Home

Explore the best Christian fantasy.

articles | news | library | reviews | podcast
Advertise Seek Review Questions?

‘One Piece’ Manga Reaches Chapter 1000: How Did This Pirate Become King?
Articles | L. Jagi Lamplighter, Jan 20, 2021

To Shape a Story is to Shape a Soul
Articles | L.G. McCary, Jan 18, 2021

Author Ted Turnau Finds The Hidden Grace of Pixar’s ‘Soul’
News | E. Stephen Burnett, Jan 15, 2021

Introducing Thriller Novelist and New Lorehaven Writer L. G. McCary
News | Lorehaven, Jan 15, 2021

Join Our Jan. 21 Livestream: How Can We ‘Terraform’ the Church to Enjoy Fantastic Fiction?
News | Lorehaven, Jan 14, 2021

How Political Punditry Has Taken Over Christian Popular Subcultures
Articles | E. Stephen Burnett, Jan 14, 2021

TheOneRing.net Reveals Synopsis for Amazon’s Middle-Earth Streaming Series
News | E. Stephen Burnett, Jan 13, 2021

One Month Left Until the Realm Makers Virtual Retreat, Feb. 11–13
News | E. Stephen Burnett, Jan 11, 2021

Thomas Kinkade Studios Now Making ‘The Mandalorian’ Products
News | E. Stephen Burnett, Jan 8, 2021

Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet’ Collides with Itself
Articles | Josh Hugo, Jan 8, 2021

Library

Find fantastical Christian novels

fantasy | sci-fi | supernatural and beyond
All novels Search Add a novel
Explore all: Middle-grade books | Young-adult books | Adult books
The Terran Summit, Anna Zogg
The Xerxes Factor, Anna Zogg
The Paradise Protocol, Anna Zogg
The Awakened, Richard Spillman
The Ascension, Richard Spillman
Love's Sacrifice, Kelsey Norman
Unbroken Spirit, Kelsey Norman
Seed: Judgment, Joshua David
The Rooster and the Raven King, John Paul Tucker
Brimstone 1, Jasom William Karpf
The Horse Queen, Lavay Byrd
King of Aethon, Lavay Byrd
Tales of Elhaanai, Nicole Thomas
Still Small Voice, Allen Brokken
Reviews

Find fantastical Christian reviews

All reviews Request review Share review

Flight of the Raven
“Exciting twists make Morgan L. Busse’s Flight of the Raven, book 2 of the Ravenwood Saga, a very enjoyable read.” —Lorehaven

The Eternal Struggle
“Esther Wallace’s novel The Eternal Struggle forms a dark sequel that brings hero and heroine into close fellowship with loss and brutality.” —Lorehaven

Dark is the Night
“Mirriam Neal’s vampire novel Dark is the Night keeps the punches and the fangs rolling.” —Lorehaven

Blood and Bond
“This book is brilliant and engaging, expanding on the series’ world and characters while building its own plot.” —Lorehaven

Podcast

Get the Fantastical Truth podcast

Apple | Google | All subscribe links
Archives Feedback

48. What Were the Top Seven Issues for Lorehaven Readers in 2020?
Fantastical Truth, Jan 19, 2021

47. Why Do Some People Long for Escape to a Galactic Community?
Fantastical Truth, Jan 12, 2021

46. Ten Years Later, Why Did ‘Dawn Treader’ Sink the Narnia Movies? | with Rilian of NarniaWeb
Fantastical Truth, Dec 22, 2020

45. How Can a Wingless Piskey Learn to Fly? | The Flight and Flame Trilogy, with R. J. Anderson
Fantastical Truth, Dec 15, 2020

Webzine

Browse back issues (2018–2020)

Order back issues online!
SpecFaith

The original SpecFaith: est. 2006

site archives | statement of faith
New articles Questions? Pitch to us

What Tolkien Taught About Fighting Evil
Travis Perry, Jan 21

The Messages of Black Horror Films
Parker J. Cole, Jan 20

The Worldview of Biocentrism–You Are One With The Force
Travis Perry, Jan 14

Who Can Put a Price on Daring Love, Loyalty, and Swordsmanship?
Azalea Dabill, Jan 12

Beyond

Find more from Christian creators

Order the book! E. Stephen Burnett

Get exclusive shirts and beyond
in the Lorehaven store

Explore the book The Pop Culture Parent: Helping Kids Engage Their World for Christ

Does ‘Engaging Popular Culture’ Include Right-Wing Talk Radio?
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 9

Join My Livestream This Thursday: Seven Ways to Find Truth in Fantastic Stories
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 6

Home
Library
Reviews
Podcast
Webzine
SpecFaith
Store
Beyond Edit content
Lorehaven serves Christian fans by finding the best of Christian fantasy. Our free webzine, an online library, positive reviews, a thriving blog and community, and weekly podcast episodes help fans explore fantasy, science fiction, and other fantastical genres for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Subscribe free to Lorehaven
/ Articles

What’s a Body to Do?

Just how important is an intact body?
Mark Carver on Mar 7, 2018 | 2 comments |

In today’s social media-saturated world, people often bemoan our society’s obsession with the perfect body, especially on picture-heavy apps like Instagram and Pinterest. The truth is, the human race has always been obsessed with our bodies, and understandably so. Our bodies are the vessels of life on Earth and a good body usually means good genes which usually means better chances for survival and continuation of those genes. Infatuation with external appearances is just as prevalent in the animal kingdom among creatures in a particular state of mind. A good body is a highly desirable biological characteristic.

Mankind’s penchant for art, and more recently, photography has increased our corporeal awareness to nauseating proportions and has led to many destructive behaviors. Yet even if technology were suddenly done away with and we couldn’t scroll through Instagram to find inspiration for our next soon-to-fail yoga routine, we would still be consumed with how to look and feel good in our bodies.

Image copyright Netflix

Yet the body is not a trivial thing. God fashioned Adam and Eve with His own hands and in His own image, which strongly suggests that we look at least something like God. The Gospels, especially Matthew, gave keen attention to Jesus’ miracles of healing, not only as proof of His divinity, but also as a key component in the Kingdom of Heaven, which has no disease (Matthew 8:16-17). Our soul is what matters most but we are also meant to have healthy, beautiful bodies. This is just not possible in our fallen world but for those of us who have been saved, one day, this glorious hope will be realized.

I’ve been watching a grim yet intriguing show on Netflix called The Frankenstein Chronicles. I won’t go into the plot or character details but one thing that caught my attention is a group of supposed Christians who oppose the “anatomists,” doctors who use corpses for medical research. Their reasoning is that if the body is dismembered or destroyed, the dead won’t be able to join in the promise of the resurrection in the Last Days (1 Cor. 15:51-55). This is a very common sentiment throughout the ages of Christianity and is the grounds for which many people even today refuse cremation.

So just how important is an intact body? Obviously, the answer is “none at all.” How many Christians have died violent deaths and had their bodies utterly pulverized? Not only that, but think about the bodies of Christians that were neatly buried centuries ago. They are literally dust now. There is no symbolic significance of going into the grave whole so that one may come out of it in the same way. In 1 Cor. 15:50, Paul states that these frail mortal shells cannot inhabit the Kingdom of God. There is no need to worry about what state they are in because they are going to be totally done away with in the end.

Biblical promises about our bodies also give me comfort when I hear stories about people trying to upload their minds into computers in order to “live forever.” Heb. 9:27 says that “it is appointed for man to die once, and after to face judgment.” No one will live forever, even if a computer program mimics one’s personality. When the body dies, the soul will be judged, and if they are a believer, they will one day inherit a new and perfect body. That is the way God intended it from the beginning.

Our bodies do matter and we should take care of them, but we should also recognize that they will one day die and be replaced by something completely new. Personally, I’m okay with that. I mean, look at this place. Who would want to live forever?

Mark Carver
Mark Carver writes dark, edgy books that tackle tough spiritual issues. He is currently working on his ninth novel. Besides writing, Mark is passionate about art, tattoos, bluegrass music, and medieval architecture. After spending more than eight years in China, he now lives with his wife and three children in Atlanta, GA. You can find Mark online at MarkCarverBooks.com and at Markcarverbooks on Facebook.
Website | Facebook | Twitter |
  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Print
  • Pocket
  • WhatsApp
  1. notleia says:
    March 7, 2018 at 10:05 am

    Yeah, it’s one of those beliefs that end up bizarrely deep seated. Apparently my grandma is reflexively nervous about my aunt intending to be cremated. Sorry, Grandma, but embalming is EXPENSIVE and kinda wasteful. Also the embalmer did a crap job on Great-Grandma’s death makeup and kinda scarred Mom for life.

    Reply
  2. Travis Perry says:
    March 8, 2018 at 6:55 am

    Mark, I agree with you that the condition of our bodies at death is not something we need to worry about. God is more than capable of assembling all the atoms that were inside us (if that’s how resurrection in fact works).

    I do think it’s worth mentioning that being in the image of God, in my opinion, is not a physical likeness. God is described as being invisible, infinite in expanse, yet having a consciousness present in every location. It is literally impossible for any version of a human body to do that.

    I think our reflection of the image of God is less literal. God does not have physical hands, but has spiritual forces that do what our hands do (yet on a vaster scale). He does not have a physical mouth, but he speaks. He lacks physical ears, yet he hears. No legs, yet he moves, etc.

    In other words I believe that God took things that are true about himself, things that derive from non-physical sources and ingeniously made a piece of walking and talking flesh that on a small scale can do all of the things he does. We are therefore a reflection of who God is, but not a physical or outward reflection–at least that makes sense to me from what I read in the Bible about how God is described.

    Though I do of course recognize that historically speaking, it has been pretty common for Christians to believe we physically look like God.

    Reply

What do you think? Cancel reply

Lorehaven magazine, winter 2020

Wear the wonder:
Get exclusive shirts and beyond

Listen to Lorehaven’s podcast

Authors: Reach new fans with Lorehaven