Tent Living

It was Thursday morning, and I was at the gym. I was about halfway through my 2 mile treadmill workout when I looked around and thought about people and bodies. I was there on the treadmill trying to get my body back to a place of health. On my right was an older man on an exercise bike- pedaling slowly with a heavy brace on his knee- he too was working on his body but it seemed for a different reason- rehabilitation after a surgery? Perhaps greater mobility in his older age? To my left was a guy in a tank-top doing military presses. His arms bulged with muscle. He was intent on looking in the mirror as he repeated each lift, grimacing at the strain of each motion. He too was working on his body but for different reasons that me. He was trying to add muscle, pressing his body to the limits to gain muscle mass. I looked up a few minutes later to the row of TVs that stretch across the gym- about a dozen or so, and on 2 of them were commercials for creams for women. Each highlighted women- the 53 year old Cindy Crawford was even on one- showing how these products could give any woman the skin of a supermodel- they were working on their bodies too. A few minutes later I finished on the treadmill, and I starred toward the weight machines I normally use, and I saw a young lady, maybe early 20s headed towards the tanning beds, she too was working on her body- in a completely different way that all of the rest of us, and I would guess for a different reason that me- and I thought- man, bodies matter....

I will admit this is not the first time that I have thought about bodies lately. I attended a 2 day workshop on suicide this week that had me thinking about bodies. For the past few weeks Jess and I along with some others in our church have been part of the Daniel Plan Bible study- that had me thinking about bodies. In the 28 days of February I did 22 hospital visits, that had me thinking about bodies, and even as my own father got a cancer diagnosis, I thought a lot about bodies.

Good thing the Scriptures say something about bodies for us to think about....

In Paul talks about bodies. He is teaching about death and dying and the reality that death is a part of life that all of us must think about. It was certainly a topic for Christians in that day, and if you talk about death you inevitably have to talk about bodies. After all, the question of “what happens when we die?” is basically the question of “what happens when I leave this body?” The body was also the subject of many religious debates of Paul’s day. The Gnostic believers of his day rejected any focus on the human body, saying that the body was a trap and to give into any physical impulse was wrong so the best thing that could happen was to lose this body and be free. Even the Pharisees and Sadducees had arguments over the body. Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection of the body, whereas Pharisees did.

So the question I want to think about today is what can Paul’s words teach us about our bodies? How should we view them? What does the Bible say about the first thing God gave us- a body.

Context

-Resurrection has been a debated topic for centuries (phrisees, saducees, gnostics)

First, BODIES MATTER. The Bible teaches us that yes, in fact, we should care about and care for our bodies. Why? Because God cares about our bodies. Consider the words of

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

when as yet there was none of them.

God did not just leave your body up to chance, no. Listen to the adjectives and verbs used in this passage: formed, knitted, fearfully and wonderfully made, intricately woven…God cares about this body. He did not spare time, effort, or passion when he designed you. Like an artist he made you a masterpiece.

We also know that bodies matter, because of Jesus. Don’t overlook the importance of a verse like “and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus himself had a body. A body that got tired, a body that needed food, a body that slept, ran, walked, he had hair that grew and toe nails- he had it all. In order for our redemption to come it had to come in a body. Bodies matter because the birth, death and Resurrection of a body is what saved you. We know bodies matter because Jesus healed bodies. The deaf and the blind, a man who could not walk, a woman with a bleeding problem, and even a fever in Peter’s mother in law. Jesus cared about his followers physical needs- he healed their bodies.

Even think about Paul’s usage of the image of a tent in this passage. The image of a tent is all over the Bible- especially the OT. Why? Because from the time the Ark of the Covenant was constructed in until Solomon built the temple in the presence of God was held in a tent.

However, the tent was still treated with the utmost respect and care. People were still asked to treat the tent with respect- because it is where the Spirit of God resided. Just because the tent was temporary did not diminish its importance. Too many people assume that because we do not keep this body forever they do not have to care for it properly.

So, what does that mean for us? it means that we need to be conscience of our bodies- when our bodies need healing God is concerned. We need to take care of our bodies, this is part of stewardship. When doctors talk to us about our health we need to pay attention to their words, we need to take care of this gift that God has given us. We need to be aware of other people and their bodies, developing compassion, care, and ministries for all kinds of bodies, especially those with special needs.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

English Standard Version Psalm 139

13  For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

14  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

15  My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

16  Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.

But that does not mean that bodies are primary. Consider so much of Jesus’ teaching- like . Jesus is very blunt here- the body cannot be central, especially if the body compromises our holiness. We cannot allow our bodies to tell all of the story- because many times we allow what’s happening with our bodies to dictate our faith. How many times do our physical bodies influence how we are feeling about our faith? Many times we connect sin to illness- if someone is sick or hurting we can be tempted to use it as a litmus test for their spirituality. How about our prayers? We fill up our prayer lists with those who need physical healing- and that is good, but we must remember that God is not just concerned with our physical health.

Even in the midst of his physical healings; Jesus addresses the spirituality of those he healed. Remember Jesus when the friend was lowered through the roof? His message to the man was not “Get up and walk” but “You sins are forgiven.” His concern is not just what people’s eyes see, his concern is what is inside. I wonder how we might have reacted if we were that man? Would we have been caught off guard by Jesus? Laying in front of him unable to walk and he says “your sins are forgiven” Would we have been okay with that answer? Or would we have been upset? “That’s not what I need, Jesus! I need to walk. I mean forgiveness is great, but it doesn’t help me get around!”

Bodies Matter

In fact, we also know that there are times that physical needs enter our life to bring spiritual results. Remember the blind man on the side of the road? When Jesus is asked why he was born blind his reply was so the glory of God could be revealed. Sometimes I wonder if we get so caught up in thinking about physical healing that we miss out on some amazing things God may want to show us and the world through our lives.

-Even when the Ark was in a tent, the tent was respected

-Creation/knit together in moms womb

-Jesus Had a body

-We will receive a glorified body

Finally, we must remember that these bodies are a shadow of what’s coming. Shadows are part of the picture, but they do not tell the whole story. Like the tent that housed the Ark of the Covenant these bodies are temporary. Eventually the temporary gives way to the permanent. The Tent gave way to the Temple…

Or as says “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” This is our promise, that we are going to be transformed, and that is our bodies- they will be redeemed and made new.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Paul’s focus in this passage is permanency. He doesn’t want to lose this body just to lose it, but to inherit the permanent prize- a glorified body in Heaven.

-Jesus talked about the spirit not just the body

-cut off your hand, etc.

They Are A Shadow of What’s Coming

-Tents lead to dwelling

I love to go camping. Give me a tent, a fire to cook on, keep it simple. Jess will tell you, I don’t want a giant camper with tvs and couches and bells and whistles, because the tent is not my home. It meets my needs while I am camping, but I know that I will return to my home and enjoy A/C and a big bed, and all of the amenities that are in my home. I want to remember that this body is my tent, it is not the entirety of my being and not my permanent home. I want to care for my tent, enjoy my tent, and use my tent for all it is made for- but one day I want to trade my tent in for a house.

-Paul’s hope is not in losing his body, but in gaining permanency

After all, remember what Jesus promised us in - a heavenly home- a house, a dwelling, a place with the Father.