Our local science Museum hosted the “Our Body: The Universe Within” exhibit and according to the exhibit’s web site [1] their goal is to, “transmit knowledge about the human organism displaying the specimens in an artful, compelling and dignified environment.” These “200 specimens” are preserved by a process called polymer impregnation “whereby bodily fluids are replaced by liquid plastic”. Apparently this plastic allows the tissues to be left “intact down to the microscope sphere” allowing us to see the most intrinsic parts of our anatomy. Furthermore, the exhibit wants to let visitors explore the “body parts” which “allow us to think, breath, and move”.
The exhibit strips the body of the soul (self or I) by suggesting body parts allow us to think. Is the body an autonomous “human being”? When I choose to hold my breath, is the body choosing this act for me or am “I”. Are the muscles in my face smiling or am I? When the body is considered the end all one raises the dilemma of which came first the chicken or the egg. Did a person called “I” want to move or did an autonomous body decide for me? After touring this exhibit one might wonder if the bodies’ only usefulness after death is for scientific displays. As Christians, how should we view these displayed specimens in light of our faith? Does the body have a future after death? Will the body ever be something other than compost?
Throughout history, the battle has been to separate the body from the soul. In most eastern religions, losing attachment with the physical body is part of achieving a higher consciousness. Nirvana, for the most part, is enlightenment and freeing the spiritual self (soul) from the body, ending the cycle of physical birth and rebirth. Plato taught salvation happens when the soul is shed of its body. Strict evolutionists strip the body of its soul ending the need for salvation. Of all religions, the Judeo/Christian religions exclusively teach the physical body and the soul are good [2]. Judaism believed in a physical resurrection of the body. Daniel looked forward to a physical resurrection when he wrote, “…many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake” [3]. In Jewish Apocalyptic literature, 2 Baruch, God is asked, “In what shape will those live who live in Thy day?” God’s answer is, “For the earth shall then assuredly restore the dead [which it now receives, in order to preserve them]. It shall make no change in their form, but as it has received, so shall it restore them...” [4] The implication is clearly a belief in a physical bodily resurrection. When Jesus (who was a Jew) told Martha her brother would rise again, Martha responded by saying she knew he would rise in the resurrection of the last day [5]. The Pharisees believed in a bodily resurrection whereas the Sadducees did not [6]. When the Sadducees asked Jesus whose wife a multiple-wed woman would be in the resurrection they are clearly acknowledging a teaching of a bodily resurrection [7]. Paul, being a Pharisee[8] believed in a bodily resurrection and taught so in 1 Corinthians 15.
The Apostles Creed declares “I believe in the resurrection of the flesh”. Early church father Justin Martyr (c. A.D. 100-165) said, “There are some who maintain that Jesus Himself appeared only as spiritual, and not in flesh, but presented merely the appearance of flesh: these same persons seek to rob the flesh [body] of the promise” [9]. Notice the body is given the promise of life eternal in its fleshly bodily form. Justin Martyr also said, “….He [Christ] has even called the flesh to the resurrection, and promises to it everlasting life” [10]. Life in eternity, according to Christian teaching, is promised to the physical body as well as the soul. Thomas Aquinas (A.D. 1224-1274) said, “The soul does not take an airy or heavenly body, or a body of another organic constitution, but a human body composed of flesh and bones and the same members enjoyed at present”[11].
Paul wrote, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” [12]. Jesus’ bodily resurrection is the evidence of our promised bodily resurrection. In the New Testament records, Christ Jesus’ appearances are replete with physical manifestations. Luke tells us Jesus showed himself to his apostles alive after his death by many infallible proofs, for forty days [13]. He walked and talked with his disciples [14]. He specifically encouraged the prodding of the nail scarred body, which three days earlier had held him on the cross. Jesus specifically asked for meat to eat so no one mistook him for a ghost [15].
A Sunday school teacher said our bodies in heaven would not have the same kind of blood running through them as we do now, implying our bodies are not good enough for heaven, yet when Christ Jesus’ body ascended into heaven it was the same flesh and bones (and blood) which hung on the cross. [19]. Regrettably, many Christians have a negative or Platonic [18] view of the physical body. Our fleshly bodies are not evil. They are part of creation which was proclaimed good. Scripture teaches we are not looking for a dissimilar environment or body. We are looking for what we are familiar with to be restored. The promise is the destruction of sin, not our bodies.
At Easter we celebrate the resurrected body of the Christ Jesus, and we forget the promise made to our own bodies. Understanding our bodies will be resurrected in the same material substance we posses now makes the promise of victory over death more tangible. Dr. Norman Geisler’s book, The Battle for the Resurrection, states, “God has promised to reverse the curse of sin on a material creation with a material resurrection.”20
[1] http://www.ourbodytheuniversewithin.com/
[2] Genesis 1 “…and God saw that it was good”. Gen. 2:7
[3] Daniel 12:2 KJV
[4] 2 Baruch 49:1; 50:2 as quoted in, Norman L. Geisler, “The Battle for the Resurrection” pg. 209 1992 emphasis mine.
[5] John 11: 23, 24
[6] Acts 23:8
[7] Matt. 22:23,28; Acts 23:8
[8] Acts 23:6
[9] Norman L. Geisler, “The Battle for the Resurrection” page 53, Nelson 1992
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid., page 58-59. Emphasis mine
[12] 1 Cor.15:20 KJV
[13] Acts 1:3
[14] Luke 24:15-17
[15] Luke 24:39-43
[16] 1 John 3.2b KJV
[17] Luke 24:51
[18] Plato viewed all matter including the body as evil.
[19] Acts 1:3
[20] Norman L. Geisler, “The Battle for the Resurrection” page 32, 33, Nelson 1992
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