In a world where the intellect often receives precedence, the church faces a vital call to reclaim and embrace the holistic nature of discipleship that integrates mind, spirit, and body.
The Author of Scripture, who is also the Creator of our nervous systems—Jesus Christ—designed our bodies with intricate wisdom and purpose.
His work is a divine testament to the interconnectedness of physical embodiment and spiritual existence.
This recognition invites pastors and church leaders to reflect deeply on the value of embodied spirituality in discipleship, positing that to overlook God’s design of the body is to veer towards a modern-day Gnosticism.
Understanding Embodied Spirituality
Embodied spirituality recognizes that our physical bodies are not mere vessels for our souls but integral to our spiritual life and relationship with God. It acknowledges that Jesus, in his incarnation, fully embraced human embodiment, offering us a model of wholeness that unites body and spirit. This unity suggests that spiritual practices and disciplines should not only engage the mind and spirit but also the body. Neuroscience Informed Christian Counseling® (NICC), provides insight into how our bodies—specifically our nervous systems—play a crucial role in our emotional and spiritual health.
The Warning Against Neo-Gnosticism
Historically, Gnosticism suggested a sharp division between the material and spiritual, often devaluing the physical in favor of the “spiritual” or “knowledge.” Today, a neo-Gnosticism emerges when the church neglects the body’s role in spiritual formation. Ignoring the embodied aspect of spirituality risks reducing faith to a set of intellectual beliefs or emotional experiences, devoid of the transformative power that comes from living out one’s faith in and through the body.
The Role of Neuroscience in Understanding Embodied Faith
Neuroscience offers profound insights into how our nervous systems are designed to experience and interact with the world and, by extension, our spiritual practices. The work of Bruce Ecker on memory reconsolidation, Allan Schore on affect regulation and the neurobiology of attachment, and Stephen Porges on the polyvagal theory—all highlight the significant ways in which our bodily states influence our emotions, thoughts, and relational capacities. These insights suggest that our spiritual practices and disciplines must consider the body’s role in shaping our experiences and relationships, including our relationship with God.
Integrating Embodied Spirituality into Discipleship
To embrace embodied spirituality, pastors and church leaders can integrate practices that engage the whole person:
Address Emotional and Physical Health: Recognize and address the interconnectedness of emotional and physical health with spiritual well-being. Doing so might involve creating support structures within the church for mental health, offering resources for physical care, and encouraging healthy lifestyles as part of discipleship.
Incorporate Physicality in Worship and Prayer: Encourage forms of worship and prayer that engage the body, such as kneeling, raising hands, or even walking prayers. These practices help congregants experience worship and prayer as fully embodied acts of devotion.
Educate on the Theology of the Body: Teach on the significance of the incarnation and resurrection of Jesus, emphasizing the redemption and sanctification of the body. Highlight how our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and integral to our spiritual lives.
Promote Practices That Foster Bodily Awareness: Introduce spiritual disciplines that increase bodily awareness and regulation, such as breath prayers, mindfulness-based stress reduction from a Christian perspective, or even Christian yoga or pilates. These practices can help believers become more attuned to the Holy Spirit’s presence in and through their bodies.
