Mar 20 - "Our Temple"

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's spirit dwells in you? --- 1 Corinthians 3:11-23
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Have you ever lived in a house or apartment that was built with shoddy materials or obviously not well-constructed to pass the test of time? Does this abode look good from the outside, maybe even has a strong foundation, but because the wood for the framing is of low quality or the shingles on the roof are carelessly placed, it is falling apart, year by year? Would you think that maybe the house was built with good materials, but there has been no maintenance or care given over time, or it was misused and not repaired?

The question today's scripture brings to mind for me is, what materials am I using to build my temple? With what am I surrounding and filling myself up on a daily basis that become the structure for which God dwells in my life? Let me tell you, I have certainly run the spectrum on this one. There have been times in my life where I placed myself, in body and mind, very far from an ideal temple. The Cardinal Sins come to mind: Gluttony, Sloth, Lust, Envy, Pride and Anger, to name a few. Spending too much time in each of these vices at various times in my life have caused (and continue to cause, at times) me to build a temple that was easily crumbled, breaking apart again and again.

I am a fan of Christian music. My satellite radio, much to my daughters' chagrin at times, is pretty much always tuned to the Message. Just as with popular/secular music, there is good, great and awesome songs as well as the fair, poor and terrible. But overall, I think listening to these songs is one way to surround myself with the positive...the uplifting...and, at times, the awesomely beautiful and holy. One the other hand, my satellite radio also offers at least two stations of Howard Stern, the Playboy channel and a comedy channel with jokes, stories and commentary that offer a continual stream trash (funny trash, but trash nonetheless). It is the same with what I am reading, watching, surfing...the people I surround myself with...there is the wonderful and the terrible at every turn.

If Lucifer exists (we'll leave that discussion for another day), don't you think that he cackles when we do things that degrade or destroy our bodies or our minds? When we fill our minds with gossip, profanity, hatred, are we not putting our very being at risk, the being through which we are compelled to preach the Good News? When we commit these sins, because Christ has written the Law on our hearts, we feel bad about ourselves, we feel unworthy, we hide ourselves from the presence of God in our shame. Satan smiles.

What are we doing to ourselves?!? How can we build up our temple in this way?!?

I realize that some of you, faithful readers, may be thinking that this is self-righteous, holier-than-thou, puritanical criticism which I am pontificating out to each of you. Please believe me, my fellow brothers and sisters in this journey, these thoughts and words are probably more about my own self-examination than trying to push some message of guilt onto you.

So, dear friends, think about what you are using to build your temple. With what do you surround yourself on a daily basis? Are you making it a worthy vessel, strong to fight the good fight on behalf of Jesus Christ? Or, are you setting up a leaning tower, ready to be tipped at the slightest pressure of responsibility? Start today with fresh materials, strong timbers, sturdy planks, clean fuel. Let us make our temples a reflection of our thanksgiving, a form of praise for the wonderful gift of life we have been given, in order that we might proclaim, His Word and march onward in strength.