This is the great unspoken taboo of Christianity. I have ceased being surprised when I look at the clerics at our diocesan clergy conference and they range for most part from very overweight to morbidly obese. No one talks about it and considers it an insult if this sad truth is noted.

One sad memory for me is that of my former rector who, though an athlete in his youth, progressively gained weight by careless consumption. Later in life and retired he was no longer able for many years to get around easily and was not able to participate in the life of the Diocese. For some younger clergy his name was legendary but they had never met him and were deprived of hearing first hand of his experiences in church growth and charismatic renewal. Living history became history and hagiography which is second hand.

Nothing about Christ crucified.

While this issue is important, and perhaps care for the body should be mentioned in sermons on occasion, time is so precious that I think focusing on the gospel is the province of churches. “Though our outward man perish, yet is our inward man renewed, day by day.”