we are bodies, too

We live in an age when, as Scot McKnight reminds us in his new, provocative book on fasting, many of us look at our bodies to a large extent, as beside the point, while at the same time piling food and drink aplenty in them.

As Scot points out, we westerners have inherited a dualism which fails to see the unity humans are, that the different aspects of us: body, and soul/spirit, are united together in what it is to be human. So when we see spiritual as just about our inner person, we're missing the boat, because spiritual is to pertain to all of us.

When we fail to see this unity in humanity, how part of the real me is my body- just as much as my soul (which essentially just means "life" in Scripture), spirit, or heart, we read in a way inherited from the ancient Greeks, but not the way the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) or New Testament means. To be sure they are referring to different aspects of our humanity, so that we can divide them that way. But to make up the real us, they need to be seen as united together.

This is why our hope is not in life after death, but as N.T. Wright calls it, "life after, life after death." The resurrection of our bodies in Jesus is our hope, not the intermediate state as wonderful as that will be.

This is important because too often we think we can be holy by being right inside, but being holy also involves what we do with our bodies. Read the book of James with this in mind, which hearkens back to the Old Testament in which what one says and does matters. Our inner and outer self matter before God both in this life, and the life to come.

For me this speaks powerfully in various ways into my daily existence. For example I can't let my body do something (whether eyes, lips, etc.) that in my heart I want to do, if it's not according to God's will. And I know I must deal with the sin in my heart, when this is the case. Same goes on the opposite end: when I have a good thought in my heart, but fail to carry it out with my body, as James would say, "What good is that?"

What might you like to add to these few thoughts?

embodiment and spirituality

Right now we're being hit by (hopefully) the coldest part of the year with our air temperature at 2 degrees F (-16.7 C). I heard yesterday that wind chill temperatures to hit us will be at -10 to -20 F (-23.3 to -28.9 C). A little cold for me. More than a little too cold for Deb. On top of that, we're turning our furnace down to save fuel, and huddle in our bedroom with the heater made by the Amish, given to us by my mother. We do look forward to Spring, and even to getting into the 20's on Sunday! Supposedly some kind of January thaw is to hit us, temperatures even into the 30's by next week.

We are embodied creatures, and in God's world, in a true sense all material is spiritual. In other words God never meant for the two to be divorced from each other, but to become one through creation and redemption. We tend to separate them, somehow thinking we have to rise above the body and material, to the spiritual, and that this is at the heart of Christianity.

What is at the heart of Christianity and of God's world is incarnation. God in Jesus became one of us, yes- flesh. Completely human as we are, while still God. This forever puts an end to the lie that matter is secondary to spirit. The two are distinct yet are made and indeed will be remade through Jesus' incarnation and the new creation, to be joined together as one.

What does that have to do with cold weather? And what does that have to do with all human suffering? Jesus suffered for us, and we in Jesus will suffer with him in this life. Of course this refers to suffering because of our witness to Jesus in this world. And we enjoy many things with our bodies: this warm tea I am drinking (my bp was a little high at our health screen the other day, so I'm cutting back on the caffeine and drinking less coffee), the warmth we enjoy by a heater or under the covers, a good meal, maybe a fine glass of wine (for me, I prefer beer, but rarely indulge in it), a walk with our spouse or friend or even by ourselves on our sidewalks (or better yet, on nature trails), etc., etc.

The body is not to be despised but is an important part of our spirituality. God through Jesus by the Spirit inhabits our bodies, God's Temple, both individually as well as corporately- in us together in Jesus. When our sisters and brothers in the world suffer for their faith, we're to suffer with them. We're to pray and help each other, as well as all people with regard to their bodies, not just their "souls". Though we must remember as we do all of that, the priority of importance in their (and our) relationship with God.

So I am cold, and I am tired of the cold, besides having a bad back I somehow twisted over the weekend. Deb is as well. But God is good, no matter what. God will see us through as we look forward to the day when all is made new in Jesus. The resurrection and renewal of all things. When heaven and earth become one, and God becomes truly all in all. Thankfully that begins here and now in Jesus, already present yet not completed. Nice to know we have some relief to look forward to here and now, and especially beyond. In love we are taken, and all will be in God through Christ by the Spirit. Truly all will be one in Jesus. (I do look forward to the weather then!!!)

What would you like to add to this, hopefully from a warmer place?