Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
LittleJohnnie asked this question on 11/19/2000:
Is it right to say from a Judeo-Christian perspective that no one OWNS their body, that it is a gift from God, and thus, natural rights over our bodies cannot be asserted?
Greetings:
The joy of the Lord be in your heart.
Saint Paul declares (1 Cor 6):
" 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
We should consider that:
The price has been exorbitant!
The Owner is residing in loco.
It's not a lease either.
This is the ultimate condominium; He allows our sharing His sanctuary.
Since Christ's Passover we can distinguish only theoretically between "natural" and "supernatural = dimension of grace". There isn't any more a "natural" history or natural life. All our reality is submerged in Christ's salvation. Some bigshot theologians like Karl Rahner even like to speculate that matter is really "condensed", "crystallized" spirit (no pantheism, please!).
It is true; by nature we are the sons and daughters of God through adoption (1 John 3:1).
Mortal sin "denaturalizes" our existence because it expels the resident Owner and the sinner usurps what is not his or hers. He or she is a squatter, an unlawful tenant. By sinning we actually surrender our existence to the lord of the darkness (3 John 3:7-10). There is no natural state! Either you are God's or you are de devil's son / daughter.
Only those who believe in the Word of God accept this vision.
Now with those of pagan outlook you have to talk about the Creator. Perhaps they believe at least that. Even from that perspective man is only the administrator of all God gave him. Usurping the right to decide what is good and what is bad (the ultimate decision over your body) causes death (Gen 3).
If they don't believe even in Him, what argument can you give? Showing the consequences that happen when there is no value outside man's criterion. Roman 1 is a clear descriptions of what happens.
Isn't ours a glorious destiny? We are temple of the Spirit and "
If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him." (John 14:23).
May the Lord keep us so and if we have sinned and expelled the rightful Owner let's ask forgiveness and invite Him back!
vale
mscperu