Worship With Your Body
Eric Liddell wasn’t supposed to win the 400 metres.
He was a 100-metre runner — quick, focused, and built for the sprint.
But when the Olympic heats for his main event fell on a Sunday, he made a decision that baffled the world.
To Eric, Sunday was sacred — a day set apart for worship. So he trained for a different race, the 400 metres, and won gold at the 1924 Paris Olympics, setting a world record in 47.6 seconds.
Afterward, he inspired the world with these words:
“God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
That’s what it means to worship with your body — to use what God has given you to reflect His glory.
True Worship Involves Our Bodies
Worship is about offering our whole selves — mind, heart, and body — to God.
The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NIV):
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
Therefore, honour God with your bodies.”
Our bodies are not disposable shells; they’re sacred spaces indwelt by the Spirit of God. They matter deeply to Him.
Why Sexuality Is Central to Worship
When Paul said,
“Flee from sexual immorality,”
(1 Corinthians 6:18)
he wasn’t restricting pleasure — he was protecting purpose.
Sexual sin isn’t just a moral issue; it’s a spiritual one.
It damages the very temple that God calls holy.
If we’re going to talk about worship with our bodies,
we must talk honestly about sexual expression.
What the Bible Calls Sexual Immorality
Scripture is clear (click here for link to an online bible) — not because God is anti-sex, but because He designed sex to be sacred, mutual, and covenantal.
Here’s what the Bible identifies as sexual immorality (porneia):
1. Adultery
Sexual relations between a married person and someone other than their spouse.
- Exodus 20:14 – “You shall not commit adultery.”
- Matthew 5:27–28 – Lust equals adultery of the heart.
- Leviticus 20:10 – Describes the seriousness of adultery.
2. Fornication (Premarital Sex)
Sexual activity between unmarried individuals.
- 1 Corinthians 6:18 – “Flee from fornication.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – “Abstain from sexual immorality.”
- Acts 15:20 – Early believers instructed to avoid sexual immorality.
3. Same-Sex Relations
Sexual activity between people of the same sex.
- Leviticus 18:22 – “Do not lie with a man as with a woman.”
- Romans 1:26–27 – “Men committed shameful acts with men.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 – Lists same-sex acts among sexual sins.
4. Incest
Sexual relations between close family members.
- Leviticus 18:6–18 – Detailed prohibitions of familial relationships.
- 1 Corinthians 5:1 – Condemns a man having his father’s wife.
5. Bestiality
Sexual acts with animals.
- Exodus 22:19 – “Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.”
- Leviticus 18:23 – “Do not defile yourselves with any animal.”
6. Prostitution
Selling or purchasing sex.
- Proverbs 6:26 – “A prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:15–16 – “Shall I take Christ and unite Him with a prostitute?”
7. Rape
Forced sexual activity.
- Deuteronomy 22:25–27 – Condemns rape and demands justice.
8. Lust
Sexual desire directed outside of marriage.
- Matthew 5:28 – “Anyone who looks lustfully has already committed adultery.”
- Job 31:1 – “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully.”
Lust reduces people to objects — it’s the opposite of love.
God’s Design for Sexuality
God’s intent for sexuality is covenantal.
He created sex to express the unity, intimacy, and self-giving love between one man and one woman in marriage.
This isn’t about control. It’s about wholeness.
When sex is lived out in the way God designed, it becomes an act of worship — a reflection of His faithful and self-giving love.
Grace for Our Failures
Let’s be honest — we all fall short.
The statistics show it:
- High divorce rates, even among Christians.
- Hidden struggles with pornography and infidelity.
- Quiet shame that isolates and wounds.
But here’s the truth:
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
(Romans 8:1 NIV)
Jesus doesn’t leave us in our brokenness.
He meets us there — not to condemn, but to restore.
Just like He told the woman caught in adultery:
“Neither do I condemn you. Go now, and leave your life of sin.”
That’s grace — not permission to stay the same, but power to become new.
Reflection Questions
- What areas of your life have you kept separate from worship?
- How can you begin to honour God with your body this week — in discipline, desire, and devotion?
- Where do you need to receive grace again, and realign with His design?
