Wellness has become a new buzzword in modern, western culture. It is also an incredibly thriving business model in a culture that overeats, overspends, wrestles with an amazing level of anxiety and depression, and develops relationships indiscriminately in cyberspace. Our fast-paced society, combined with a national media that drives the demand for accomplishment and acceptance, has changed how people perceive themselves and their purpose in society. The church is not exempt. The Bible teaches that we are not to love the world and its cares and concerns but to be salt and light in that world. However, everyone in that world needs to work to survive, feed their families, pay their bills, and try to make their lives count while they’re there. A single mother with three small children has very little margin in her life to think about how to serve out her purpose in ministry while trying to make it to the next paycheck. A young father who loses his job must face the reality that the only thing that matters now is putting food on the table. These are very real concerns that we cannot ignore, nor pretend will go away on their own. We need to remember, however, that when bad things happen, it is our attitude that will determine how we respond. Living with a scarcity mindset completely removes our power to choose the meaningful outcomes we desire for our lives. Our power to choose is never more vital than when things are seemingly falling apart around us. Possessing the mentality of wellness goes well beyond our physical health alone. While our physical health is immensely important, it is only one component of spiritual fitness.
