Your Blood, Your Body, and the Holy Spirit’s Temple, Part 1

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

In 1 Corinthians 6, the apostle Paul speaks to us regarding things we should avoid as well as how to comport ourselves in this life. Much of Paul’s teaching throughout the New Testament that he received directly from the Lord (regarding the gospel, Galatians 1), as well as how he was able to rightly divide God’s Word after receiving salvation and the accompanying Holy Spirit following his conversion (Acts 9) boils down to how to live as authentic Christians in this life.

In 1 Corinthians 6:1-11, Paul speaks to Christians about not suing one another. Kind of ironic when you think of people who say they are Christians and take up a lawsuit against another person who says he/she is a Christian. Paul’s issue is not that Christians will have problems with other Christians from time to time. His issue is how the problem is resolved. Specifically, he wonders why Christians are taking their problems to an oftentimes ungodly and worldly court system to resolve matters. It’s a good question. The idea is ludicrous. Mature believers should judge between other believers since believers will actually judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3)! Moreover, it is simply a bad witness to the world. They see Christians in court against other Christians and they laugh!

In the next section of this chapter – 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 – Paul speaks mainly of sexual immorality. In Paul’s day and age, there were many temple prostitutes. Corinth was a veritable cesspool of one false god after another and all had their own temples. Within those temples were disgusting sexual practices indulged in by temple prostitutes and “worshipers” for that particular pagan deity. Is it any wonder that Paul had to be so strict with the Corinthian believers? Prior to coming to Jesus, temple prostitution was their life.

In verse 15, Paul notes that our bodies are the very members of Christ’s Body and verse 19 tells us that the Holy Spirit lives within us. Because of this, our bodies are considered to be holy and essentially the Temple for the Holy Spirit since He has taken up residence within us. This is an absolutely astounding truth!

Since our physical bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, Paul instructs us to be mindful of that fact in our daily lives. Because of this truth, we should be mindful about what we participate in because of the Holy Spirit  within us. Certainly, He does not join us in our sin, but we do grieve Him when we use our bodies for those things that dishonor God.

Since the Holy Spirit lives within us, should we be drunk with wine (Ephesians 5:18) or even dabble with illegal street drugs that will lead to addiction? No, clearly, we should not. Our lives should focus on how to live in such a way that glory and honor are directed toward God.

As Christians with the Holy Spirit living within us, should we involve ourselves in sexual immorality or impurity? No, clearly, we should not. This dishonors God. In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul states, “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.” He then uses the example of food in the very next verse.

His point is simple. We can enjoy the things that God provides in this life, but we should never become addicted to them or worship them. In my previous article – Something is Emotionally, Mentally, and/or Physiologically Wrong and It’s Not Spiritual – my main point had to do with our physical bodies and some of the health issues that often create a multitude of mental, emotional, and physiological problems for us that we may not even be aware of, often until it is too late. How do we deal with this? The only way is to only put those things into your bodies that are to our benefit as opposed to our detriment. It can be done and should be done by every Christian.

I firmly believe that while it is extremely important to avoid sexual immorality, drugs, drunkenness, and the rest of what Paul speaks of here in Corinthians and elsewhere, it is equally important to avoid eating and drinking things that will cause the type of physiological issues that can do tremendous harm to our bodies. In essence, as Paul says, many of the things we eat and drink are not beneficial to us at all and should therefore be avoided. We need to take note of it and learn exactly how harmful they may be for us, including what type of toll they take on our physical bodies.

For instance, due to what is called a Comprehensive Food Panel I had done (where blood is drawn and tested), I now know that I have sensitivities to roughly 30 foods out of the 100 tested. I now know, and to what degree, I am sensitive to gluten and wheat, yeast, cow’s milk, and a host of other food products or ingredients. After learning this, I went for two months without eating any of those items (like Swiss cheese, asparagus, etc.), just to see what, if any difference I could determine. Yes, it was very difficult to go without things like breads, pizza (I’m Italian!), as well as other things, but in the end, it was worth it. It is essential to know what, if any food products or ingredients you are sensitive to. If you are interested, you can check things out at this particular website – http://foodallergy.com/ – to order your own test. You’ll have to go to a phlebotomist to have your blood drawn and sent back into Alletest Medical Laboratory. Your insurance is almost guaranteed NOT to cover this, but you can always ask them. I had the Comprehensive 96Igc Food Panel test done for just over $100 though that does not include the fee for having your blood drawn, which may be no more than your usual co-pay.

My point is very simple: if you know which foods and food ingredients you should avoid to help you feel better, do you think you should avoid them? If certain foods are making you feel like warmed over garbage (but you may not be aware of it), wouldn’t it be a good idea to identify them so you can avoid them? Is that part of ensuring that what goes into your body are things that benefit your health, not detract from it?

We’re just getting started in this series. I have much more to say about living with the knowledge that our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. There are many things we should avoid, because as Paul states, they are sinful. Other things are not sinful, but they are not beneficial (1 Corinthians 6:12b). That is a huge distinction, but as Christians, don’t we owe it to our bodies – the Temple of the Holy Spirit – to be as healthy as possible? Sure, some things we cannot avoid, but there are many things we can avoid and by doing so, put us on the road to mental, physical, and emotional health. All of this adds up to better spiritual health!

Food is amoral. It is neither sinful or not sinful. However, many foods are not beneficial to us and should be avoided.

I’ll be back with more next time, so I hope you’ll join me!

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective