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What Is
Health?
(Source: The United Methodist Church's General Board of
Global Missions)
The United Methodist Church understands health as:
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A dynamic state of well-being of the individual
and society.
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Holistic wellness, which is physical, mental,
spiritual, economic, political, and social.
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Being in harmony with each other, with the natural
environment, and with God.
John Wesley, in his book
Primitive Physick and in his sermons, established
for today's United Methodists the interconnectedness of
health with spiritual, mental, and physical well-being.
As a church, we continue to claim and build on that
understanding. Today, the Health and Welfare Ministries
of the General Board of Global Ministries resources the
promotion and development of holistic congregational
health ministries.
Most health problems are
related to lifestyle and are preventable. Research on
the immune system and other studies on what keeps people
healthy have identified the following important factors:
- Hope (a spiritual energy that activates the human
will).
- Religious belief and faith in a higher power.
- Meditation and prayer.
- A sense of meaning and purpose in life.
- Belonging, a sense of connectedness to others
(individuals and small groups) and community.
- A sense of responsibility.
- A positive self-image.
- Touch and love.
These are spiritual
factors and traditional areas for church involvement in
the lives of its members and community. The church can
empower people to take responsibility for their health
by making positive lifestyle changes. A transformation
that is deeply rooted in an enduring spirituality will
lead to healthy behavior and thinking.
We believe the human body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit, a sacred place consecrated by God's presence.
People who believe that the body is a gift and the
dwelling place of God will treat it with great care.
Holistically healthy people become other-directed rather
than self-serving. Loving and serving others are close
to the heart of the United Methodists and our Christian
understanding of wellness. Churches have an historic
tradition of caring and reaching out, especially to the
hurting and the marginalized.
Related
Links
United Methodist Church Health and Welfare Ministries
General Board of Global Ministries' Congregational
Health Ministries
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