Wendy Rollin

By Wendy Rollin

The body is not only something we train—it is a temple entrusted to us by God, worthy of care in body, mind, and spirit.

We enter a church and immediately recognize that we are standing in a place set apart for God.

We respect the sanctuary. We care for the grounds. We lower our voices, become mindful of our surroundings, and approach the cross with reverence.

But what about the body that carries us into that sanctuary?

What about the skin that surrounds our souls?

Scripture tells us:

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”

—1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV

Our bodies are not separate from our relationship with Christ. They are part of the life He created and entrusted to us.

We honor church buildings because they are dedicated to God. We would not intentionally damage the sanctuary, ignore serious problems within it, or treat it as though it had no value.

Yet many of us neglect our own bodies without recognizing what we are neglecting.

We ignore exhaustion. We postpone medical appointments. We live under constant stress. We fail to move, rest, or nourish ourselves properly. We care for everyone around us while overlooking the physical, mental, and emotional warning signs within ourselves.

We protect the building where we worship, but what about the temple we carry with us every day?

Faith is often discussed as though it exists only within the heart and soul. But Scripture reminds us that the body also belongs to God.

The soul is precious, and so is the body through which we live out our faith.

It is God’s creation.

Our bodies deserve more than criticism, comparison, neglect, or indifference. They deserve the care and respect we would give anything entrusted to us by God.

Caring for the body is not merely about appearance. It is not about vanity, physical perfection, or earning admiration from others.

It is about recognizing the sacred value of what God made.

Seeking medical care, counseling, rest, or support when we need it can also be part of honoring the temple God entrusted to us.

Fit for faith means seeing physical, mental, and emotional care as part of spiritual stewardship. It means understanding that honoring God includes how we treat the body He gave us.

We do not worship our bodies.

We honor the One who created them.

Our bodies are temples.

Are we treating them that way?