Book Review: “A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul”

David Mathis. A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2025.

As the director of discipleship for GRIT Ministries, which is dedicated to glorifying God through equipping, encouraging, supporting, and challenging athletic coaches to live for Christ, I was eager to read A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul by David Mathis. In this book, Mathis asks readers to consider a practical, yet often neglected question in the realm of Christian formation: How can God’s gift of physical exercise be experienced in such a way that we profit from it spiritually? Or more to the point, “How does the joy of exercise serve joy in God?” (14). In what follows, I offer a summary of his work, a brief analysis, and three ways to fruitfully put it to use in daily life.

Summary

Mathis breaks this book into two parts. Part one addresses how we ought to think about exercise as Christians. Mathis begins by asking, “How do God’s word and prayer, ‘make holy’ various bodily acts for which God designed and made us?” (17). Chapter one is the most important and longest chapter in the book. Here Mathis provides a simple, but helpful biblical theology of the human body via a six act story: (1) God made our bodies; (2) sin has seized our bodies; (3) God himself took a human body; (4) God himself dwells in our bodies; (5) we glorify God now in our bodies; (6) we await a spectacular bodily upgrade (21–36). From creation to new creation, Mathis takes readers on a sprint across the biblical canon for the purpose of showing how these divinely designed and revealed truths about our bodies are to inform the Christian life, particularly our movement and exercise. In chapter two, he turns to how a biblically informed view of the body can aid our prayer lives, specifically in the area of thanksgiving or gratitude (39–41) and asking for help or intercession (41–43).

With the theological foundation laid in part one, in part two, Mathis begins to address why Christians exercise. He presents five motivating factors in chapters 3–7 to help readers understand how to “make physical exercise serve spiritual joy in God” (48). The first motivation, presented in chapter three, urges us to first and foremost exercise to glorify God in our bodies (51–56). I found chapters four and five, motivations two and three, the most insightful and interesting. In chapter four, Mathis uses both Scripture and scientific research to show how physical exertion builds and conditions the brain, causing us to have greater mental clarity and stamina. In chapter five he addresses how exercise builds resilience and resistance to laziness and apathy in all areas of life through conditioning the will. Motivation four, chapter six, is all about joy, which will be no surprise for those familiar with Mathis and his mentor John Piper, for God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Finally, motivation five, chapter seven, covers how exercise enables us to better love and serve others with the body God has given us.

Analysis

If you are looking for a “how to” book on exercise and healthy eating habits, you will be disappointed with this work. If, however, you desire a deeper understanding of the gift and purpose of movement and bodily existence for the Christian life, your soul will benefit much from reading A Little Theology of Exercise. In this short book, readers will find an evangelical, orthodox treatment of the human body that is faithful to Scripture and filled with practical takeaways that are explicitly and uniquely Christian. There are only three things I would have liked to see developed further: (1) idolatry present in fitness culture; (2) pointing readers to some good Christian resources on things not covered in the book (especially exercise, body, and nutrition related); and (3) more on disability. 

Regarding idolatry in fitness culture, Mathis certainly makes mention of this reality throughout the book, and it is implicitly countered by focusing on righteous motivations for exercise. I do appreciate the positive and constructive focus of the book. No doubt, more Christians probably struggle with sloth in a sedentary culture than making health and fitness a counterfeit god. Yet I would have liked to see the other end of the spectrum receive a little more attention, such as a brief chapter of its own perhaps. 

No book can do all things, and we should not want them to! I appreciate this book’s laser focus on proper motivations of Chrisitan exercise and the gift of movement. So when I say I think providing something like a short appendix or bibliography for readers regarding some areas not covered in the book, it is not a critique of the work. I do not expect to read a book by a pastor and get nutrition advice. However, I think readers would find a curated “sources for further study” a helpful addition.

It was wonderful to see Mathis explicitly address those living with disabilities with compassion and encouragement (26–27); I simply wanted to hear him keep going! I think more on the topic and how to adapt the content and argument of the book to these brothers and sisters would be helpful.

Application

How can we put this book to work?: 

• An approachable book for group study: This book would be a fruitful study for a seasonal men’s or women’s Bible study group, a pastor’s group, or for coaches and athletes. This is especially true of part two which covers the five motivations for Christian exercise. 

• More focused prayers: This book will help readers understand why we exist as embodied creatures designed for movement, and how that should change the we pray for God to meet our needs and empower us for service.
• A proper view of being physically fit: As Mathis argues well, such things as living longer and looking better are side effects, not the main event or motivation for Chrisitan exercise. Christians exercise for such things as mental clarity to understand the Word of God better, to help them be less anxious and more gentle and patient with others. Christians exercise to build greater discipline, resilience, and fortitude in all areas of life. Christians exercise to have bodies that are able to help those in need when duty calls. Christians exercise because a fit body serves greater spiritual joy in Christ.

Conclusion

In asking us to consider how moderate, intentional, and routine physical exertion helps us enjoy Christ more and better serve others, Mathis invites us to experience the spiritual boost exercise can offer our souls. I highly commend this needed book to you on Christ-centered exercise.