The Christian's Body - A Temple Of The Holy Spirit

So our bodies are not our own,

and we cannot do what we like with them,

and as Christians we should not want to do anything with our bodies

that is not pleasing to God.

St Augustine is credited with saying a strange thing,

in answer to people who asked him how Christians should behave.

He did not recite a list of DO's and DON'Ts,

he said the Christian life could be summed up in just a few words:

'If you love God, you can do what you like!'

That sounded brilliant to the amoral and sinful,

LOVE GOD – AND DO WHATEVER YOU LIKE. (‘I’ll join that group!’

but he did not mean someone could be a Christian

and go around drinking and brawling;

there was a catch: 'IF YOU LOVE GOD'.

In other words, if anyone REALLY LOVES God,

they will not like doing the things He doesn't approve of.

If we REALLY BELIEVE our physical body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit;

that God's Spirit lives, dwells, abides inside us and goes wherever we go,

then we will not want to do anything that would offend, disgrace, embarrass

or dishonour Him.

God's Holy Spirit is in our stomach

so we should not eat or drink anything

that is injurious to our physical well-being.

God's Holy Spirit is in our eyes

so we should read books or magazines or look at pictures or posters

or watch DVDs, films or TV programmes that He would not like to watch.

The Holy Spirit is in our ears

so we should not listen to dirty jokes or gossip or scandal

that He would not like to hear.

God's Spirit is in our minds

so we should not think about, or ponder on or imagine things and ideas

that do not bring glory to God.

God’s Spirit is in our fingers so we should not even touch something that Jesus would not touch.

The Holy Spirit is in our feet so we should not go into any place that is not conducive to God’s glory.

These are challenging things and it is difficult to be perfect; for me anyway;

because no matter how much our spirits are willing, our flesh is weak,

but if we also appreciate that God's Spirit is living, dwelling inside us

at all times,

this means He is always there to help us be the kind of people

God wants us to be; to be like Jesus.

Let us not be embarrassed or worried or guilt-ridden by the teaching

that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit,

rather let us be strengthened by it and encouraged by it.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.