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Body image and health are significant topics of conversation in our society, and it can be challenging to understand how to take care of our bodies without turning them into idols. The key thing to keep in mind is that a Christian’s body is God’s temple; His Holy Spirit resides within us. Paul writes, “Do you not know that your body is a temple 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, honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Earlier, he wrote, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple” «Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? », (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Clearly, we are called to take care of our physical bodies. We were physically created by God and tasked with honoring Him physically. With that being said, our hygiene holds significance to God. The Old Testament contains numerous mentions of hand-washing, foot-washing, washing clothing, washing before eating, and so on. Ritual washings served as a reminder to the people that they should not approach God’s presence without cleansing the dust and dirt of the world from their bodies. The tabernacle in the wilderness had a basin for the priests to wash themselves before ministering to the Lord «Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. », (Exodus 30:18). Even Jesus washed the discipl
Jesus washed His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, although this act was more a symbol of servanthood than of cleanliness.
The act of washing is used in the New Testament to symbolize a spiritual purification from sin that is only possible through Christ. Ephesians 5:26 teaches us that Christ purified the church—those who believe in Him for salvation—by “washing with water through the word.” This illustrates the internal spiritual cleansing that the Word of God offers us. The regeneration that all Christians undergo is depicted as a cleansing and renewal by the Holy Spirit, «not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; », (Titus 3:5). Therefore, it is evident that inner purification and cleansing are significant themes in the Bible.
However, what about washing and hygiene as physical acts rather than spiritual ones? There exists a fine line between hygiene and vanity that can easily become blurred, especially in a society so focused on outward beauty. How can we care for our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit without falling into vanity? The key is to monitor the condition of our hearts. If we base our worth on physical appearance, we are missing the mark. Our true worth lies in what God has accomplished for us, cleansing us internally from sin, not in how meticulously we clean and wash our outer selves. Our hearts reveal the individuals we have become—new creations in Christ, «Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. », (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is crucial to remember that while man looks at outward appearances, God looks at the heart, «But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on
The outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”, (1 Samuel 16:7). Proverbs 31:30 states, “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” God does not condemn beauty or caring for the body but simply emphasizes that the body (or worldly beauty) is not the most important aspect. We are to care for our bodies to maintain good health so we can be of value to God and His people, and this certainly includes hygiene. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 reminds us, “Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
As with many things in life, practicing hygiene while avoiding vanity requires prayer and perhaps daily conscious effort. If our hearts are focused on God, we can’t go wrong. We should seek Him; trust Him for our needs; delight in the inward beauty He has given us; and steward our bodies as His servants, not as if they were our own. When we seek God first and abide in Him, we will learn to listen to Him and obey Him. By doing this, we will care for the bodies He has given us without allowing our bodies to rule over us.
