Posted by Helen on: 06.12.2008 /
The New York Times recently included an article about The Lord’s Gym, a fitness center which specifically caters to Christians. (You can also read the article here)
What bothers me about this is that the Christians quoted in the article state or imply several false stereotypes about other fitness centers. Here’s what the owner said
“Many people want to have a quality atmosphere that’s not involved in the meat-market setting, that’s serious about workouts,” Dr. Sorchy said. “People want something truly family-friendly, and want to have a team of folks they can trust.”
I’ve belonged to Gottlieb Health and Fitness Center for a few years and it’s all of those things even though it’s not ‘Christian’ per se.
Not only that, the reasons given why Christians go bother me too
“These are places where fitness is important, not sex or vanity,” Professor Griffith said. “It’s supposed to be that we’re not going to forget we’re Christian here. There’s a sense of comfort around people with the same moral values as you have; no one’s going to rock your world.”
What happened to Christians being ‘in the world but not of the world?’ This is encouraging Christians not to be in the world either. It’s hard for me to believe Jesus envisaged followers so weak that they couldn’t spend an hour at the gym where there might be people who aren’t Christians. That they would feel so uncomfortable they couldn’t handle it. Or they’d ‘forget’ they were Christians. Why do [some] Christians say things to each other which encourage then perpetuate so much fear of ‘the world’ that they’re too scared to spend an hour exercising in it?
A couple of members echo that desire for comfort
Merri Bush, 42, who is a member with her daughter, Christyna Askey, 21, said she probably would not have joined a regular gym. The two of them walk on the treadmill each morning while they read and discuss the Bible.
Ms. Askey said, “It’s cool to be able to do that and not have people say, ‘What are you doing?’ ”
Perish the thought anyone would ask them what they were doing and they’d have to own up to being Christians! Or that they’d set aside time to focus on reading and discuss the Bible so they didn’t have to do it at the same time they were exercising.
I have to think the discussion is compromised if they’re paying attention to their exercising and making sure they’re getting a decent workout. Which of course they are doing since this is a fitness center only for people serious about exercise, according to the owner. Not one where showing off bodies has been replaced by showing off how Christian you are - so Christian that you can’t even exercise without reading and discussing the Bible.
I’m not sure the name of this gym really fits because Jesus seemed to prefer hanging out with non-religious people or mixed groups rather than seeking out places just for religious people. I doubt he would have joined a gym like this - unless for him it was part of his mission to seek and save the lost.
Comment by: Christine
1 06/12/08 9:01 AM | Comment Link |Helen,
You should send this in as a letter to the editor. Your take on all this is so funny and so true.
I love it.
Comment by: Jim Henderson
2 06/12/08 10:03 AM | Comment Link |I agree with Christine
Send it to Christianity Today as well or Outreach Magazine- it would be good for them to read this and have to tell you no to your face
Comment by: Jason Horton
3 06/12/08 10:11 AM | Comment Link |[SARCASM]
Would a mainstream gym have too many sweaty, well toned bodies for these Christians? Maybe it’s the style of dress that is worn at a typical gym. I mean, when I (an atheist) go swimming I wear nothing but a pair of swimming trunks. You can see my knees for goodness sake. Bare knees! Plus the manly hairiness of my chest.
I can understand how some Christians might be driven to sin by the sight of such a ruggedly handsome devil but the other swimmers manage to restrain themselves. Even when I’m pumping iron or I’ve never been propositioned. When jogging in the public I’ve managed to avoid gaggles of horny Christians running after me, even though I run past two different churches. Maybe I’m just too fast for them.
How anyone can read and run at the same time escapes me. I’d hit a lamp post or a tree or run into traffic. I can discuss religion while running but not for long as religious discussion in these circumstances makes me short of breath pretty quickly.
I’ve just had a wonderful idea. why not introduce free gyms for church members? I bet it’d get loads of chubby atheists to join up. All those babies we eat are really fattening and the constant orgies only burn off so many calories. I know we get fit by running away after committing crimes like smash and grab or mugging old ladies. A gym would focus that rage against god and bring us back into the light.
Sound like a plan?
[/SARCASM]
I’m only glad that all Christians aren’t so silly as this.
Comment by: karen
4 06/12/08 12:29 PM | Comment Link |Actually, my church had a couple of fitness classes that were supposed to tie into biblical ideas or promote “spiritual AND physical health.”
Part of the pitch was similar to this one - avoiding the supposedly unwholesome atmosphere at regular gyms. I’ve belonged to several gyms and currently work out at the YMCA and none of them is a “meat market.” I’d like to know where all these sinful gyms are, frankly! Obviously I’ve been missing out.
;-)
Comment by: Helen
5 06/12/08 1:11 PM | Comment Link |Thanks Christine and Jim.
Jason and Karen, it makes me wonder if those Christians quoted in the article have actually been to a regular gym. Jason I’m surprised you haven’t received letters from the churches you run past asking if you could take a different route because the parishioners can’t handle the sight of an exercising atheist :).
Comment by: Walking Away
6 06/12/08 1:46 PM | Comment Link |Another example of the “us and them” mentality. Kind of hard to fulfill the Great Commission when you are avoiding the people you are suppose to be talking to.
Trying to see the humor in it but I am just not there yet. It just reinforces my bitterness toward certain types.
Great post though! I agree with the others GET THIS PUBLISHED!
Comment by: Shawna R. B. Atteberry
7 06/12/08 3:04 PM | Comment Link |As a Christian who’s belonged to gyms, I’m wondering where the meat markets are like everyone else. When I was single and paying to sweat where were all the horny men hitting on me? Did I miss something?
This has to be one of the most pathetic subculture bubbles, I’ve heard about in a long time. Of course I’m going to be off to yoga before long, so I’m not into the whole Christendom subculture thing anyway.
Helen, I agree with Christine too–you should send this the editor.
Comment by: benjamin ady
8 06/12/08 3:41 PM | Comment Link |I wish them luck on that. My ongoing experience has been that inside or outside this or that in-group–that is to say no matter where I try to hide–someone is definitely going to rock my world. Period. Trying to avoid that is a futile pursuit.
Beyond that, back when I was a Christian, the main people who managed to really rock my world were other Christians. Maybe the people who go to this gym will have a different experience.
Anyway, I’m glad they’re at their own gym. I would totally find it beyond obnoxious to be in the gym and have people come in and start having a discussion about the Bible on the two treadmills next to me. I’d have to leave or go to a different part of the gym. Grossola.
Comment by: joe
9 06/13/08 1:58 AM | Comment Link |I might be alone here, but I find there is almost nothing engaging or particularly Christian about a gym.
Attending a gym, unlike most other forms of physical exercise, is entirely self-centred. You are there to improve your own fitness, muscle-tone etc. And on one level that is ok (no, that is good - there are many people who could do with more exercise for their health).
On at least two other levels, that is really bad. Surely a Christian gym would involve getting fit by carrying bags of shopping for old ladies, marching against injustice, building homes for the homeless. [I'm exaggerating. Please don't eat me, I'm not trying to imply that gyms are inherently evil.]
Secondly, building a christian gym perpetuates this idea that Christianity is about self-improvement and entertainment. With bristling muscles and a wide smile, the whole world will know that you are mine, as Jesus never said.
Comment by: ruth
10 06/13/08 4:25 AM | Comment Link |Fascinating post, Helen. I recently joined a gym, and later found out that the owner of the gym also owns a strip club. Sadly, I was warned about this from a christian friend. I was also alerted to the fact that the strippers all go to the gym for free.
I had a horrible feeling in my gut as my friend told me this. Thinking it over later, it was sadness because she was so blinkered. I think Jesus would be right in amongst it, being normal and friendly with these people. I’d like to think that me being there is adding to the saltiness of the place. (excuse the pun…)
Comment by: Helen
11 06/13/08 12:29 PM | Comment Link |Walking Away and Shawna thanks for agreeing with Christine’s suggestion. I looked up the letters policy for the New York Times - letters can only be 150 words. So I could barely send any of it to them.
Benjamin wrote:
Wow - that’s quite a reaction!
There are lots of situations where I’d prefer not to be listening to someone else’s conversation. Like if I’m trying to read or listen to something on my mp3 player. But that applies to any conversation, not just ones about the Bible.
Joe, good point - it’s always disturbing when Christians seem to be intentionally emulating the less Jesus-like aspects of culture.
Ruth, thanks for your comment. I hope that Christians who go to regular gyms would be a positive, not a negative, addition to them.
Comment by: Amy Black
12 06/13/08 7:22 PM | Comment Link |I had several reactions to this post.
1. A Christian Gym? Why am I not surprised?
2. I like to read while I’m walking on the treadmill too. It gets my mind off exercising and onto a story I enjoy. Same with the exercise bike.
3. I understand why they talk about the Bible while they exercise. I’ve had some of my most important conversations while going on walks with my friends.
4. Even though I roll my eyes when I hear about Lord’s Gym, I’d rather Christians have Bible studies in their own buildings than have to listen to it in public.
Comment by: benjamin ady
13 06/14/08 1:43 AM | Comment Link |Ok. Maybe I’m over reacting because of this.
Comment by: Helen
14 06/15/08 1:56 PM | Comment Link |Thanks for your comment, Amy.
Benjamin, I like what you said in your link, that you’d leave rather than say something with a lot of anger and sarcasm attached. If those are the options I think leaving is a good choice.
Comment by: Eliza
15 06/16/08 8:02 AM | Comment Link |Is it considered OK to drip sweat into your Bible? (Tears I could see as being OK…but sweat?)
Comment by: Helen
16 06/17/08 4:30 AM | Comment Link |Eliza, that’s a good and relevant question. They probably purchased Bible Sweat Protectors at a very reasonable cost from the front desk of the gym. I’m sure they have a range of relevant Christian accessories like that. Yet another reason to go to a Christian gym - what secular gym would sell you a Bible Sweat Protector at the front desk?? Admittedly, not that I’ve ever asked but that’s not the sort of thing Meat Markets tend to carry, is it?
Comment by: John Dale
17 06/17/08 2:34 PM | Comment Link |Hi, Helen!
I haven’t read the NY Times article — your piece was enough for me to draw my conclusions. I think you’re right — surely Jesus expected us to be able to live “in the world”. We live in an overexposed culture, for sure. But some Christian’s squeamishness about sex or the body is frankly a problem. The implication is there of uncleanliness — which is unfortunate.
Best wishes, John
Comment by: Helen
18 06/20/08 12:17 PM | Comment Link |Thanks for your comment, John. I agree that (some) Christian attitudes about sex are part of the problem