The Spirit is Willing and the Flesh is Too: Living Whole and Holy Lives Through Integrating Spirituality and Sexuality

Abstract

When most Christians are asked to think about body issues, notions of purity are frequently central to those considerations. The ideology that resounds throughout the Christian community is that the body is a temple, and we must always put forth great effort to keep the temple pure. These ideas are quite pervasive because of a deep sense that the body and bodily activities are sinful, corrupted, and impure. This understanding has often resulted in an attempt to be disembodied. Having the feeling that the impure activities of the body are unavoidable, Christians have attempted to minimize or escape the body in the name of sanctification.

Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.

—Matthew 26.41