The philosophy of Materialism holds that MATTER (material) is the fundamental substance in nature, and all things are the result of material processes. If you feel romantic, it is because of pheromones. If you love your children, it is because of oxytocin. If you enjoy art, movies, or classical music, it is because of dopamine. If you believe in God, even that is due to brain chemistry.
One opposite of Materialism is the historical view of Gnosticism. Gnosticism held that the material world was bad and only spiritual things mattered. That led to the idea that you could do whatever you want to with your body ( be gluttonous, lustful, lazy, etc.,) because the body was bad anyway and only the spirit mattered.
This view retains a foothold today, as “hookup culture” argues what one does with his or her body has no relevance to life, or to mental or emotional health. The idea is that your body is a shell you live in, but one in no way connected to who you ARE. Thus, you can pierce it, cut it, disfigure or mutilate it, change it from one sex to the other, etc., because the physical life is not connected to who you are as a person. (For more, see Nancy Pearcey’s book LOVE THY BODY–which I have not yet read.)
So which is right? Is your physical body what matters and everything else the result of brain chemistry?
Or are your heart and soul what matters and the physical body an irrelevant vessel you can use any way you like?
Which is more important, your body or your soul?
All four Gospels record stories of Jesus being anointed with the contents of an alabaster jar of perfume so expensive it could have been sold for a year’s wages. Judas complains about the waste: “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?” John 12:5. John then explains that Judas was not only a traitor, but an embezzler.[1]
But Jesus answers the complaint. “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a noble thing for Me. For the poor you always have with you. But you do not always have me. By pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she has prepared Me for burial. I assure you: wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her” Matthew 26:10-13.
She poured out a year’s wages—an incredible sum—to honor Jesus. And Jesus honored her in return. Clearly Jesus valued His body and He valued the respect this woman showed to His body—a body that would soon be beaten beyond recognition, Isaiah 52:14.
Materialism and Gnosticism are both wrong.
We live in a physical body and we must strive NOT to sin with that body. We must respect our bodies as Jesus respected His body. We must also cultivate a thriving spiritual life and nurture mental and emotional health.
Western culture tends to break people into parts: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual. But Hebrew culture focused more on the whole. You are a whole person: scripture encourages you to live a life of holiness in mind and body.
God, teach us to honor our bodies as Jesus did.
Read Matthew 26.
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[1] “He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money bag and would steal part of what was in it” John 12:6.
Household Words: 