Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. I Thess. 5:21

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

It Shall Quicken Your Mortal Bodies

I have to admit that in this post I'm speculating, but I think that there might just be something to this speculation. I'd be interested in your opinions and experiences as well and I encourage any of you who would like to share to do so in the comments.

The question that I'd like to address is "What kind of physiological effect does the Holy Spirit have on our energy level?" I want to take a closer look at Romans 8:11 and get a better understanding of what Paul was saying here. Does the Holy Spirit effect us physically?

I've always considered the effect that the Holy Spirit has on us more psychological and not physiological, but now I question that. Sure, our psychology can have an effect on our physiology, I don't deny that. When we are depressed, that is often accompanied by lethargy and the opposite is also true, but I there isn't more of a direct effect and less of a psychosomatic effect.

I notice that Paul often speaks of the physical effects of the Spirit. He referrs to our mortal bodies in Romans, and when he is speaking to the Philippians, he says that he can do all things through Christ and to me that denotes action, not just how we feel or what we say (Phil 4:13). He told the Corinthians that the kingdom of God is more than just words and he Paul told the Ephesians that God has set his power working in us (1 Cor 4:20, Eph 3:20).

Why is it necessary for us to divorce the spiritual from the physical anyway? This strikes me as resembling Platonism and not proper Christian teaching. To go to far with separating the spiritual from the physical can lead to a poor understanding of doctrine. God created us as an amalgamated being and not separate parts.

One final thought, we very often seek for physical healing but hardly ever for spiritual healing. Is healing the exception, the only area where God physically effects us or is there something to physical blessings in other areas too? What do you think? Is there something else that I need to consider?

1 comment:

  1. I found it interesting to think on Rom 12:1,2 when it says " don't be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" the things we experience, the thoughts we think are actually physically altering the grooves and wrinkles in our brain. New neural pathway and synapses will form that change the way we function and view the world around us. Depending on how deep/strong those pathways are it dictates what we are liable to do. Now consider when it says in Phillipians "Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ". To think the thoughts of Christ, to have the same attitude.That will certainly change you. Somewhere I'm sure the Spirit of God comes in on this too.

    ReplyDelete