The Parable of the The Athletic Club

There were three men who were plagued with being over-weight and its attended side effects; Type II Diabetes, Cardiovascular problems and just not being able to live the kind of lives physically that they wanted to.

They all three joined a gym. The first one started controlling his diet and seven days a week was on the Elliptical machine. By the end of the year he had lost all his weight, his Diabetes went away and his Cardiovascular symptoms were greatly improved. He had a problem though… he had not done anything to improve the quality of his muscles and looked like a walking stick. He was still physically weak.

The second guy changed his diet and was drinking and eating a lot of protein and limiting his carbs and fats. He spent all his time lifting weight and building muscle mass. At the end of the year he had transformed himself… his diabetes went away and his Cardiovascular symptoms were improved. His problem though was he was almost grotesque in the muscle mass he had accumulated and with the smallest amount of exertion got “winded”. He had neglected doing “cardio.”

The third guy listened to his trainer and on even days lifted weights and on odd days did his cardio. At the end of the year he was the perfect combination of form and function. His Diabetes and cardiovascular symptoms went away and physically he could do what he wanted.

The parable is this. All three guys had lived their lives without God. Their spiritual health was near zero. They determined to change that and went looking for God visited three different churches.

The first church emphasized Bible study but gave no encouragement or example in interacting with sinners and performing works of service. Its members by and large were giants in Bible knowledge but midgets in works of service, i.e. the skinny guy.

The second church emphasized works and were socially active but had minimal Bible study and doctrinally accepted anything. They were by and large giants in works of service but midgets in the knowledge of God, i.e. the muscle bound guy.

The third church took a balanced approach. They emphasized Bible study but also encouraged, by word and by example, works of service. It had an incredibly symbiotic effect. Works of service helped in the understanding of God’s word and created an individual that mimicked Jesus Christ himself… perfect in form and in function. Who do you want to be?