Pastor’s Blog

I believe in the resurrection of the body

As we have just celebrated Easter, what do you think about when you hear the words, “I believe in the resurrection of the body”?  Do you think of life after death and heaven?  Do you wonder what our bodies will look like in heaven and if we will recognize people?

What if we thought about our actual present physical bodies and how they live the victory of resurrection right now?  Remember that Jesus met his disciples after his resurrection.  He walked beside two disciples on the road to Emmaus and talked with them.  He invited Thomas to touch the scars in his hand and his side.  He asked for some fish to eat.

Starting in April and continuing into May, we will consider how our physical bodies express praise to the Lord.  We don’t have to wait until heaven.  Already now we are resurrected to new life (see Romans 6:5-11 and Colossians 3:1-4).  A resource for this series will be a book by theologian W. David O. Taylor entitled, “A Body of Praise.”  In this book he puts the focus on the actions of our physical bodies in corporate worship.  What we do with our postures, gestures, and movements in worship matters.  How our senses of sight, scent, sound, taste, and touch are involved in worship matters.  How our spontaneous and defined activities form us in worship matters.

All of it matters for the sake of a body that is fully alive in the praise of God.

                “The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you.

God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.” 

1 Corinthians 6:20, The Message