By: Viktor O
I’ve been meaning to write this up for a while, then 2 things happened:
1) Nic’s devotion at Big.Small Group was on 1 Corinthians 9:25.
2) I found out the CrossFit Games are this weekend. (p.s. If you weren’t there Wednesday, make sure to watch Nic’s devotion here.)
CrossFit is a fitness company; they describe their approach to workouts as “constantly varied, high intensity, functional movement.” Their program is centered around the WOD, which stands for workout-of-the-day. CrossFit has gotten huge, there are over 6000 CrossFit gyms and even an annual competition called CrossFit Games.
Here’s the thing though, I don’t like CrossFit. CrossFitters do nothing except talk about CrossFit. Things like “Just finished my WOD, killed it!” It gets ridiculous. Also, I’m not into working out… so I imagine that has something to do with it too. But I saw this CrossFit commercial that I think is amazing. Watch it first, then keep reading below.
There’s a lot that could be said here, but what really stood out to me were some of the quotes:
“The reward for doing well is the ability to express your fitness in everyday life in as many different planes or as many different activities that you can possibly imagine.”
— I’m so intrigued by the phrase ‘express your fitness in everyday life’. Isn’t that what we mean when we use the words missional/intentional/strategic?
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31
“You haven’t heard of CrossFit? Let me tell you about CrossFit.”
— When’s the last time you were this excited about something, anything? This guy is pumped about sweating in a gym, why aren’t we more pumped about the hope we have in Christ?
“So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” – Romans 1:15-16
“When you come to a CrossFit gym, everybody knows your name, everybody loves you, and you’re a part of something bigger than just getting a workout.”
— Is this something that could honestly be said about your small group or your church?
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35
As always, the Apostle Paul is way ahead of everybody in using physical fitness as an analogy in his letter to the Corinthians: “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” – 1 Corinthians 9:25
p.s.s. If you’re into CrossFit, I didn’t mean all the mean things I said. We can still be friends.