Years ago, when I worked on Leadership Journal, we published an article on overweight pastors. It was a controversial move, for obvious reasons. But after noticing something of an epidemic of portly preachers, and reading up on the stats, I felt we had to address the topic. Unhealthy eating and lifestyles were undermining these pastors’ wellbeing and ministry.

Well, lately I’ve noticed another troubling trend. I no longer run a magazine, so I’ll just have to sound the alarm here in this newsletter. Are you ready?

There are too many buff pastors.

It feels like every second pastor (especially in mega churches) is absolutely jacked! It’s come with a wardrobe overhaul. Suits have been replaced by tiny T-shirts designed to showcase their bulging biceps. I follow a pastor on Instagram who posts clips of himself preaching, with muscles rippling under a shirt that looks like it was painted on.

So, what’s so bad about this? Well, for one it’s a little showy. But I also worry they’re not doing enough fellowshipping if they look like that. I mean seriously, if you’ve got six pack abs, are you really attending potlucks or eating the pies from that sweet old lady in your church?

Pastors shouldn’t be too big or too buff. They should be healthy enough to do their job but not so ripped they look like they’re auditioning for the cover of Men’s Health.

Which brings me to the biggest reason I don’t like buff pastors. They make dudes with dad bods feel bad. Dudes like me. There I said it. I’m a little jealous. Maybe I need to hit the gym.