Exercise Naked

I've begun reading Disciplines of a Godly Man with a couple buddies, and came across the author's fleshing out of the Greek word "train" in 1 Ti. 4:7's phrase "train yourself to be godly":

"The word 'train' comes from the word gumnos, which means 'naked' and is the word from which we derive our English word gymnasium. In traditional Greek athletic contests, the participants competed without clothing, so as not to be encumbered. Therefore, the word 'train' originally carried the literal meaning, 'to exercise naked.'" (R. Kent Hughes, 14)

Now this doesn't mean those of you who've always wanted to go to the gym naked now can and call it biblical, but it does say something quite insightful for the discipline of godliness. The author explains:

"Just as the athletes discarded everything and competed gumnos-free from everything that could possibly burden them--so we must get rid of every encumbrance, every association, habit, and tendency which impedes godliness. If we are to excel, we must strip ourselves to a lean, spiritual nakedness." (14)

If you reduce Christianity to "I can do this" and/or "I can't do that", you've just done that, you've reduced Christianity to something that it is not. Christianity is running the race in such a way as to win the prize, not just to barely finish the race.

Spiritual nudity is a good thing--"put off" all that impedes and "put on" all that helps you win and finish well.