What does it mean to be good & well?

As humans, we often focus solely on achieving physical fitness and neglect our emotional, psychological or spiritual well-being. However, true health and wellness encompass our whole person. 

Before we discuss why it’s important to focus on whole person health and wellness, lets explore and define the key aspects of physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual health.

Physical Health

Physical health is the most commonly discussed aspect of health and wellness. It refers to the state of our physical body, including our fitness levels, nutrition, and physical abilities. 

Emotional Health

Emotional health refers to our ability to cope with life’s challenges, manage stress, and maintain healthy relationships. Emotional health typically involves being aware of and expressing our emotions in a healthy and constructive way. 

Psychological Health

Psychological health refers to our mental health, which includes our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Many claim poor psychological health can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and addiction. 

Spiritual Health

Spiritual health involves our beliefs, values, and sense of purpose in life. In this vague sense, it doesn’t necessarily refer to religious beliefs, but rather to a person’s sense of meaning and purpose in life. 

These categories of health are beneficial, yet still vastly incomplete, as there are other aspects of personal health including intellectual, environmental and occupational for instance. 

This approach to health and wellbeing is very compartmentalized, and neglects to take into account the overlap and interconnectedness of our lives. It also alienates those that suffer or lack certain privilege. 

Here at Good&Well we see wellness from a slightly different perspective. 

We are all created image bearers

Genesis 1:26–27 (ESV): 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 

Created as embodied souls

Genesis 2:7 (ESV): 7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 

Marred entirely by sin 

Romans 3:9–12 (ESV): 9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

To live in a world of sin

Romans 5:12 (ESV): 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Yet redeemed as a masterpiece intended for good works 

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Wellness should be pursued in response to the kindness, grace and mercy that God has bestowed upon you, no matter who or where you are. We believe this requires a robust Christology and the discipline of biblical stewardship.

Christology focuses on the study of Jesus Christ, particularly his nature, personhood, and role in salvation. It seeks to explore the various ways in which Jesus is understood and interpreted within our Christian faith, as well as the implications of these understandings for Christian belief and practice in accordance with the sovereignty of God, to the glory of Christ. We are constantly reminded that He is fully God and fully man, and the only mediator between God and humanity. Jesus Christ is seen as the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to redeem and restore his people. As Christ is central to God’s plan of redemption, and Scripture, He must also be central in our existence and flourishing. Acts 17:28 reminds us that “In Him we live and move and have our being”.

The biblical view of stewardship emphasizes that we are not the ultimate owners of the things we possess or even ourselves, but rather, we are entrusted with these resources for a time, and we have a responsibility to use them wisely and for God’s purposes. Biblical stewardship is a way of life that recognizes our role as caretakers and managers of God’s resources, and seeks to use those resources in a way that honors Him and blesses others. It recognizes that our very bodies and souls are His, and should be used to bring Him glory. Or to quote Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

So what does it mean to be Good&Well? 

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5)

We believe that scripture informs and illuminates a life worth living. How we are to rightly care for ourselves, and for others. 

It doesn’t mean true wellness looks the same for everyone. It means that no matter what your circumstances, situation, vices or virtues, health condition or prowess, physical ailment, infirmity or illness, genetic disposition, history, intellectual ability, or any other factor not mentioned or combination thereof – And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6

Then, we will finally be Perfected. For now, we will strive to be Good&Well.