... a biblical perspective on money and possessions in light of eternity

Monday, 3 November 2014

Physical world is not bad


In the OT, they saw God as the Lord of the harvest.  As His grateful children, they celebrated national feasts to recognise and rejoice in His material provision.  These feasts were parties.  By God's command, a portion of the holy tithes was set aside to underwrite these celebrations.  The Israelities worshipped, fellowshipped and celebrated and in the process had a great deal of fun.

The Jews understood sex as a gift from God, to be shunned outside of marriage but thoroughly enjoyed within it.  In fact, much of the Song of Solomon - as inspired by God as the book of Romans - is a celebration of a married couple's sexual pleasure. The rabbi-turned-apostle Paul not only ordered the materialistic Corinthians to avoid immorality but also commanded the ascetics in the church to stop withholding themselves from sexual relations with their spouses.  Satan is the master of extremes.  

The Sabbath is a day of delight. It is a weekly reminder to take play seriously. Tim Hansel observes that there is a myth among Christians that we don’t deserve leisure. He writes, “At the school where I teach, this myth is humorously referred to as Bionic Christianity. It describes the super Christian who is, at least in appearance, above reproach … Heavily laden with guilt and tension about each of the minutes he might be wasting—stiff, fussy, meticulous, and incurably religious—the Bionic Christian simply does not have time to be happy. Irony of ironies, his commitment to Jesus Christ has become a prison rather than a blessing.”

Paul warned Timothy that there would be those who --
... turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. - 1 Timothy 4:1
Those responsible for these teachings are described as --
These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. - 1 Timothy 4:2
Paul issues a 'wanted poster' on these theological criminals.  Here is how he describes them --
They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer. - 1 Timothy 4:3-5
Eden was Paradise, and the new heaven and new earth will be an even greater paradise with much for us to enjoy.  In our new bodies, without sin to twist and warp us, we will enjoy God's provisions and take full pleasure and delight in Him and His gifts.  The delights of heaven - including feasting together at banquets - are proof that the material world and physical pleasures are good, not evil.









The Use of Physical Pleasure


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