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Dear Father Paul

Dear Father Paul: Is there a difference between the soul and the spirit? — Randy, Peachtree City.

Dear Randy: Yes, there is. Man was made by God in his own image according to Genesis 1:27. Therefore, like God, man is a single being with three distinct expressions. In God's case, God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In man's case, we are body, soul and spirit; three distinct expressions according to the Bible in I Thessalonians 5:23 and Hebrews 4:12.

We can all easily understand what is meant by the body. It is our flesh or our physical bodies; our head, arms and feet; the part of us we can see and touch. Our bodies are naturally attracted to fleshly appetites and sin, but they can be trained and molded to live for God.

The New Testament was originally written in Greek. The word for"soul" used in the Greek manuscripts is the word "psyche" a root word for psychology and psychiatry. "Psyche" or our "soul" then has to do with our mind, our character and our personality. We are not born with a soul, rather our soul grows and develops as we grow and develop. Our soul is often neutral toward the things of God, but it can be trained, directed and renewed.

The Greek word which the Bible translates as "Spirit," on the other hand, is "pneuma" from which we get the words pneumonia and pneumatic. It has to do with breath or air. The "pneuma" or spirit is that part of us that was "breathed" into us by God himself when our life began...the "breath of life" according to Genesis 2:7. Our spirit is eternal, it never dies and (unlike the body) it is naturally drawn to God. It is our spirit that is saved or "born again" according to Jesus' words to Nicodemus in John 3:1-8. Our spirit is the part of us that goes to either heaven or hell when our bodies die. I have found in my own life that, like the Apostle Paul says about himself in Romans 7:21-23, my spirit is drawn to God, but my flesh is drawn to evil. Basically, like Paul, two of my parts are often "at war with each other." The deciding vote in this three-vote election is, therefore, my soul; my mind. It is through the renewal of our souls (minds) therefore that we can gain victory over Satan and live for God. And we renew our souls (minds) by disciplining ourselves to spend time with God in prayer and reading the Bible. Yes, it is really that simple!

This is a very brief answer to a very deep theological question. If you have more questions, talk with your pastor.

Dear Father Paul: My life is a mess and I often feel like just giving up. — Amy, Fayetteville.

Dear Amy: I'm not real big on TV preachers, but Oral Roberts used to have a saying that I've used almost every day of my life: "God is bigger than any problem I have!" Wow! Pastor Roberts was right. Take all of your problems, failures and frustrations to Him, Amy; he's big enough to handle them all.  A good scripture that I really like is found in Galations 6:9. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." I am praying for you.

Special note: Chuch Of The Holy Cross will begin worshipping at our new location, the fellowship hall of the Church of God of Prophecy at 1000 Ga. Highway 54 West in Fayetteville (across from Eckerd), Sunday, June 5, at 10:30 a.m.