Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. If we obey the Lord the day will come when our body is redeemed from death and filled with the Spirit of God. Then it will be an integral part of the new Jerusalem. Meanwhile it is passing away with its appetites and lusts.

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. (I Corinthians 6:13)

Our body is dead because of sin, but if we follow the Lord He will raise it up at His coming. We do not owe it to our dead, sinful body to become a slave to its appetites and lusts. If we keep subjecting our body to the discipline of the Holy Spirit we will enter eternal life. If we do not we will slay our own resurrection, the resurrection that is unto life in the Presence of the Lord.

We are wise when we take care of our body properly, paying attention to diet, exercise, and a reasonable balance between work and relaxation. If we do not we soon will be living in weakness and pain because of our lack of moderation and self-control.

There are instances when people—even believers—give undue attention to their health and their bodily form. The body becomes their idol. Far too much attention is spent on body building or vitamins and health foods. One's physical appearance and health become first in important rather than the serving of the Lord.

It may be true that exhibitionism and narcissism are related to the overemphasis on physique and health. Narcissism is the excessive admiration of oneself. Exhibitionism is the desire to display oneself (sometimes indecently) in such a manner as to attract attention. It is an unclean fascination with one's form and a desire to show one's form to others.

Excessive interest in health and physique, narcissism, and exhibitionism, are food offered to idols.

Feminism, cross-dressing. Feminism, the desire of women to fulfill the role of men in various areas of life, is a strong factor in democratic nations. In some countries of the world women are treated like cattle. In others they are judges and leaders of government. It is never righteous to treat a woman like an animal one owns. Also, it is not ordinarily desirable for women to rule over men.

Why does Satan put in women the desire to be men, and in men the desire to be women? Is Satan merely acting spitefully toward God?

It is our point of view that the current attempts to warp the roles of the male and female is Satan's attempt to prevent the birth of children. Paul says that the woman will be saved in childbearing. No person can enter the Kingdom of God until he or she has first been born of a woman. Thus the woman has an extremely important role in the Kingdom—that of giving birth to its members.

To be continued.