18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:18-19, NIV)

Living Healthy Means Living Counter Culturally

If you can, revisit your last experience with your healthcare provider. Was it a positive experience? How long did you wait? Did you get one on one care? Did you get the attention you believe your dysfunction deserved, or that YOU deserved as a paying patient? Were you simply prescribed a "solution"? Likely, the last visit you had with a provider makes you cringe. It may even evoke a negative emotion. Our healthcare system doesn't equal HEALTH, and being HEALTHY (as we were designed) means living outside of the system and payors that drift us towards that care.

In a world where convenience often trumps wellness and conformity prevails over individuality, the pursuit of health can sometimes feel like swimming against the tide. (If you have never considered looking for a provider out of your insurance network, and paying cash for care, I would strongly urge you to. This is one example of swimming against the healthcare current.) Yet, just as following Christ calls for a counter-cultural lifestyle, so too does embracing a commitment to health. In John 15:18-19, Jesus speaks to his disciples, saying, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

This passage resonates profoundly with the journey toward both physical and spiritual health. Here’s how being healthy can mirror the counter-cultural essence of following Christ:

1. Rejecting Conformity:

Just as Jesus called his followers out of the world, choosing a path of health often means rejecting the norms and conventions that surround us. In a society where convenient, processed food is abundant and sedentary lifestyles are the norm, prioritizing wholesome nutrition and regular activity (even better, purposeful exercise) stands out as an act of empowerment against the prevailing culture of convenience we easily fall into. Where insurance payments, co-pays, and deductible too often dictate our healthcare choices, we lose our PERSONAL HEALTH SOVEREIGNTY to the limits of an insurance provider.

2. Embracing Discipline:

Following Christ requires discipline and self-control. Similarly, maintaining good health demands discipline in our eating habits, exercise routines, and overall lifestyle choices. It means saying no to unhealthy indulgences and yes to the discipline of self-care.

3. Prioritizing Holistic Well-being:

Just as Jesus emphasized the importance of spiritual well-being over worldly gain, pursuing health entails prioritizing holistic well-being over superficial appearances or temporary pleasures. It involves nourishing not only the body but also the mind and spirit, recognizing that true health encompasses physical, mental, and emotional vitality.

4. Standing Firm in Values:

Living counter to the world means standing firm in our values and convictions, even when they are at odds with prevailing cultural norms. Whether it’s advocating for sustainable food practices, promoting mental health awareness, or resisting societal pressures to conform to unrealistic beauty standards, embracing health often involves taking a stand for what we believe in, regardless of popular opinion.

5. Being a Light in the Darkness:

Just as followers of Christ are called to be a light in the darkness, embodying the principles of love, compassion, and truth, those committed to health can serve as beacons of inspiration and hope in a world plagued by illness and disease. By prioritizing our well-being and sharing our journey with others, we can encourage and empower those around us to embark on their own paths to health and wholeness.

In essence, the journey toward health is inherently counter-cultural, mirroring the radical call of Christ to live in the world but not of it. Just as Jesus challenged the status quo and called his disciples to a higher standard of living, so too does the pursuit of health require us to defy societal norms and embrace a lifestyle that honors the temple of our bodies. As we navigate this journey, may we find strength and inspiration in the words of Jesus, knowing that we are called to be in the world but not of it, to shine brightly in the darkness, and to live counter to the culture that surrounds us.