Throughout the Gospels, Jesus talks often about the heart. He warns against being clean on the outside, while harboring inward sin. It’s fitting for Christians to share this concern. However, at times our well-intentioned focus on “the heart” has heralded a kind of dualism, causing us to separate our spiritual and physical selves in a way God never intended.
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We need a better theology of the body. And this need is especially urgent for teens.
We’re already seeing the reverberating effects of gaps in this area of discipleship. The fallout of “purity culture” gone awry, the normalization of artificial beauty enhancement, and the creeping influence of LGBT+ ideology—among other ethical issues—are symptomatic of a failure to teach a thoroughly Biblical and holistic view of the body. The things said and left unsaid have left a mark.
If we want to guard against the errors of the past—and equip our teens to navigate the cultural pressures of the present—it is essential to teach them why their bodies matter.
What We Risk Losing When We Lack a Robust Theology of the Body
Recently, I was asked to share about my book, Young Womanhood: Finding Joy and Purpose in the Body God Gave You, at a retreat. I was surprised when nearly every follow-up question centered on modesty, even though I hadn’t mentioned the topic. It’s not that I think modesty is unimportant (it’s indeed a Biblical issue, which I address in the book!), but if that’s the first or primary concern we have for teen girls when it comes to their embodiment, it shows that we’ve missed the bigger picture. Such inordinate focus is damaging. If a teen girl only ever hears what she should cover up—without a firm foundation about the goodness and purpose of her body—she will begin to view her body as a problem and an object of shame. But modesty isn’t about covering up something bad, it’s about honoring what God created good and displaying who we are in Christ.
That’s only one example. When we neglect teaching a robust theology of the body, it impacts everyday life. Teens may misinterpret the meaning of sex and the reason behind God’s boundaries for it, viewing him as a killjoy instead of a loving Father. They may eat and exercise to “fix” what they feel is deficient, instead of to strengthen and steward what is already valuable. Or, they may be tempted to neglect physical wellness, because why bother caring for bodily health if the heart is all that matters?
Without a robust theology of the body, we risk losing the most powerful and enduring motive for obedience: joy and trust in God. Instead of submitting our bodies to him because we trust his wise and generous design, our obedience will be motivated by legalism, fear, and shame. The best way to fight temptation isn’t just to point out what’s bent out of place, but to offer a better alternative.
What We Gain When We Teach a Robust Theology of the Body
God created us as embodied image bearers. So, our bodies are essential to how we were designed to know, enjoy, and honor him. Therefore, God doesn’t just care about our hearts. He cares about our bodies. He values them so much that he put on flesh, lived, died, and rose again so that we might enjoy the blessed reality of a bodily resurrection too.
Our bodies are also a part of God’s general revelation, which means they reveal truth about him (Rom. 1:20). This is especially poignant when we consider the meaning of our sexed bodies. Men and women reveal different truths about the nature of God through our bodily distinctions.
And the distinctions between us go beyond reproductive capacities and muscle mass. Differences in brain structure, hormones, and vascular systems all have God-ordained purposes—to help us know and image him more. Far from pigeonholing us into stringent stereotypes or caricatures of what it means to be a man or a woman, the wonder of these differences shows how expansive God’s design for us as men and women is. What clarity that brings to all this confusion over gender!
Ultimately, we must teach our teens how their embodied experiences and physical desires—though distorted by sin—are intended to point them to Jesus. Their senses are meant to stir their souls to worship. When they enjoy the pleasure of delicious food, beautiful music, or competitive sports, their hearts can be filled with gratitude to the Giver of every good gift. As they look in the mirror and cultivate their own beauty, they can be reminded to behold God as the ultimate expression of beauty.
When we give our teens a solid theology of the body, they gain better footing to fight temptation and seek satisfaction in Christ. Sexual immorality becomes less enticing the more their longing for intimacy leads them to joyfully anticipate when Christ comes for his Bride. Lip fillers, Botox, and other artificial body enhancements grow less appealing the more they gaze upon the beauty of Christ.
An Encouragement For Moving Forward
It’s no secret that the world has impoverished views of the body. And sadly, sometimes we do too. But the good news is this: God created our bodies with more meaning than we realize, and for more joy than we currently experience. When we mine what Scripture has to say on this topic, we gain—and can impart to our teens—a compelling and beautiful picture that embraces the value of our embodiment and moves us to worship God. With our hearts and our bodies.
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