Getting CrossFit

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving full acceptance” (1Tim 4:7-9).

Happy New Year! I’m sitting here writing to you on the first morning of 2016. Let me make a couple of predictions about the coming months. First of all, people will pack local gyms as they resolve to get rid of those unwanted love handles. Second, you won’t  be fighting for a treadmill or elliptical machine in February. 

In a letter to the lead pastor of Ephesus Community Church, Paul encourages Timothy that there’s no time better than the present to hit the spiritual gym. “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (v7-8). It takes intense training to live a godly life on both sides of eternity. It’s time to hit the spiritual gym. Get CrossFit.

The apostle wants Pastor Tim to focus on his own spiritual fitness as they work together to get the Ephesian believers spiritually healthy again. A team of false teachers have been serving up nothing but religious junk food (1Tim 1:3-7; 4:1-3). These hucksters sprinkled just enough Jesus on their teaching that it seemed like truth. Think taco salad. Tasty? You betcha! Healthy? Not so much.

A critical point in our training regimen is to stop woofing down the Twinkies and Ding Dongs of phony religion. “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths” (v7). Paul once again points out the danger of any teaching that distracts you from following Jesus. It’s anything “irreverent” (v7). The word here (Gr. bebelos) describes something ungodly, profane, or vile. It carries the idea of being over the edge or having gone too far. 

We need to avoid “myths” (v7). The term in the original language is muthos, which means a fanciful story that’s not true or a tall tale that often tells stories about supernatural beings or cult heroes. Think urban legends. The false teachers have been spreading this garbage for quite a while (1Tim 1:4). Don’t get sucked back into them again. This is exactly the warning Paul gives Tim a second time in his second letter (2Tim 4:4). Peter goes out of his way to say the apostles aren’t cooking up “cleverly devised myths (Gr. muthos)” about Jesus (2Pet 1:16).

We all have friends who are over the top in their love of stuff like the Marvel Comic Universe and Star Wars. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with doing a little cosplay or going to Comicon. Just be careful that you’re not fooled into letting the Force be with you instead being filled with the Holy Spirit. You need to put down the light saber and open up the Sword of the Spirit!

Step two is “train yourself for godliness” (v7). Here’s the big idea in this passage. If you were at the health club, they would probably have this painted on the wall as motivation. The word “train” is the Greek verb gumnazo, which means to exercise with discipline, intensity, and focus with the goal of increased strength. It’s the source of our word gymnasium. 

This sort of spiritual training is disciplined and focused. It’s not erratic. It’s not hit or miss. It’s not messing around with aerobics one day, free weights the next, and a little hot yoga the day after. Don’t just flip your Bible open just read at random. Read through entire books. Do studies on topics like prayer or worship or righteousness. Let your training have a routine and a purpose. That’s what it takes to be CrossFit.

I have to tell you that gumnazo originally meant to train naked. Yeah, you read that right. This part of the application is totally up to you. I personally choose to do my morning devotions in no less than my pajamas. But there is an idea here of being laid bare before the Lord. As we study His Word, let everything in you be exposed to God’s truth. Nothing is hidden from your Creator (Ps 139:1-6). While we want to keep our clothes on at the gym, let’s bare all before Almighty God…spiritually speaking.

The focus of our intense, spiritual training is “godliness” (v7). You can translate the word here (Gr. eusebia) as godly life, reverence, or piety. It literally means “good (eu-) worship (-sebia).” This may come as a shock to some of you, but worship isn’t just a set list on Sunday morning. Worship is a lifestyle. We worship well when we put into practice God’s truth. We worship well when we live what we say we believe. We don’t just know God’s commands, we DO God’s commands! One of the goals for a follower of Jesus is to live a “peaceful and quiet life, godly (Gr. eusebia) and dignified in every way” (1Tim 2:2).

Paul does tell Tim that “bodily training is of some value” (v8). Staying in good physical condition has it’s place. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor 6:19). We need to be a good steward of that temple. We should take good care of the only physical body God has given us. But remember, you can’t turn back the clock. Don’t turn exercise and appearance into an idol. 

While it’s good to stay in physical shape, “godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (v8). We live a life of good worship to our Savior when we do what He commands. Obeying God is ALWAYS the right thing to do! It’s worthy it every single time. But we have to train with focused intensity. Let’s continually go back to Scripture and hold ourselves up to God’s holy and perfect standard. Let’s connect in Gospel community with other believers for encouragement and accountability. 

At this point in the letter, Paul makes sure Tim and anyone else reading this letter realizes getting CrossFit is a really big deal. “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance” (v9). There’s a pretty good chance this was a catchy slogan in the early church that summed up important doctrine. The apostle uses it several times in his personal letters to his pastor/proteges (1Tim 3:1; 2Tim 2:11; Titus 3:8). Folks can trust this truth. You can take it to the bank. Getting regular spiritual exercise isn't just a great idea for the here and now but for the hereafter.

Don’t miss the point that godliness is of value both now and in eternity. Remember, eternal life starts NOW! Our relationship with Jesus allows us to tap into God’s promise of everlasting life long before we face physical death. We’re able to enjoy God’s overflowing and abundant life on this side of eternity (Jn 10:10). This happens when we follow His rules and laws for life. God’s not a cosmic wet blanket and party pooper. His guidelines are the key to tapping into His overwhelming goodness. They’re guardrails to keep you and me out of the ditch. There’s blessing in obedience, just ask King David. “Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments” (Ps 112:1). Why not worship well now and enjoy God’s goodness here and now? We do that by getting CrossFit.

Crossfit

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine” (v1).

I feel like a fat slob. It seems that everybody I know is a member of Globo Gym. Everybody is working out somehow, someway. Spinning. Zumba. P90X. Folks are busting their butts to get ripped and yoked. While the Apostle Paul had nothing against a healthy body, he tells Titus that healthy teaching about Jesus is the priority. Our doctrine needs to be in top shape so that Christ followers will be in top shape. Now that’s what I call Crossfit! 

Let’s reset the stage for what we’re reading. Paul has moved on to another divine assignment in Greek seaport of Nicopolis (Titus 3:12). He’s watched firsthand as the Gospel has turned the island of Crete upside down. The apostle has left Titus behind with three specific assignments. One, find spiritual leaders for every church (Titus 1:5). Two, shut up and shut down a crew of spiritual con artists (Titus 1:10-11). Three, establish a sustainable system of telling new believers about Jesus (Titus 2:1-10). Here Paul transitions from the false teachers’ smoke and mirrors to teaching that really makes a difference. “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine” (v1). Those snake oil salesmen are like those so-called fitness experts on a late night cable infomercial. They’re peddling a product that sure sounds good but won’t help you lose an ounce. What we need instead is Titus the personal trainer and the healthy teaching about Jesus.

So just where to I get this idea of working out when it comes to learning about the Lord? It’s right there in the original text. Paul tells the Big T that the core message must be on target with “sound doctrine” (v1). He uses the Greek word hugiaino, which can mean to be correct, accurate, and well-grounded. But it is actually used throughout the New Testament to describing health, wellness, and fitness. It’s no surprise that we find it in Dr. Luke’s Gospel. When the religious police blow the whistle on Jesus partying with questionable characters, He lets them know that this is a spiritual house call. “Those who are well (Gr. hugiaino) have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Lk 5:31). Later, Jesus heals the Roman centurion’s employee remotely, “And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well (Gr. hugiaino)” (Lk 7:10).

It’s the Apostle Paul who regularly uses this word when talking about teaching that is in top shape. He tells Timothy that domestic violence, murder, sexual sin, the slave trade, lying, perjury “is contrary to sound (Gr. hugiaino) doctrine” (1Tim 1:10). Later the apostle tells Tim that somebody must be an arrogant knucklehead if their teaching “does not agree with the sound (Gr. hugiaino) words of our Lord Jesus” (1Tim 6:3). Two other times in this little letter to Titus, Paul describes a rock-hard and ripped teaching about Christ (Titus 1:9, 13; 2:2). Doctrine that’s strong and with little body fat comes from PED.  I’m not talking about steroids. This is performance enhancing doctrine. That comes from being Crossfit.

We need strong, healthy doctrine because we’re going to come under attack. The best way to step into the octagon of our culture is to be in tip top spiritual condition. The most effective way to build your faith muscles is through lots of reps in God’s Word. We’re not out to look good. We’re out for true strength. And that strength only comes when we have a more dynamic relationship with Jesus. We repeatedly dig into Scripture for a closer look at “the Founder and Perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12:2). I need to realize that I can never get myself in perfect spiritual condition. But I can place my trust in the One who is. He takes my sin and gives me His perfection (2Cor 5:21). That’s what it means to be Crossfit.