Who Are We - A Body Where Every Part Matters

Westhill Community Church

Sunday 24^th May 2020

Who Are We? A Body Where Every Part Matters

Reading: 1 Cor 12: 12-27

On recent Sundays we have been looking at the question of who we are as Christians, as a gathering together of those who love Christ and seek to follow him. We have looked at different ways the Bible describes the Christian community – as a family embraced by a loving heavenly Father, as a flock of sheep led by the Good Shepherd, as a building fit for God Himself to dwell in, as fruitful branches connected to the True Vine. Today we are going to reflect on another Bible picture of the Christian community – that we form Christ’s own body. Next week, God willing, we will consider the final description in our mini-series: the amazing revelation that we together are the Bride of Christ, being prepared for a glorious marriage celebration in time to come, and a life of companionship with Christ throughout eternity.

The passage from Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth that we read today describes the Christian community as a body; not just any old body, but the body of Christ himself. It occurs in a section of Paul’s letter in chapters 11 to 14 that is concerned with our corporate worship. When writing to the Ephesians Paul said our purpose as God’s people is to worship Him and glorify Him – to exist for the praise of his glory (Eph 1: 6,12,14). Similarly the apostle Peter said we are a people chosen by God, that we may declare the praises of him who called us (1 Peter 2: 9). God’s intention is that others will look at the church, this company of people that he has forgiven and redeemed, and see His image depicted there, to see what He is like and be thrilled by what they see. Much as we might listen to a magnificent piece of music and be intensely moved by it, so God intends those who look on the church, and see what he has designed and built, to be moved with wonder, and to adore him. John said we shall be like him (1 John 3: 2). Note that: like Him – not like something he has made, not even like his best masterpiece – but like him, himself. In fact in this letter to the church at Corinth Paul goes so far as to say that we, the people of God, are His body. Our bodies reveal as much as can be known about who we are and what is in our heart. And here the word of God tells us that we are the means by which Christ reveals himself and what is in his heart to those who are looking on.

Now this revelation has the most amazing implications, and at the same time presents us with tremendous challenges. Here’s the first challenge. How can it be that people will be able to look on the church as it is today and see Christ revealed and be blessed by Him as if he himself were walking on earth as he did two thousand years ago? John testified of him, “We beheld his glory … full of grace and truth” (John 1: 14). Could people truly say that of the church today? Well if by ‘church’ we mean the various denominations, organisations, structures and charitably bodies that claim to represent the worldwide Christian community, then sadly we would have to conclude that grace and truth are sometimes not the first things that come to mind. Too often these earthly structures have revealed more of the people that run them than the Christ they claim to represent. So here is the first important thing to take on board. When the Bible talks about the church it is not referring to earthly denominations, organisations or structures. However wonderful some of these might be – and God has indeed used many of these bodies to achieve his purposes down through the years – they are only scaffolding. Scaffolding is there temporarily to help erect the building. The very moment you confuse the scaffolding with the building itself you are in deep trouble.

I know some that are listening may be a bit surprised by this. For many of us the denomination through which we encountered Christ and came to faith in him is extremely important to us. Indeed we may be inclined to think that only by belonging to that particular denomination can we be sure that we truly belong to Christ. But Jesus’ call to us is not primarily to be a member of this denomination or that; rather it is to be a member of his body. Earlier in this letter to the Corinthians Paul wrote this about the denominations that were starting to spring up in Greece.

For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Cor 3: 4-7)

The body of Christ comprises all those who trust him, love him and follow him, regardless of denominational affiliation or none. Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth, “You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Cor 12: 27). This then raises the question, how do I become part of the body of Christ? Our reading answered this question.

For we were all baptised with one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink (1 Cor 12: 13).

It is by the power of God’s Holy Spirit that we are baptised, or immersed, or incorporated into the body of Christ. Now this is not the same thing as water baptism, although baptism with water may indeed signify and celebrate this work of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist made this very clear when he said, “I baptise you with water, but after me will come one who … will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matt 3: 11). It is Jesus himself who initiates this process. And the apostle John told us who it is that this happens to.

“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1: 12).

If that has never been your experience it could be today. You could pray right now asking him to come into your life, to forgive you for everything in your life that falls short of God’s purpose, to lead you from now on in the paths he has planned for you, to empower you and protect you on your life’s journey.

It is those who so receive Jesus and trust him that become God’s children, says John. And it is all who belong to Christ in this way that become members of his body, thoroughly immersed into it by the power of his Holy Spirit.

Now in our reading the apostle Paul draws our attention to three things in particular regarding our place and contribution as part of Christ’s body.

(1) Christ’s body is united.

The body is a single unit, says Paul. Even though it has many parts these all bond together to form one body (12: 12, 27). Note that this unity is not a physical one. It is not an agreement or memorandum of understanding between earthly denominations or Christian institutions. This unity is a spiritual one, formed and sustained by the Holy Spirit. (12: 13). A body is successful in what it does when all its parts work together in harmony. It is remarkably unsuccessful when parts do their own thing, or fail to contribute at all. Some years ago I suffered my first serious attack of gout. I was essentially crippled by the pain, forced to hop around using my mother-in-law’s Zimmer frame. When I saw a doctor he informed me that my kidneys hadn’t been functioning as they needed to, allowing uric acid to build up in my blood, which in turn formed crystals in the joints in my feet. I learned a rather surprising lesson: that I need well-functioning kidneys in order to walk effectively.

It is an important lesson for Christians, too. We cannot function as followers of Christ merely as individuals. Christ’s purposes are only fulfilled when each member of his body makes his or her own contribution to enable the whole body to function effectively. This means that I cannot get by on my own; I need my other brothers and sisters to stimulate, support, encourage and equip me. Just as a kidney cannot walk to the shops by itself so I cannot serve Christ effectively without the rest of his body. It also means that we cannot leave the work of Christ to just one or two individuals. There is no place for one-man or one-woman ministry in the church. Many local churches have tried to function in this way in the UK in preceding generations. I wonder how much this has contributed to the decline in church attendance over the same period.

Another implication of the unity of Christ’s body is the mutual care for one another and the supplying of needs. Our bodies are able to store reserves of energy during times of plenty, and then make them available as required during times of deprivation. This was a significant feature of the life of the early church, both in the meeting of local needs and in the provision of support from one region to another. Take, for example, the appointment of the first deacons as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6: 1-7). Nowadays a board of deacons, or a vestry as in our church, is often asked to look after practical matters relating to the care and upkeep of the church building and furnishings. It was quite different in the early church. The deacons were appointed to look after the physical and material needs of the members of the congregation, to ensure that no one was in want. Their attention was entirely on the needs of the body itself. And the record then says, “So the word of God spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly” (Acts 6:7). What would it be like if the first priority of a vestry or board of deacons was to ensure that all of the church members in need were adequately supported financially, particularly during times of recession or unemployment, and only after this to focus on maintaining the church building and furnishings? One thing we do know is that the church at Corinth was NOT caring appropriately for those in need. Some of their members had plenty, but others often went hungry. Paul’s comment about this matter is most revealing. He said that this revealed a lack of understanding or appreciation of the nature of the body of Christ. Effectively he was saying, you don’t understand how much you need to work together and support each other. He concluded, “That is why many of you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 11: 30). In our bodies if the digestive system at some point fails to function correctly and pass on vital nutrients to the rest of the body, then the whole body will suffer and eventually fall sick, and maybe even die. We should not be surprised if something similar happens within the body of Christ. I don’t think this is a question of God being displeased with his people’s behaviour and punishing them. I think it is just a matter of cause and effect. If some parts of the body for some reason don’t function in the way intended then eventually the whole body will suffer. That is why we all have a responsibility to care for and provide for one another.

(2) Every part is needed

The foot cannot say, “Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body” (1 Cor 12: 15). I wonder just how often have similar sentiments been expressed by individual Christians? It may be expressed in different ways: “I am not gifted like some are,” “I have nothing particular to offer,” “It will make no difference if I’m not there,” “nobody will miss me.” Paul says something remarkable in answer to all such sentiments: “In fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be” (1 Cor 12: 18). God has a purpose for you, and a role in the body of Christ, and he needs you to be there to do it. Now I can hear you say, “It would be different if I knew what God wanted me to do.” In response let me say that I think 90% of the battle is won by fully believing and confidently affirming that God has put you where you are and has tasks he wants you to perform. He may not give you a job description, but he will certainly use you if you are willing. In prayer express your confidence in God’s equipping and ask him to use you as and when he wants. Then when opportunities arise to encourage or bless others, step forward rather than stepping back.

(3) No part has greater value than others

“The head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you;’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (1 Cor 12: 21-22). It’s tempting to think that some roles are very important, but that others are less crucial or are insignificant. When I was a young Christian there was a general consensus amongst those of my age that there was a hierarchy of Christian callings. If you were super-spiritual then God might call you to be something really important, such as an international evangelist. Below this in the hierarchy were full-time ministers and missionaries living by faith. At a lower level again were folk such as preachers, Sunday school teachers and bible class leaders, all distinguished by the fact that their role was essentially part-time. Then at the bottom of the pile was everyone else, whose Christian commitment largely consisted of faithfully attending meetings and contributing financially. This final group was often described as those who “tarry by the stuff,” after the account in 1 Samuel of the 200 men of David’s army who were too exhausted to pursue the Amalekite invaders, and who waited behind looking after the belongings of the 400 who actually engaged in battle (1 Sam 30: 24). But the folly of such an hierarchical view is exposed by this passage of scripture, which says, “But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” (1 Cor 12: 24-25). We tend to attribute greater honour to those roles that have a higher public profile. God takes a completely different view. He values most those roles that we hold in lowest esteem.

Everyone who is a part of Christ’s body is equally important, and every role that is carried out in response to God’s leading and equipping is equally valuable. But, as Paul points out in the next chapter, what motivates us is also crucially important. You can have the most high-profile speaking gift, and exercise this gift with greatest eloquence, and yet achieve absolutely nothing of value if your motivation is anything other than the love of Christ. Whatever part you play it must be inspired by and carried out with love.

Here’s a helpful checklist about the way we relate to one another based on what Paul wrote. Am I showing patience? Am I being kind? Am I being driven by envy? Am I inclined to boast about what I do? Am I reacting out of pride? Am I responding rudely? Am I seeking something for myself? Am I reacting with anger? Am I willing to forget wrongs done to me? Do I prefer to go on about evil rather than to rejoice in truth? Am I protecting the vulnerable? Am I showing trust? Am I expressing hope? Am I encouraging perseverance? Am I determined not to give up showing love?

In these days in which so much communication is carried out electronically such a checklist has particular merit.

This teaching that those who trust and follow Jesus are all part of his body is a wonderful truth. It reminds us that we are not following Jesus on our own, but are united together with others. It tells us that every one of us has a unique part to play, not randomly but according to God’s wisdom and purpose. It tells us that none of us is more important than others, but that all are equally needed and valued. It reminds us that the way we relate to and interact with others is just as important, if not more so, than the actual tasks we carry out for our Lord.

Amen.