My daughter Angela and I were at the Southern Baptist Convention this week, which meant that we were hanging out with a lot of Southern Baptist pastors.   Angie noticed something, and when she pointed it out, it made me very uncomfortable.

She noticed that most Southern Baptist pastors look alike.  We’re middle aged, with gray hair, and a portruding belly.  Later that night, at a movie being shown to church leaders (an advance screening of the movie Courageous), she began to point which of the moviegoers were Southern Baptist pastors, using age and shape as her only two criterion.  Since I knew many of the people present, I can report that she was remarkably accurate.

That points out two significant problems.  First, pastors, are growing older, and I’ll talk about that issue at another time.  Secondly, though, it means that pastors are not doing a good job of honoring God with our bodies.  I’ve heard all the excuses and I’ve used a few myself.  We work long hours and don’t have time to work out.  Nearly every church event involves food.  We eat out a lot and meet people for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Everyone shows love to us by bringing us pastries and candy.

The excuses aren’t valid.  We are called to honor God with our bodies, and we’re not doing a good job of it.  We need to lose weight, shape up, and eat healthy food.  We need to pass up on the pastries, the candies, and the fried foods.  We need to learn to say, “No thanks.”  We need to run, walk, swim, or do something in the way of regularly exercise.  We regularly call people to repent of their sins and change their ways.  We need to take our own advice.

So I admit that I haven’t done a good job of honoring God with my body.  And I’ve asked God’s help to change me.  By next year I won’t look like a typical Southern Baptist pastor.  I will still be gray (if I have hair), but my shape will be different.  

The shape of Southern Baptist ministry isn’t a good one.  I call on my fellow pastors and ministry leaders to join me in changing the shape of the ministry.

PS.  Those in my congregaton know that I’m working on this.  I’ve lost 25 pounds in 2011 and have started a walking ministry.  But I’ve still got a long way to go.