Christian Anthropology: The Body I. Introduction A. We are using big words again 1. Anthropology: Greek anthropos ("human") and logos ("study") 2. Anthropology, therefore, the study of humanity and human behavior B. Christian Anthropology has its own focus: the nature of humanity as made known through Jesus and the Bible C. A critically important topic 1. What does it mean to be a "human"? 2. What is the relationship between the soul/spirit and body? 3. And, for our purposes today, how are we to treat the body in light of what God has revealed regarding our humanity before Him? D. Let us turn to the Scriptures and consider these questions II. What Does It Mean to Be a "Human"? A. What is it that makes a person a "human"? 1. According to science, a human is a member of homo sapiens, having evolved over billions of years 2. Darwinist philosophy of humanity considers us as overdeveloped apes, unfortunate animals who developed consciousness despite the meaninglessness of it all 3. Such materialist beliefs reduce mankind to nothing more than animal impulses B. What does the Bible teach us about being "human"? C. Humanity in the image of God (Genesis 1:24-28) 1. Humans are part of the creation, made on the sixth day with animals 2. Yet humans are made in the image of God 3. Male and female both made in the image of God 4. Breath of life is in them (as with the animals as well, Genesis 2:7, 6:17, 7:15; in Greek, psuche) 5. Therefore, it is to be expected that humans share some characteristics in common with animals 6. Nevertheless, humans, not animals, are made in God's image 7. God is a spirit (Greek pneuma): John 4:24 8. Humans, therefore, unique among the animals in having a soul (pneuma) in the image of God (e.g. 2 Corinthians 2:13) 9. This "soul" might well be the locus of consciousness: the rational mind and will transcending the capabilities of any other animal D. Therefore, humans are made in the image of God, and are made with a body, the breath of life, and a soul III. The Body, the Soul, and the Spirit A. If we humans have a body, a spirit (the "breath of life"), and a soul, how do those components work together? Do they work together? B. The relationship between spirit and soul is a profitable study but beyond our purview at this time; for our purposes, we will consider both as the "spiritual" aspect of humanity C. The Bible teaches that there are "physical" and "spiritual" aspects to life and to ourselves as humans 1. "carnal/natural" vs. "spiritual" wisdom and discernment: 1 Corinthians 2 2. The opposition of the "spirit" and the "flesh": Romans 8:1-11, Galatians 5:17-24 D. Yet does this mean that we suffer from internal dualism, body vs. soul? E. The Bible affirms the overarching unity between body and soul 1. Yes, there are statements of opposition, but the opposition is not between body and soul per se but "flesh" and "spirit" 2. Flesh (Greek sarx) can refer to the body at times, but very frequently is a means of discussing the "animalistic" and/or sinful desires intended to satisfy various lusts (e.g. 1 John 2:15-17) 3. "Spirit" can refer to our actual soul or the Holy Spirit but also is a means of discussing the pursuit of the holiness and righteousness characteristic of that Spirit (e.g. Romans 8:1-11) 4. It is not as if satisfying the desires of the flesh does not impact the soul of a man at all, nor that seeking spiritual truth will not impact the body at all! F. The inherent unity of body and soul is manifested and demonstrated the Incarnation of Jesus (John 1:1-14) 1. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us! 2. Early Christians insisted on this: Jesus did not merely "seem" like a man or just look like a man, He was a man and maintains a body transformed in the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-58, 2 John 1:7-10)! 3. He ate, He drank, He expelled waste, He experienced joy and suffering (Matthew 11:19, 26:37, Luke 10:21)! 4. Jesus, the Word made flesh, humbled Himself to take on the form of a man, fully human as well as fully God, and lived in/as a body (Philippians 2:5-8) 5. The body, therefore, cannot be intrinsically evil, for God dwelt in/as one; to be the "Son of man," Jesus had to be fully human, and that involved being a body as well as God and all the things which involve the body! G. We do well to remember that the human body was created and declared "very good" by God its Creator (Genesis 1:31) H. Its corruption came on account of sin, but that corruption caused spiritual death as well (cf. Romans 5:12-18) I. Note also how redemption is not merely for the soul but also ultimately the body as well in the resurrection (Romans 6:3-7, 8:20-23)! J. A human, therefore, is a body and a soul, not one to the exclusion of the other! IV. Challenges Regarding the Body A. Since the fall and corruption of mankind, people have tended to misunderstand and abuse the body in many extremist ways B. To this day these extremes are pervasive and tend to dominate conversation and perspective on the body C. There are many ways to consider these extremes; let us content ourselves with four overarching categories, not original to me D. Extreme #1: Asceticism 1. In this view, "the flesh" is all but equated to "the body" 2. Therefore, the body is an evil to be beaten down and cowed into submission 3. Most who take this extreme turn to ascetic practices, believing that they can enhance their spirituality by depriving themselves of some, many, or all forms of bodily desire 4. Such "spirituality" yearns for becoming disembodied and to not have to deal with a body again 5. While the New Testament does speak of a conflict between the spirit and the flesh in Galatians 5:17-24, it nowhere goes to the extreme of considering the body a terrible beast which the spirit must conquer and subjugate! 6. Colossians 2:20-23: asceticism does not inherently stop the desires or indulgence of the flesh 7. Yes, we are to maintain our bodies in self-discipline and self-control, but it is not unilaterally the spirit against the body; we must submit both body and spirit to the Lord! 8. Colossians 3:1-15: desires influence both "body" (heart) and "soul" (mind, will), and all must be directed away from immorality and toward righteousness! 9. 1 Corinthians 15:1-58: the Christian's ultimate hope is not "disembodied bliss," but instead life in the resurrected body transformed for immortality; it may be a "spiritual" body, but it is a "body" nonetheless! E. Extreme #2: Narcissism 1. In this extreme, the contentment and maintenance of the body proves all-important 2. Great amount of attention is paid to the condition of the body: obsessive exercise, strong focus on fashion and trendiness, seeking to be known as having "the look," being "hot" in looks and considered "cool" in form and fashion 3. Such is a glorification of the superficial leading to narcissism 4. Paul does declare that there is some profit in bodily exercise (1 Timothy 4:7-8), and we are to maintain our bodies in self-control and self-discipline (1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 1 Peter 4:7) 5. Nevertheless, that which is superficial fades away and will not endure (Ecclesiastes 12:1-8, 1 John 2:15-17); godliness, however, will endure (1 Timothy 2:9, 4:7-8, 1 Peter 3:1-8)! 6. The body in its present corruption is not meant to last forever! F. Extreme #3: Hedonism 1. In this extreme, the body's main purpose is to provide pleasure 2. Like a small mammal who gets a pellet every time they push down on the lever, so such people constantly go after all sorts of things which give pleasure, and consume them to excess 3. Food, drink, sex, drugs: if it feels good, do it, and keep doing it! 4. Such is rampant hedonism, and it is quite popular these days 5. In such a view, any attempt at limitation or restriction means authoritarianism, killjoys, and a complete lack of "fun" 6. Whatever spirituality they might have is based, to some extent, on a health, wealth, and pleasure "gospel" 7. Such things are properly condemned in the Bible as "sensuality", people whose "god" is the belly (or even lower) and mind "earthly things" (cf. Galatians 5:19-21, Philippians 3:19) 8. The Bible does not inherently condemn the satisfaction of desire; food, drink, and sex were made to be enjoyed, but with proper self-control, moderation, modesty, and restraint (1 Timothy 4:4-5, Hebrews 13:4) 9. Hedonism cannot endure; what happens when desire fails and/or when suffering comes? G. Extreme #4: Gnosticism 1. This extreme derives from Greek philosophy and its dualistic understanding of man 2. For many Greek philosophers, body and soul were distinct, and all that mattered was the soul 3. The body was at best a shell to encase the soul, and at worst a major hindrance to soul development 4. Many such people have callous indifference to their body and its condition, focused almost entirely on the mind and a "disembodied" spirituality, perhaps leading to mysticism 5. Most Gnostics were also ascetic, hating the flesh and yearning to cast off the body; a minority of Gnostics went in the hedonistic direction, figuring that since the soul and body were separated, one could enjoy bodily pleasure without corrupting the soul 6. While spiritual growth in terms of addition of knowledge and insight through study an hearing the Word has its place in Christianity (cf. 2 Timothy 4:1-2, 2 Peter 3:18, etc.), there are also warnings for those who are hearers only and not doers of the Word (James 1:22-25) 7. Our spirituality must be translated into life, and life thoroughly involves the body (cf. James 2:15-17, 1 John 3:16-18)! 8. A "disembodied" spirituality is not holistic spirituality! V. Conclusion: The Christian and the Body A. As twenty-first century Christians, we have inherited a mess in terms of the relationship between the body and the soul B. Soul and body are often held in conflict and tension with one another; the "physical" and the "spiritual" are considered always at odds C. This has led to extremist thinking and actions, either in the rejection of the body (asceticism, Gnosticism), or toward the satisfaction of the body (narcissism, hedonism) D. We must seek to find the point of harmony and balance between and within body and soul! 1. We are a body and a soul 2. Our eternity will involve a (spiritual) body and a soul 3. We should not go to the extremes regarding the body... 4. ...but we must remember that each extreme derives from a proper impulse E. There are many ways in which we must maintain self-control and self-discipline over the desires of the flesh, but the body is not intrinsically evil F. It is good to take good care of the body, but the body is more than just a superficial front for the world G. We can enjoy life and its pleasures properly, sensibly, and in moderation, but the body has more dignity than just to be used as a pleasure device H. We should develop and nurture the soul, but such growth cannot be done in isolation from the body and without regard to the body I. Let us remember that God has made us in His image with a body and soul, became Incarnate and took on flesh, and intends to transform the body for immortality on the final day J. Let us always remember that we are a body and a soul, and ought to subject both to God in Christ for His glory and honor! K. Invitation/songbook