Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?” vs. 19
1 Corinthians 6:16-20
Some of us who grew up in pietistic homes became accustomed to hearing that much of which we enjoyed doing and that seemed to be fun, was in fact horribly wrong. Our parents scrutinized what we ate or drank, how we behaved, what we read or saw, and who we associated with. Regularly they would remind us that our bodies were the temple of the Holy Spirit. Their motivation was good; they didn’t want us to go to hell. But the cumulative effect of that repressive upbringing often drove young people from the church. They couldn’t wait to escape the bondage of the rules, and once they were able to do as they pleased, indulged as if there were no tomorrow. What is often missed in all of this is that our parents had a point. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and it does make a difference how we use them. We were not knit together in our mothers’ wombs in order that we might abuse God’s greatest gift. And yet we do! We destroy our lungs, livers, and hearts, eat every unhealthy fast food imaginable, destroy relationships with pornographic obsessions–but still there is hope. We are not alone. And our roommate, the Holy Spirit, can give us the courage, strength, and wisdom to lead a clean and holy life!
Thought for the Day: How have I abused my freedom?
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