Human Bodies: Week 1
Flesh and Spirit
Friday, April 6, 2018
The Apostle Paul tends to use dialectics in his writing, jockeying two seemingly opposite ideas to lead us to a deeper and third understanding. One of his most familiar dialectics is the way he speaks of flesh and spirit. Paul uses the word sarx, typically and unfortunately translated as “flesh” in most contemporary languages with a negative connotation in opposition to spirit. John’s Gospel uses this same word, sarx, in a wonderfully positive way: “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14). So flesh must be good too! But Paul’s usage had the larger impact.
If you read Galatians or Romans, you’ll probably understand these two terms in the usual dualistic way, which has done great damage: “Well, I’ve got to get out of my flesh in order to get into the spirit.” This was even true of many canonized saints, at least in their early stages—as it was with the Buddha. But I want to say as strongly as I can: you really can’t get out of the flesh! That’s not what Paul is talking about.
The closest meaning to Paul’s sarx is today’s familiar word “ego”—which often is a problem if we are trapped inside of it. So what Paul means by “flesh” is the trapped self, the small self, the partial self, or what Thomas Merton called the false self. Basically, spirit is the whole self, the Christ Self, the True Self “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3) that we fall into by grace. The problem is not between body and spirit; it’s between part and whole.
Sarx or ego is the self that tries to define itself autonomously, apart from spirit, apart from the Big Self in God. It’s the tiny self that you think you are, who takes yourself far too seriously, and who is always needy and wanting something else. It’s the self that is characterized by scarcity and fragility—and well it should be, because it’s finally an illusion and passing away. It changes month by month. This small self doesn’t really exist in God’s eyes as anything substantial or real. It’s nothing but a construct of your own mind. It is exactly what will die when you die. Flesh is not bad, it is just inadequate to the final and full task, while posing as the real thing. Don’t hate your training wheels once you take them off your bicycle. You should thank them for getting you started on your cycling journey!
To easily get beyond this confusion, just substitute the word ego every time you hear Paul use the word flesh. It will get you out of this dead-end, false, and dualistic ping-pong game between body and spirit. The problem is not that you have a body; the problem is that you think you are separate from others—and from God. And you are not!
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April 6, 2018
God’s Word Helps Us
Pamela L. Dorrel (Kentucky)
I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you. – Psalm 119:11 (NRSV)
It has always been easy for me to get into debates with friends and family, and I find myself arguing more than I should. If I make others angry, I regret it, and I’m always willing to apologize and move on. I just can’t pass up a rousing exchange of ideas about current events.
I was this way for many years until one day, in the middle of a debate with my father that had turned into an argument, I suddenly forgot what I was going to say. The only thing I could remember was today’s quoted verse. It was the verse from my Bible study a few weeks before. In an instant, my perspective changed. I realized I was so caught up in the conversation that I was about to say something hurtful to my father just to “win” the argument. I held my tongue that day, and we called a truce.
Later on, I thanked God for bringing that verse to my mind at just the right time. The more we read and study God’s word, the more we are able to draw on its direction when we need it.
Thank you, God, for giving us wisdom through scripture when we need it most. Amen.
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April 6, 2018
Devotional for Today-JDV
Lord, the study for today started with some “unlearning”. We were instructed by Richard to “unpack” the notion of the meaning of the word flesh in Paul’s letters because the meaning was not necessarily intended as a standard “dialectic” lesson from Paul. This was not another “set the flesh against the spirit” lesson of the struggle. Rather, the key meaning here of the original word, sarx , is the smaller self or ego. The lesson I grasp here is that I am not to war against the “flesh” as a morality fight spirit against flesh, but rather I am to allow the spirit of God to overcome my own ego and notion that I am separate from God.
Is this the lesson Lord?
And God says…”This is the lesson, and you have been living the lesson for years. There is no battle against the flesh in terms of a personal commitment to “grit your teeth” and try harder to overcome amoral (fleshly) thoughts and behavior and thus become a better person. This never works for humans living free. Humans by nature exist with a deceitful heart and it is not fixable. No amount of trying or scapegoating will correct this, and it neither was nor is my intention to address the issue. I have no intention of repairing this human condition. Jesus is my answer.
Living a Godly life is a byproduct of being surrendered and connected to Me; giving up the idea of your separateness and seeing your body and soul as complete in Me. You recognize our “oneness” (Me in you) as a byproduct of surrendering your flesh or small self.
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