is in...I try and help as many in our community as I can, I love everyone, and I even have found myself swearing less lol...so I guess the sin I have through this lifestyle is vanity. I love the sport of bodybuilding, it saved my life from a road of destruction and has what I feel made me a better person, more confident, loving, caring, nurturing, compassionate, disciplined, hard working, and wanting to share and help others in this as well. Although it was a thought in me that has been lingering, as there are some aspects to it that can be looked upon as sin...but we are all sinners through Gods freewill, and Jesus died for our sins so we can be forgiven. Do I admit that I am sinning in the scheme of things sure, do I ask for forgiveness yes, do I pray daily yes, do I owe it all to God for what I have been blessed with in my life you bet, will I continue walking Gods path and help spread his love and word...YES. It is nice to see that I am not the only one here, I have put myself out there in a vulnerable state, but like Baby said earlier, I am at a time in my life that I do not care what people think of me, my judgment day will come, I do not judge others as I do not know what their journey is in their path of God, all I can do is the next right thing...and be the best I can...and love!!!

Thanks for letting me share, felt really good.

Well put MA. Like you I just love lifting weights. The iron has kept my OCD & manic depression at bay and has taught me discipline & self-control (except at times of you-know-when) and at the gym where I train I have met some stand-up bro's. It's a real challenge and struggle to give up ALL aspects of it. May God bless us all thru these trials and tribulations.

[MuscleAddiction]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

Well put MA. Like you I just love lifting weights. The iron has kept my OCD & manic depression at bay and has taught me discipline & self-control (except at times of you-know-when) and at the gym where I train I have met some stand-up bro's. It's a real challenge and struggle to give up ALL aspects of it. May God bless us all thru these trials and tribulations.

Amen!!! God bless us all!!!

[Big Hoss]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

Here's some good websites & reading material that has helped me throughout the years on my Christian walk...

thebereancall.org (The Berean Call - Books & Newsletter)
Henry Morris Study Bible (King James Version)
icr.org (The Institute for Creation Research - Books & Newsletter)
"My Hero Walks on Water" - by Brian Dobson (Trainer to Ronnie Coleman, Branch Warren, and others)

[knights]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

Sinners, believers, have faith, don't have faith, atheist.........we will ALL be judged. HE will judge us by what HE has tasked us too. HE will only judge us by what obstacles and challenges HE has placed in front of us.

I may never go to heaven even having lived a life with faith, devotion and righteousness because I may someway somehow have FAILED at what HE placed in front of ME.

God has given all of us different reasons for being here, he has given all of us different tasks, even the worst of the worst may still have a place besides HIM if they pass HIS tests.

The only thing we can do is to live our lifes, face our challenges and do unto others as we would wish they do unto us.

[Ironguruera]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

I'm not a Christian but I enjoyed the thread and it's a very interesting debate you are all having here!

[Orange24]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

I'm not a Christian but I enjoyed the thread and it's a very interesting debate you are all having here!

I respect everyone's beliefs. What do you believe in exactly?

[baby1]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

I believe but one thing I do not do is preach my beliefs on others. We have some reborn Christians in the family and we cannot get together with them without them shoving their beliefs down our throat,. Now it has been their saving grace and I am very happy for them so that is good. What I want to know is what does "reborn Christtan" really mean? Like I said I was baptized and raised Lutheran which is a Christian religion but wonder how it differs from reborn?

[MuscleAddiction]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

Wasn't trying to sound preachy, even my mother-in-law made a comment about me being a reborn Christian, kind of hurt, but for me it is just coming back to maturing in my spiritual growth which never really had much attention in my life until now.

[Big Hoss]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

A re-dedication of faith.

[xdude]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

Wasn't trying to sound preachy, even my mother-in-law made a comment about me being a reborn Christian, kind of hurt, but for me it is just coming back to maturing in my spiritual growth which never really had much attention in my life until now.

your mother in law made a crack? that is just wrong..
I mean the one thing we know about religeon is that no one has proof they have the right answer....

SO great she is judging ..

were you being prechy ...or just saying this is what I have been doing..?

[baby1]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

MA, I don't think you came off that way at all. I to have become a very spiritual person and more so in the past year but for me it is completely different from my faith. Just a feeling that is hard to explain but it is a great one. Do what it is that makes you feel good.

[MuscleAddiction]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

your mother in law made a crack? that is just wrong..
I mean the one thing we know about religeon is that no one has proof they have the right answer....

SO great she is judging ..

were you being prechy ...or just saying this is what I have been doing..?

Well, yes she did...maybe not intentional but yeah, Nikki was letting her know during a phone call how involved I have become with our church, reading the bible daily, bible study, youth group leader, and just working on my spiritual maturity, and she made the comment "these born again Christians", and she has been the one to be going to church all these years, always reminding me to be forgiving, loving, and that God loves unconditionally (when it comes to my oldest daughter situation over the years) but then tells my wife she does not believe in heaven...interesting. I love her, but has not sat right with me. Anyway, not judging, was just taken back a bit.

[MuscleAddiction]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

MA, I don't think you came off that way at all. I to have become a very spiritual person and more so in the past year but for me it is completely different from my faith. Just a feeling that is hard to explain but it is a great one. Do what it is that makes you feel good.

Just checking Baby, again new to it and yes don't want to be or sound preachy, just trying to explain where I am at. I am reading a really good book right now called "Embraced By The Light" by Betty J. Eadie, a book of her near death experience, really good and worth reading. There was a part in it that hit home with me hard...

"I saw the evil in surrendering to one of Satan's greatest tools...my personal cycles of guilt and fear. I understood I had to let go of the past. If I had broken laws or sinned, I needed to change my heart, forgive myself, and then move onward. If I had hurt someone, I needed to start loving them honestly and seek their forgiveness. If I had damaged my own spirit, I needed to approach God and feel his love again, his healing love."

That is where I am at in my life, I have love of my wife, daughter, friends, and family...but still missing something...that is where I am at with my relationship with God.

[Big Hoss]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

Christians have been persecuted, hated, ridiculed, mocked, scoffed, etc., etc. for centuries by our own friends, family, peers, government, and the list goes on. It's how you handle the situation is what separates us from the world. We are instructed to pray for those who hurt us and to pray for our enemies. It is very hard to do at times; believe me, it has happened to me throughout my 35+ years of being a Christian, and it deeply hurts, so you are not alone. Your natural instinct is to "get back" at the ones who hurt us, but to practice self-control and ask God for strength and Godly wisdom is half the battle in itself. If we pray for those people, God will take care of the rest, it just takes patience on our part.

[Vicious 13]

Re: Thoughts on being a Christian Bodybuilder...is the lifestyle sinful?

That's a two way straight. Christians persecute and some are the most judgmental people I've ever met 😃


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