This morning I am reflecting on God's amazing relational expression of life, namely the Church, or as Paul describes us, the Body of Christ. Within this context there are many unique giftings and callings and functions, but always the same Body. The Church and the Body of Christ really are synonymous. I am meditating on Paul's description of this found in 1 Corinthians 12:4-14,18-20,27 NASB:
[4] "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. [5] And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. [6] There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. [7] But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. [8] For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills."
[12] "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. [13] For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."
[14] "For the body is not one member, but many."
[18] "But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. [19] If they were all one member, where would the body be? [20] But now there are many members, but one body."
[27] "Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it."
You will notice that I picked out verses where Paul kept referring to our membership in the Body. I wanted to focus on that particular truth this morning, for we can lose sight of this reality in our selfish worldview. It is easy to become focused on ourselves, focused on our gift, or our ministry, or service and lose sight of the fact that we are connected to the greater Body of Christ. In fact, it is right and true to say that God placed us in the Body (His Body) as HE desired, gave us gifts as He desired and He expects us to work together.
Even back then, Paul saw the propensity for people to become so myopic, concerning their gifts or ministries, that they lose sight of the greater Body of Christ, and he was calling them back to this understanding. Every church in every town and city, every ministry, every service work, every gifting is in place for the greater good, the common good of the entire Body of Christ. We all have the same goal, and competition should never be a part of our focus or drive. My right hand is not in competition with my left hand, they are supposed to work together and compliment one another, sharing the load. They rely on my wrists, arms, bones, muscles and tendons to move or accomplish anything at all. Wouldn't it be great if all similar ministries in a city got together and realized they were all meant to work together and complement one another?!
Paul writes very clearly that all gifts, and all ministries and service (effects) are given for the common good (verses 6 & 7 above), and for the body to work well, it can be no other way. Yet we find in the local body of Christ, competition and expressions of distrust and disagreement, duplication and judgment. Oh that we would see ourselves as truly part of the same body, all working for the common good! Oh, that we would be willing to direct our members to other expressions of service, ministry or points of connection where they fit better.
I see this as where the church really is missing the role of the Apostle, for they are tasked with the overseeing, directing and growing of the overall church. One could almost say they are supposed to be "life coaches" for the life of the local expressions of the Body of Christ (the individual churches in a city or region). Instead or apostolic direction we find very little coordination, different lines of leadership that are denominationally aligned, with very little intra-body and intra-member communication. Instead of operating like a real body, we find limited communication, limited coordination and even limited relationship. Oh Lord, bring forth the Apostles, those who operate in Your authority and power, given for the directing, overseeing and coordination for the Common good of the entire Body of Christ.
Lord, we pray that You would raise up in Your church, those men and women who You have placed as You desired, for our common good, as Your apostles. Lord, we pray that You help us to break down the walls of division, distrust, disagreement and disunity! Help us to come together as Your true Body, embracing one another as members of the same body, working together to expand Your Kingdom! Holy Spirit, help Your Church!
Amen!
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