On Sunday I offered the third message in a series of six on Spiritual Practices, those "holy habits" that deepen and strengthen our Christian faith. Week three was on honouring our bodies, a subject which is largely avoided in the church, even though ours is an embodied faith in Christ.
Yesterday my latest Christian Century magazine arrived with an article Our Bodies, Our Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor. she makes the statement "I reject any religious definition of goodness that leaves the body behind." She also includes a hymn by the wonderful writer Brian Wren.
Good is the flesh that the Word has become,
good is the birthing, the milk in the breast,
good is the feeding, caressing and rest,
good is the body for knowing the world,
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.
Good is the body for knowing the world,
sensing the sunlight, the tug of the ground,
feeling, perceiving, within and around,
good is the body, from cradle to grave,
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.
Good is the body, from cradle to grave,
growing and ageing, arousing, impaired,
happy in clothing, or lovingly bared,
good is the pleasure of God in our flesh.
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.
Good is the pleasure of God in our flesh,
longing in all, as in Jesus, to dwell,
glad of embracing, and tasting, and smell,
good is the body, for good and for God,
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.
Do we need to consider body as well as soul in our discussion of faith? What is your experience of how you were taught to regard your body?
My experience is that the body was not talked about. It was a taboo subject. The church especially talked about only the spirit or soul. Bodily functions were seen as inappropriate talk, and sex was only for sex education class. Talk of the body was reserved for children and teenagers to talk about amongst themselves in whispers and giggles.
ReplyDeleteToday, I like to be open with the boys. I don't know how long that will last, but the body is not a taboo subject in our house. The boys still giggle about it, but at least I know what they are thinking and I can make sure they get the right information. They seem to feel comfortable talking in front of mom for which I am grateful.
I love Brian Wren's hymns. Thanks for sharing this one.