Your Body Is Not a Burden

We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God… Yes, while we are in this tent we groan, because we are weighed down. – 2 Corinthians 5:1a, 4a (adapted)  

Every year, my body starts doing a new thing I wish it wouldn’t and stops doing an old thing I wish it still could. Despite Christmas lists, birthday wishes, and fervent prayers, I’ve yet to receive a brand-new body. Begrudgingly, I’m left with one choice: accept the body I have. As long as I inhabit this earthly tent, I might as well learn to love it.  

Christian scripture often presents a duality between our earthly, fleshy bodies and our heavenly, resurrected bodies. The earthly body is burdensome: sinful, corrupt, prone to decay, temporary. The heavenly body is liberating: blameless, incorruptible, everlasting. Earthly body bad; Heavenly body good.   

This theology can lead us to ignore or deny our body’s needs and even ignore or deny the needs of other’s bodies. What does it matter if this meat-suit prison is going to rot anyhow? And yet, we’re also taught that our earthly bodies are temples to the Holy Spirit, beautifully fragile clay vessels to carry and embody the gospel. Ragged and flimsy tent, sacred temple, or blessed vessel—which is it, Bible?  

My “earthly tent” is at least halfway through its usable life. As long as I dwell within it, I’m going to honor it. And every moan when I stand up, every groan from stomach aches, every yelp and wince from joint pains will be a prayer of praise. 

Prayer
Yeee-ouch (Incarnate God), ack (thank you) oof (for this body.) Ugh (may I love it as a blessing) jeeeessshhhh (and never a burden). Ahhhhhh (Amen).

About the Author
Chris Mereschuk (he/him) is an Unsettled Pastor and the Founder of RevCJM, LLC, specializing in church vitality and Legacy consulting and coaching.