Body Parts

Part Of The Body
The Apostle Paul wrote the churches at Rome, Corinth, and Ephesus emphasizing the unique relationship believers have with one another. By using the human body as an illustration, any person, whatever his or her spiritual maturity, would readily be able to grasp Paul’s intent. There seems to be little doubt as to the necessity of being together, eyes need feet, ears need the nose, etc., or there is no whole healthy body. This seems to be a biblical perspective the American Church is unwilling to deal with or even accept. Within denominations it is difficult for churches of the same persuasion in the same city to work together. What a curse the affliction of individualism is to the Body of Christ. Dunn points out,” Paul's vision of the Body of Christ is of a unity which consists in diversity, that is, a unity which is not denied by diversity, but which would be denied by uniformity, a unity which depends on its diversity.” Sound alike, look alike, walk alike, talk alike is uniformity. No room for individuality. But hearts and spirits joined in common pursuit of the same goal (in the case of the church – Jesus) is unity.
True unity is found when those of different background, ethnicity, language, social status, and even religious traditions submit to the shared experience of salvation, worship, the Lord’s Supper and the practice of baptism (does the mode matter?). In this unity will be found. The process of finding this unity is no easy task. Paul makes it abundantly clear that the unity happens in the Spirit, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3 KJV). The Message puts this thought uniquely, “alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences” (Eph 4:3 MSG). Each individual must choose the harmony of peace. In so doing, agreement with the Holy Spirit keeps the church in unity.
Another aspect of this unified body is found in the understanding that maturity comes not through the amount of the Bible one has memorized but how much is practiced. Practicing the principles of the Word can only be accomplished in relationship. Mutual interdependence is key to the maturation process for every Christian. Dependent Christians stay immature in the faith. Independent Christians become arrogant in faith. Interdependent Christians become mature realizing it is only together that faith is built, strengthened, maintained, and accomplished.
Paul also states that each believer has a gift to be used for edifying the church. Dunn points out a powerful understanding of the graces (gifts). The construction of the word charis-ma, denotes one who lives in “gracious giving” of one’s self for the common good of the body. It is the offering of one’s self in sacrifice, not just to God, but for and to each other as Paul points out in the Rom. 12:1. It is the act of sharing the grace that is important, not the form it takes. Paul says whatever the gift, it is to be given with one’s very best (Rom. 12:6) and that every gift is as important as any other gift because each grace comes from the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 12:7) The danger a church faces is promoting a gifted person before his or her character is proven. That is why true koinonia is important.
Authentic relationships safeguard a person from premature promotion. Paul stated it well to Timothy, a novice should not be allowed to lead in ministry; the leadership position has the potential of going to his or her head and ruining them. The qualifications for leadership do not state anything about gifting. The credentials for leadership lie in a person’s character. Gifts, as important as they are, cannot take the place of character. Designing gift inventories to help each believer discover his or her potential ministry opportunities cannot supersede the call for character.
When Paul addressed the Romans on the subject of gifts in chapter twelve he surrounded his instructions first with sacrifice of worship, non-conformation to the present cultural attitudes and sober awareness of self. The post gift instructions to serve, encourage, and love others set a high standard for being in the Body of Christ.
The third thing I see in these passages is that a person’s significance is found only in being part of the body. The desire for significance is part of a person’s DNA. Being and doing something that matters is part and parcel of the human drama. God’s great desire and design is that we would find that state of satisfaction in togetherness not isolation. A single cell in the human body may live by itself in a petrie dish but it will never experience love and joy, exhilaration or sadness. Only as it maintains its place in the body does it experience all the body experiences.