Being Embodied — Historical Influences (part 1)

The Bible teaches that God’s design for human flourishing is embodied. We have already considered the creation, incarnation, and “intermediate” state as starting points for seeing this. Those are positive points. But are there negative influences too? Usually, our misconceptions are not “new.” New problems are often rooted in ancient beliefs. This is true of the body too.

Let’s consider one negative influence that has some ancient roots.

An Ancient Influence: Gnosticism

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“Gnosticism” – The religious belief that “the spiritual, immaterial realities are inherently good, while physical, material realities are inherently evil.”

Allison, Gregg R. Embodied: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World, (Baker Books, 2021), 25.

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Where do we get the popular idea that “you have a body, but you are a soul”? Why do we think the body is something to be escaped rather than embraced? This thinking can often be traced back 2,000 years to a false religion called “Gnosticism.”

In Gnosticism, the physical is considered bad and the spiritual is considered good. As a result, the material world should be escaped—including the body. But the soul, which is immaterial, should be embraced and ultimately liberated. Christian theologian Dr. Gregg Allison puts the idea this way, “The body is like a prison the soul is confined to” (Allison, 25). This same belief often shows up in how we think about food, exercise, sleep, sex, and much more.

Let’s consider one negative implication we may be blind to.

An Unintended Implication: License

License is about self-indulgence. We do whatever we want because it doesn’t matter anyway. This has huge implications for us as embodied creatures.

“Such ambivalence toward embodiment may manifest itself as indifference toward proper nutrition, dismissal of proper exercise, disdain for rest and sleep, and a general apathy for embodied existence .” Allison, 26

Let’s ask a few diagnostic questions:

1. Is disciplined Bible reading more spiritual than disciplined exercise?

2. Do you care more about a promotion or opportunity than adequate rest or Sabbath from work?

3. Have you considered the value of intentional times of fasting from food or sex (if you’re married) to focus on prayer?

While these questions require nuance and explanation, the point is about our impulses. Our impulses expose our beliefs, and our beliefs shape our habits which in turn direct our hearts.

A Biblical Response: God creates and owns our bodies

In 1 Corinthians 6, The apostle Paul gives a helpful critique to those who claim, “all things are lawful for me.” This is the mantra of license. This is the attitude of a self-centered heart. It’s the effect of abusing our freedom for our own sake rather than to love our neighbor (Rom. 14:19-20; Gal. 5:13). God’s answer to licentiousness is clear: You are not your own (1 Cor. 6:19). In other words, you don’t belong to you. You were created and redeemed to live for God’s purposes (1 Cor. 6:20). Romans 14:8 puts it a different way, “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”

What does this imply?

In the context of 1 Corinthians, it implies that you don’t get to have sex with whoever you want whenever you want. God’s design for sex as the one-flesh union in marriage governs you. In everyday life, this passage reminds us that we belong to God by his Holy Spirit because we were bought by Christ’s blood—and that’s the best place to be. So we learn to walk by the power of the Spirit and produce his fruits—including self-control (Gal. 5:16-22).

Conclusion

Do you live in the goodness of God’s governance?

How does his Lordship shape your life bodily—your impulses, beliefs, habits, and heart?

When we see God’s design for embodied life, we are better equipped to reject bad influences in our culture. We can learn to live as body-soul creatures who receive God’s grace physically and spiritually through Christ!