Our Resurrection Hope

The Christians in Corinth had foolish notions about the human body, and about the resurrection of the body.  Many of them thought that God only cared about the state of their souls, and what they did with they bodies didn't really matter; as a result, they felt free to indulge in sexual immorality, drunkeness, gluttony, and other sins.  The wealthier Corinthians even thought that resurrection was just a metaphor for living well in this life--a first-century version of the Health and Prosperity Gospel.  Even today, there are many Christians who do not really believe in the resurrection of the body; they, like the Corinthians, think that resurrection is only for the soul, not for the body.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul sets them--and us--straight.  If there is no resurrection of the dead, he points out, then Jesus Christ himself did not rise from the dead; and if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then our faith is worthless.  Also, if Christ came just to save our souls, then our lives on earth and our work for the Lord are also worthless; the earth is just a giant waiting room, and all we are doing is waiting to die so our souls can go to heaven and spend eternity playing golden harps.

God created us, body and soul.  God loves us, body and soul.  He is working to save us, to renew us, and ultimately to resurrect us--body and soul.  Our bodies, our world, and what we do with them, are meaningful, now and in the future.

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