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Whose Body?

 

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (I Corinthians 6:19-20)

          We like to think we belong to ourselves. That’s the argument made whenever you tell someone they shouldn’t get an abortion: “My body, my decision.” That’s what we’re told if we tell someone they shouldn’t be in a sexual relationship with that other person (whoever it might be): “Consenting adults, no one is hurt, not your business!”

          Scripture tells us that idea is bad thinking on our part. Our bodies don’t belong to us. They’re loaned to us. They belong to God. It’s not “my body, my choice.” It’s not “Consenting adults, as long as no one gets hurt” (define “hurt.”) It may not be our business, but it’s not theirs, either.

          Of course, sex isn’t the only problem. Alcohol, drugs, food, even tattooing, dressing, and suicide. As important as how we treat ourselves is, there’s also the factor of how we treat one another.  That other person’s body also belongs to God. We should be careful how we treat it, too.

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