5. Implications of the Human Individual as the Temple of God
The Bible uses numerous descriptions for the individual believer. In God’s body, they are “members in particular” (
I Corinthians 12:27). They are also “sons of God,”(
I John 3:2) “disciples” (
John 15:7,8), “light” (
Matthew 5:16,
Ephesians 5:8), “salt” (
Matthew 5:13), “saints” (“holy ones”,
I Corinthians 1:2,
Romans 1:7), “vessels” (
I Thessalonians 4:4), and “the temple of God” (
Ephesians 2:20-22,
I Corinthians 3:16). Much of the epistolic content of the New Testament is devoted to expanding on the implication of the individual as the temple of God.
As a temple they are to be “set apart” only for the holy purposes of God.
The human spirit is set apart “from,” as well as “to.” For example, it is to be set apart from all that is profane – all hatred, bitterness, unthankfulness, idolatry and such like… In contrast, it is to set apart to the holy purposes of worship (
John 4:23-24, Phil. 3:3), thanksgiving (
Ephesians 5:20), reverence, and prayer (
Philippians 4:6,
Ephesians 6:18).
The soul/mind/emotions are likewise to be set apart from licentiousness, evil thoughts, dishonesty, etc., and set apart to purity, beauty, charity, honesty, etc. The five senses are to be carefully guarded as to what enters and is allowed to reside in the mind and what is allowed to stimulate the emotions to act (
Philippians 4:8,
II Peter 3:1,2). Hence, Paul’s admonition to put on the “helmet of salvation” that protects the mind (
Ephesians 6:17). As a manifestation of his ethical standards, David declared, “I will set no wicked thing before my eyes,” (
Psalms 101:3). These principles in practical living include separation from the general historical and cultural milieu of worldly entertainment and adulation of flesh, regardless of its origin or form, all of which runs counter, in virtually every way, to the vibrancy, power, wholesomeness, and triumph of God’s holiness. The believer abstains from purveyors of all such, including, but not limited to, prurient print material, unclean musical acts and songs, and musical productions (
I Corinthians 15:33), Hollywood-style movies, and television, worldly sports, improper internet content, and all other forms and mediums of such (
Deuteronomy 7:26).
The body of the believer is specifically identified by scripture as being the temple of the Holy Ghost (
I Corinthians 3:16,17 6:19,20). The body is to always be carefully and modestly clothed, (
I Timothy 2:9) reserved to the glory of God, not used for the glory of the flesh (
I Corinthians 3:17). Adulation of flesh is a form of idolatry; that is, to worship the temple rather than the God of the temple. To glory in men in any situation, whether religious, theatre, or sporting events, is a conflict with scripture, (
I Corinthians 3:21). “He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy,” (
Psalms 147:10,11). Believers are to adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things (
Titus 2:10).
In contrast to the teaching of the ancient Greeks, and later, the Gnostics, the Bible does not teach that the human body is evil, nor that it is an impediment to spirituality. Instead, it is God’s habitation from which and through which He conveys His glory to the world (
Matthew 5:16). As one would expect, God’s dwelling is sacred (
I Kings 9:3,
I Corinthians 3:16,17) and therefore is to be separated from all other uses as well as all uncleanness, immorality, sexual impurity, illicit lust, and all porneia (
Romans 1:27-32). Any or all sexual impurity defiles the temple of God (
I Corinthians 3:17). Any activity which lends itself to the accommodation or temptation to such is to be avoided, including sensual dress, dancing, mixed swimming, and attendance at places and events which accommodate such (
I Peter 2:11). In addition, other abuses of the body such as gluttony (
Proverbs 23:1-3,23), any substance addiction, or acts of uncleanness contrary to the spirit and word of the Bible, such as gambling, use of tobacco and alcoholism (
I Corinthians 6:9,10,
Galatians 5:21), and any other actions which run counter to the sacred separation of that (
Revelation 21:8) which is dedicated only to holy uses (
I Corinthians 6:11,12,
II Corinthians 7:1). Sexual relationships are intended for and acceptable only within the bounds of marriage (
Hebrews 13:4). Marriage is ordained of God (
Matthew 19:5,6) and is God’s provision for avoidance of sexual immorality (
I Corinthians 7:9) as well as being a cornerstone of all civilization (
Genesis 2:18, 21-24).
The glory (
Romans 2:10) of the male believer is manifested, among other ways, in lifting holy hands as an holy act to God (
I Timothy 2:8). The glory of the female believer is manifested, among other ways, through the emanation of the divine glory in her appearance (
I Peter 3:3,4). All artifice is viewed as obstruction to her authentic beauty and is to be avoided (
I Timothy 2:9,10). Jewelry, (
I Timothy 2:9), make-up, (
II Kings 9:3) dyes, and any other artificiality, as well as immodest apparel, are viewed as attempts to artificially induce beauty (
Isaiah 3:16-24 RSV,
I Peter 3:1-5) and replace the lost glow of God’s glory as seen in the face of the believer as well as in the heavens. All this is Scripturally associated with Jezebel, who is both an Old Testament (
I Kings 18:4, 19:1-2,
II Kings 9:7,30), as well as New Testament, example of seduction and artificiality (
Revelation 2:20,22). Thus, “cosmetics,” derived from “cosmos” (arrangement, as in the universe) are attempts to “make-up” the sparkle and glow, which is normative in the presence of the living God as well as within the believer (
Philippians 2:15).
6. Believers as the Image of God
Mankind requires both feminine and masculine gender to complete the role as revealer of God’s image, that is, being made in the image of God (
Genesis 1:27). Thus, Scripture is firmly consistent in its insistence on maintaining feminine/masculine distinctions. This is done in numerous ways, ranging from repeated explanations of the order of nature (
I Corinthians 15:38-41;
I Corinthians 11:3), including sexual relations being normative between male and female (
Genesis 2:24, 4:1,2;
Proverbs 18:22), to injunctions concerning dress, and distinctions between things which are associated with men versus things which are associated with women
I Corinthians 6:9,
Deuteronomy 22:5,
I Corinthians 11:4,5, 14,15). Pants, for example, scripturally and historically are equivalent to “girding up the loins like a man” (
Job 38:3), something women did not do (
Deuteronomy 22:5). Included in these distinctions were occupations and activities which were masculine as opposed to those considered feminine (
I Timothy 5:14;
Titus 2:4,5 and
Titus 2:6-8). Hair is also an outward distinctive which Scripture utilizes to display this principle. Cut hair for masculine (
I Corinthians 11:4, 13), uncut hair for feminine (
I Corinthians 11:5,6,14), are also examples utilized to emphasize this principle (
I Corinthians 11:7-9). Even in the liberty, freedom, and gender equivalency of New Testament birth of the Spirit and ministry, (
Galatians 3:28;
Ephesians 2:15,16) Paul firmly delineates equality in ministry as a separate thing from destruction of feminine and masculine distinctions (
Acts 2:17,18). He insists that women and men, though both can be equally anointed, (
Acts 21:9;
I Corinthians 12:10) nevertheless are to maintain their order and gender distinction outwardly by man’s cut hair and the woman’s uncut hair (
I Corinthians 11:13-15). These guidelines clearly cannot be dismissed as local cultural biases of days gone by. Nor can they be classified as parochial issues germane only to a certain day or time. They are, instead, connected to the permanent ground and order of Creation and should not be abrogated due to whim and fancy of a worldly society.
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