MPC, 2nd June 2002.1 Corinthians 6:12-20 - "Body Language"
Phil Campbell MPC, 2nd June 2002.
We live in a time when things of THE SPIRIT are more popular than ever. We're not living in a world any more where SPIRITUAL THINGS are MARGINALISED. The problem is more that it's a SMORGASBORD out there.
And so you get the Brisbane "Mind Body Spirit Festival."
I didn't go. But I gather tens of thousands DID. And so for your BODY you could have some iridology. Check your eyes. Or an aura scanning. Take home a photo of your own personal glow.
For your SPIRIT, you could buy a MANDALA. To catch your dreams. Or buy a set of cards with symbols of a very special STAR LANGUAGE. Which apparently you can use in an intuitive way with your own evolving spiritual capacities to open portals to existence outside our own limited dimension.
The people selling the star language cards were apparently Egyptian scribes in their last lives; and they've REMEMBERED the symbols they used to etch on the walls of a secret underground temple.
The people of Brisbane are VERY INTERESTED in things of the Spirit. And the way the SPIRIT INTERACTS WITH THE BODY. And the way the Body interacts with the MIND.
And it's all shrouded in mystery and floating with incense and surrounded by spooky Indian music. BODY. MIND. AND SPIRIT.
Or what about the Dalai Lama. Pop star status. Over the last couple of weeks he seemed to be on TV every time I turned it on. What should we do about world peace? And the Dalai Lama says, I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BE HAPPY.
What would you say to the TERRORISTS? I would tell them BE HAPPY. Be at PEACE WITHIN YOURSELF. And then everything will be calm.
And then this question. That was put to the Dalai Lama on the TODAY SHOW on Channel 9. Tracey Grimshaw was almost in TEARS OF JOY in the middle of the interview. Talking to the world's most spiritual man. She says to him, "What about HOMOSEXUALITY? What's your teaching on that?"
And the Dalai Lama, THE MOST SPIRITUAL MAN IN THE WORLD, says this. "The main thing is BE HAPPY. So Man with Man… that's okay. No objection. Woman with woman. That's okay. No objection."
Because to BE SPIRITUAL in the New Age sort of 21st century way, TO BE SPIRITUAL… doesn't necessarily have ANY MORAL IMPLICATIONS AT ALL. To be SPIRITUAL doesn't actually have to CONNECT with the way you use your BODY. What you do and what you don't. To be SPIRITUAL is a thing of the SPIRIT. An INTERNAL THING. And your BODY… can do what it likes.
Which is view that goes back a long, long way. It's known as DUALISM. A separation between body and spirit. That leads in a funny way to two opposite conclusions. One we're going to see this week. And the other next week. Either that the BODY IS DISPOSABLE… so you can do what you like with it. Or that the BODY is somehow EVIL. So you've got to be HARSH with it. Lock yourself in the monastry.
Neither of which is the BIBLICAL POSITION.
So let's go to Corinth. Wind your watch back 19 hundred and fifty years or so. And you're in a city where morally speaking, anything goes. Where sexually speaking, there's plenty of FREEDOM for self expression. Where the average GREEK was very interested in things of the SPIRIT.
And so the first Christians in Corinth were no exception.
This second half of chapter 6, verses 12 to 20; things start to get a little harder to follow. Because Paul starts QUOTING THE CORINTHIAN'S IDEAS BACK AT THEM. And then correcting them.
Which isn't so difficult. Except that ANCIENT GREEK didn't have QUOTATION MARKS. And so you'll find some variety between the English translations as to where exactly Paul's quotation marks begin and end. Which bits the CORINTHIANS have said. And which bits Paul says in response.
It's like he's quoting famous MOTTOs. The wisdom of Corinth. Famous catch phrases like DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY. Or the great Australian ethic, the one and only commandment, "You can do anything you like as long as you don't hurt anybody."
And you'll see if you look at the passage from verse 12 there's a string of them that are like that.
"Everything is PERMISSIBLE FOR ME." I can do what I like.
To which Paul says, maybe so, but NOT EVERYTHING IS GOOD FOR YOU.
Everything is PERMISSIBLE FOR ME, they say, and Paul says maybe so, but I'm not going to let ANYTHING MASTER ME. I'm going to be SELF CONTROLLED.
And then this one. Verse 13. Where I think our NIV Bibles have stopped the quotation marks slightly too soon. It's debatable. But I reckon you make the best sense of the passage when you go an extra half sentence. And I don't want to get too boring and technical, but in the original greek, the BUT isn't actually there.
So let me read it this way. Here's what the SPIRITUALLY MINDED CORINTHIANS are saying. The body, they say, is just disposable packaging. The disposable body has got APPETITES. So FEED THEM. However you want. No matter what the appetite is. Whether it's FOOD. Or SEX. Because the only thing that really counts is your eternal spirit. And the BODY is just like the peel off wrapper. That goes in the garbage. So they're saying the words in verse 13; they say "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both."
By which they mean, if you've got an itch, scratch it. If you're hungry, eat what you like. And if you're hungry for SEX, try the take-away on the corner.
And bear in mind, these are the Corinthian CHRISTIANS – who are putting this point of view. I mean, it's only natural. Sex is just a part of life. There was another famous Greek saying. That basically went this way. The SLAVE GIRL is for keeping the house tidy. The WIFE is for bearing CHILDREN. And the MISTRESS is for UNBRIDLED PLEASURE.
And now Christians are saying the same. Because if the SPIRIT is the main thing and the body is disposable, you might as well feed all its appetites while the going is good. Food for the stomach and the stomach for food… and GOD WILL DESTROY THEM BOTH.
Both of which ideas Paul now goes on to correct. The body's not just for chasing after appetites at all. It's for more than that. And if the resurrection of Jesus is anything to go by, our future is not just as DISEMBODIED SPIRITS either. Bodies matter.
Do you notice as we were reading through the section the number of times the word BODY comes up? By my count it's SEVEN TIMES. In 8 verses. The first time in verse 13. Where he launches his response. And says THE BODY IS NOT MEANT FOR SEXUAL IMMORALITY. But for the Lord. And the Lord for the Body.
But the word BODY is implied a few times as well. Like in verse 14. By his power God raised the Lord's BODY from the dead. A real resurrection. And he's raise OUR BODIES too.
Which is the first reason Paul gives for avoiding sexual immorality.
There are three. And the pattern's worth watching. He says God the FATHER will RAISE our bodies. He says God the Son is UNITED with our bodies. And he says God the Spirit DWELLS in our bodies. Three reasons not to treat your body like TRASH.
So verse 14, By his power GOD RAISE THE LORD FROM THE DEAD. And if you remember the gospel accounts, he wasn't raised as a SPIRIT. Not some sort of ghost. Although the disciples thought he was. But a physical resurrection. Complete with nail holes for Thomas to put his hand in. Raised and eating breakfast on the beach. Raised DIFFERENT… but raised a BODY. Which Paul goes on to talk about in detail later on in chapter 15.
If you're thinking your final destination is as some sort of disembodied spirit floating around, let me tell you it's not an idea that comes from the BIBLE. It's exactly the idea Paul's against. By his power God raised the BODY of the Lord from the dead, AND HE WILL RAISE US ALSO. Reason 1.
And here's reason two.
Don't you know, he says, THAT YOUR BODIES are MEMBERS OF CHRIST HIMSELF.
Which is another mind expanding thought, isn't it? Which actually connects with the next one. But it's the thought that CHRIST acts through YOUR BODY. By his Spirit. Which means you're INCORPORATED into CHRIST.
It's a BIG CONCEPT. But the logic that flows from it is dead simple. If you're connected with Jesus… how can you say it doesn't matter if you connect with a PROSTITUTE as well? Because if you do that, THE TWO BECOME ONE FLESH.
Verse 17 says, if you unite yourself with the Lord Jesus, you're united with him in SPIRIT. And then you unite yourself with a prostitute and you're united with her in body. How can you go dragging JESUS into that?
And so reason 3, verse 19, don't you know, says Paul, that your body is actually a TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit, who is IN YOU, who you've received from God. Which rather than making what you do with your body UNIMPORTANT, makes it PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT.
And so Paul says when you're tempted by sexual immorality, don't excuse it. Don't toy with the idea. RUN AWAY FROM IT.
I guess it's maybe men who need to hear this. But maybe not. Seems like the Christians in Corinth were saying, well EVERYTHING IS PERMISSABLE FOR ME. So when I feel the need, I'll head into Fortitude Valley and cruise around in the car for a while and pick up a girl on a corner.
Or try one of those new upmarket brothels. And they'll justify it. Because it's just a normal human appetite. And boys will be boys.
And Paul says, don't make EXCUSES. Run away.
The greek word for prostitute, and the greek word for SEXUAL IMMORALITY you get here in verse 18, it's exactly the same word we get PORNOGRAPHY from.
And the Corinthians are saying, it's okay to go to the PORNGIRL. And it's okay to do the PORN-ACTS. And Paul says RUN AWAY.
I mean, these days you don't even have to go to all that much trouble, either, do you, and you're face to face with opportunities. You walk into a video shop. You turn on the TV. You check your email, and somehow someone's got your email address and they're sending you invitations for all sorts of opportunities.
Paul says, RUN AWAY. Don't even READ IT. Don't CLICK ON IT. DELETE IT. Because you're worth so much more than that. Your body's not meant for sexual immorality. It's meant for the Lord. Your body's not just a disposable container. It's going to be RAISED. And changed. And eternal. I mean, what a shame to look back from eternity with REGRETS about the impure ways you've used your body.
I mean, let's face it. We're going right against the grain of our culture aren't we? If we're going to say this stuff. And the pressure's immense. As it was in Corinth. I mean, you're not just being OLD FASHIONED if you want to be sexually pure. You're being COUNTER CULTURAL.
But I guess most times these days people don't even TRY TO JUSTIFY IT, in the spiritual sounding way the Corinthians were. This rubbish they were on about that the SPIRIT could stay pure no matter what your body does. As if you're not an INTEGRATED PERSON. These days you just DO WHAT FEELS GOOD. And if the Dalai Lama comes along and says everything's fine, then you treat him like a pop star. Because he's singing your tune.
But it's interesting, isn't it? Verse 18. The power of sexual sin. The ongoing effect of it. The conscience issues. Flee from sexual immorality. Because somehow it effects something DEEP INSIDE YOU. All other sins a man commits are OUTSIDE HIS BODY, says Paul. But he who sins sexually sins AGAINST HIS OWN BODY. There's damage done. Somehow to your WHOLE PERSON.
And maybe you've experienced that. And carried that DAMAGE. Or been damaged by someone else.
Be assured, Paul says you can put that behind you. And you need to. All this stuff, he says to the Corinthians back in verse 11, that's what SOME OF YOU WERE. The point is to make sure you're STILL NOT. And that you're not making EXCUSES. That you're not caught up in something that's FAR FROM BENEFICIAL, and that's somehow got you MASTERED. The Corinthians are saying, I CAN DO WHATEVER I LIKE. And Paul says, I won't be mastered by ANYTHING.
And I know in the number of people I'm going to be talking to here today, there's bound to be SOMEONE caught up like that. Can I encourage you, do something about it. And if you need help, GIVE MAURIE A CALL. Or ME. And start fighting back.
Because you're worth MORE THAN THAT.
It's ironic in a way. The sort of people who say I CAN DO WHAT I LIKE with my body. Who says I'M MY OWN TO DO WHAT I LIKE WITH, are exactly the people who when they DO WHAT THEY LIKE… feel CHEAP. I mean, that's exactly the struggle if you're caught up in sexual sin; you feel DEVALUED as a person.
Paul says, you think you are your own? Well, if you're a Christian you're not. You've been BOUGHT by someone else. And you want to know how much you're worth? I can tell you.
Here's the final word. Verse 19 and 20. You are NOT your own. You were bought at a price. Therefore, HONOUR GOD… with your body.
What are you worth? What price were you bought with? The life of the SON OF GOD; who as he died in your place took EVERY PUNISHMENT that you deserved. And in doing that BOUGHT YOUR FREEDOM FROM GUILT and SHAME. And your freedom from God's judgement as well.
And so you've been bought and paid for. At GREAT PRICE.
So has Jesus GOT WHAT HE PAID FOR?
You weren't CHEAP at all. So don't LIVE LIKE YOU'RE CHEAP. Don't sell yourself short. And whatever you do, don't get the idea that you can be SPIRITUAL… without it effecting EVERY PART OF YOUR LIFE. That you can somehow be SPIRITUAL ON THE INSIDE – without it affecting the way you use your body… in the service of the Lord Jesus. To the honour of God.