YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN

So what does it mean to be the Temple of God? Specifically…What are the implications of being a temple of God and yet toying with sexual immorality?

It’s pretty stinking clear that sexual immorality (while no more damning than other sins) is somehow set apart in Scripture as being one of the top players on the block (pun intended).

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 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.

For example, viewing pornography from Paul’s viewpoint here would be like blasting an adult movie on the walls of the temple. Why? Because WE are now the temple. Can you imagine some Joe walking into Solomon’s temple and breaking out a projector and portable DVD player complete with “Silver Tongue and Hot Rod?” Of course not. Yet why are we ok with viewing it ourselves in its many forms? Why are we ok bringing innocent women into the temple courts and defiling both right there (either in thought or action)?

Rick James' article did not go into this but my thought as I was reading this article was this… “Wait, if all other sin is committed outside the body (outside the temple) and sexual sin is committed inside the body (inside the temple) then how did Jesus respond to such sinners?”

CRAP! was the answer I said to myself.

Because I realized this: How did Jesus treat sin outside or away from the temple? He treated it firmly and lovingly and abruptly. He did not permit it yet He did not condemn those who practiced it (John 8). However, how did Jesus treat sin inside the temple? He was not very pleased with it to say the least (John 2) and brought his 'A' game.

Few things have I found that actually help in those moments of temptation. Memorized verses fade, strategies disappear, and intentions fly away. It’s just me and this 800 lb. elephant (it seems). However, to me, this new discovery is more empowering than all of that. Because it speaks of my identity, it speaks of who and whose I am. Suddenly it’s no longer me fighting alone trying to be good and in turn earning relationship with a good God. But rather its me… the big stinking temple of God! People should marvel for years to come about such a creation and wonder. I must walk forward and know that God has licked his fiery breath all over me, and it smells pretty good to some and pretty bad to others. But I’m ok with that!

So as it turns out those well-meaning Christians had a good point after all. But I'm still puzzled how I missed it all these years.