United in Purpose, Individually Significant

                           

The body parts had a meeting one day and each tried to convince the others why he was more important than the rest.” I am the most important part “said the eye, “without me the whole body would be in dark”. “I am more important said the nose, without me you would all die for lack of oxygen”. “But I am more important” said the stomach, I work for twenty four hours digesting food so that you can all get nutrients to live”. One part was quiet all along, finally he decided to speak.

When he did it was unanimously agreed that he should shut up because any time he speaks, he embarrasses the others. “Okay” said the part” I will shut up from now on, but you will remember me”. At first there no problem, however after some days the stomach got swollen and every part had difficult. An emergency meeting was called, the other parts apologized to the unhappy part, and they all accepted that it had the power to completely paralyze the whole body.

One of the most beautiful ways in which God’s Word describes the Church is through vivid metaphors that illuminate the corporate life of the Church. The Bible describes the Church as the flock (John 10:14-16), a spiritual house (1 Pet. 2:4-5) or “the Body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27). Paul says “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ (1 Cor. 12:14). In1 Corinthians 12:12-25 Paul describes how a healthy body of Christ should operate.

The human body is a masterpiece of God’s creative power and of God’s wisdom. It’s one of the greatest marvels that God has made. The human body is composed of various parts each with specific functions. The body functions through the coordinated and interdependent actions of various parts achieving a state of "perfect harmony" where each part contributes to the overall well-being.

Paul uses the picture of the human body to describe the coordination and interdependent actions in of the body of Christ. The church has many members, just as a human body has many parts. Elsewhere he wrote to the Ephesians “we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of …Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Eph.4:15-16).

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free (1 Cor.12:13).  Jews and Gentiles were the two main ethnic groups; Slave and free were the two main social economic groups (Col. 3:11; Gal. 3:28). Paul asserts that in church, there should be no distinction based on ethnicity or social economic status. Jesus died for the scattered children of God to bring them together and make them one (John 11:51-52).

Now if the foot should say “because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, it would not for that reason stop being part of the body” (1Cor.12:15). The foot can be jealous of the hand; it’s covered every day with socks and shoes. The hand is clearly displayed and its skills often cerebrated. The role of the foot is not as obvious and not as acknowledged as that of the hand. But, the whole body is supported and held up by the feet; in that position most of the physical activities are performed.

And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, , it would not for that reason stop being part of the body” ( 1Cor.12:15-16). The ears are entrusted with an incredibly important job to do. We get more than 83% of our knowledge about the surrounding world through eyesight; only 11% comes through hearing. However, verbal communication would be almost impossible without the ear. And think about the delights of music. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. The big toe grips the ground; it also sends information about any shifts in the body weight to the brain. The brain then uses this to adjust the rest of the body and enable it to move. Nails protect the tips of our fingers and toes from injury, and help us pick up small objects. Without them, we'd have a hard time scratching an itch or untying a knot.

And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. Some parts of the body are less attractive but that does not make them any less value to the proper function of the body. Those in positions of prominence not only should not look down on those whose gifts are less noticeable but should take special care to show them appreciation and to protect them when necessary.

But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be (1 Cor.12:18. The word pictures God as a craftsman, structuring the Church intentionally and carefully, and mixing the gifts and personalities of the believers like a metallurgist combine metals to create alloys, which are stronger and have enhanced properties compared to pure metals. God has arranged the church as it is: the gifted and less gifted mixed, combined, and blended together.

God has put both the presentable and unpresentable parts into one body.  We must see God’s wisdom in arranging the whole body. The body is God's sovereign design and He placed each part of the body exactly where he wanted.  Our abilities are God-given, and the Holy Spirit helps us to excel in what we do best. All of the body’s diverse capabilities combined make a full healthy human experience in this world. We are indispensable parts of the body of Christ and of greater value than we can ever know.

 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” …On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable (1 Cor. 12:22-23).  The vital organs (heart, lungs, liver, kidneys) are not visible, but life cannot exist without them. You can lose an eye or an ear and still live. But you cannot lose your heart or liver or brain and live. Hidden parts that many people do not even know they exist are the most vital. Similarly the most vital ministries in a church always include some that are hidden.

Sometimes the more honorable are those who are never seen, but go about their ministry for the Lord functioning within the church as He has ordained. The faithful prayers and services of some people who hold no office are the most reliable and productive channels of spiritual power in a congregation.  Oh how shocked we will be in Heaven at the Judgment Seat of Christ  (2 Cor. 5:10)  when one of these seemingly less gifted saints comes before Christ and is showered with abundant praise, glory and honor! 

There should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other (1 Cor.12: 25). God has blended the members together to create a natural care for one another. The very same care should be shown to each one of the members.  There should be no favoritism or partiality shown to anyone. The church is healthy only when we work together, look out for each other, and use our strengths to benefit one another (Matt. 25:35-36; 1 Thess. 5:14).

Speaking about Jesus, the Bible says" A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice (Matt. 12:20) Jesus would not abandon or extinguish even the weakest faith or hope. Instead he was patient and willing to nurture those struggling. In Ezekiel 31:25 God says “I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak.” God has gifted some members in the church and given them the necessary grace to do this on his behalf.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it (1Cor. 12:26) . Members of the Church are to walk through the experience of life together. Bad and good is to be shared.  If the church is to function the way God designed it, there are three things we dare not do: Refuse to fellowship with others; Let fear and lack of love cause us to withhold our gifts from others; Disregard or oppose the gifts of others through pride and envy.

"Now you are Christ's body and each of you is a member of it" (1 Cor.12:27). Each believer is a member of the body of Christ and has his own place in it. This point is forceful and emphatic "you are Christ's body". Collectively, individually, each one of us is a member of Christ's body. No one has been called merely to sit around. The church will not effectively carry out its mandate of edifying its members (Eph. 4:11-16) and evangelism (Acts 1:8; Matt 28:19-20), unless all of us do what God has called us to do.

The apostle Peter emphasizes the collective nature of the believers (I Peter 2:9) without losing sight of the importance of the individual members (1Peter 4:10). In harmony with this the New Testament often mentions individuals by name, and highlights their contributions to the body of Christ. Some of these people are given prominent attentions, while most are mentioned only briefly. Nevertheless, each one of them played an important role in the well- being of the church.

Some of these people include Stephen, Phillip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas-seven men chosen for the distribution of food(Acts 6:1-6).Tabitha “who was always doing good and helping the poor”(Acts 9:36).  Cornelius, who gave generously to those in need (Acts 10:1-4). Simon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, Saul and Barnabas who served as prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch (Acts 13:1). Lydia who opened her door to Paul and his companions (Acts 16:14-15, 40).

Apollos a “learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, who spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately”; Stephanas , Fortunatus and Achaicus who refreshed Paul’s spirit as well as that of the Christians in Corinth( I Cor. 16:17-18), Epaphras who was always wrestling in prayer for the Colossians (Col 4:12-13). Many others did not get their names recorded in the Bible but they are certainly recorded in Gods record of works in heaven (Rev 14:13).

These individuals and countless others played key roles in the growth and well-being of the church. Their teaching, encouragement, prayers, generosity, good works and godly lives made significant differences in the church. If your name were to appear in Gods book of remembrance what would be written beside it as a contribution you made to the growth and well being of the church. What are your motives for serving in the church? How do you respond when your work goes unnoticed?