“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
Today the world is casting off the influence of centuries of transformation that came as Scripture elevated the sanctity of sexuality and marriage. The Bible teaches the dignity of our bodies as vessels of God, created in the image of the divine. The church—individual Christians and ministers—have often been wrong, hurtful, and destructive in teaching and practice when dealing with sexual issues. But too often we are uninformed that nearly all of the progress in society that has resulted in respecting the rights of individuals, resisting sexual intimidation and abuse, equality in gender and race, and the fight against the sex trade and abuse has been rooted in applying Biblical truths to our laws and culture.
“Corinth was gross, unashamed immorality… known far and wide for sexual looseness. The most prominent site was the ... temple of Aphrodite, a symbol of the lust which pervaded the mind of the city … The attitude of the city toward immorality involved no condemnation whatsoever; on the contrary, it was considered to be a normal part of life. The same loose attitude was often reflected in the church. The case of incest and the question about the Christian view of marriage had their roots in the immoral mind of the city. Most of the members of the church were Gentiles, and the strict morality characteristic of the Jews was foreign to them. They found it difficult to understand that what they once considered virtue was now sin.” – G. Munn, Southwestern Journal of Theology (Vol. 3, Fall 1960)
Today we’re encountering a mindset similar to the mindset the early church confronted. But how did the church respond? Did they change the Bible’s definition of morality to reflect the culture of the day? Or did they offer an alternative way of thinking and understanding one's body and sexuality? The church in the New Testament didn’t look to the government to restrain or reform society. Transformation came through the message of the Gospel. In fact, Paul mentions this: “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:11)
Wherever you are concerning sexuality and the debates that are raging in our world, remember that the Gospel offers an alternative. Our bodies are holy, not our own, and to be used to honor God. It may be hard to translate this truth into practice—but God also empowers us with His indwelling Spirit and grace. Freedom begins when we see our bodies as God does.