and all the members of the body,
though they are many,
are one body, so also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12
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. … 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3
I've thought a lot – had many thoughts – about the role, calling, function, and interrelatedness of each individual member of the body of Christ related to the whole. I've pondered each one's own sense of purpose and call that admittedly changes, expands, and at times even contracts for a while. Related to the whole means the local called-out, gathered-in assembly as well as the global church with its many many traditions, styles, denominations, disagreements, and convergences.
In scripture, the Pauline and especially the deutero-Pauline movement is not from a solitary, isolated atomized individual into an undifferentiated [blob?!] Body of Christ; it's from solitary, disconnected individuality to uniqueness and particularity within the local church, the wider council or judicatory, the global Church.
As individuals who interrelate as the one body in the Spirit with many discrete members, each of us assumes and ministers in one of many positions appropriate to our gifts and experience. It's a lively and life-giving process that often happens with some planning, that many times occurs organically without planning.
Whatever we wear, wherever we reside, whatever our age or education, whatever our culinary and entertainment preferences, we respond to God's grace-filled call and invitation as we bring practical, spiritual, intellectual, creative, and many other gifts.
What are some of your many gifts? How have you participated in the past? What are your dreams for your future, for the church's future?
We are just at the beginning stage of feeling connected to the local church after moving here, but it's been comforting to realize that as we visited churches and looked for the one we felt was the best fit, we were part of ONE family no matter what church we visited. Even if their style was very different from what we preferred, they were still our brothers and sisters. Important lesson for sure. Visiting from FMF#18
ReplyDeleteSuch a great thought and question. I would love to see the church more forward in the power of God. To be set apart from the world. Deirdre FMF #21
ReplyDeleteDon't think I have a gift to give,
ReplyDeletedon't know I have a grace to share.
I live and let the others live,
and try to let them see I care,
so when they're hurting, they can come
sit upon some tree stump ends,
cry it out, 'cause they're among
some true but most unlikely friends.
I did try church from time to time,
fell asleep, and snored real loud.
Father laughed, "Hey, that's no crime!
I done it too, and I'd be proud
to include you in my flock
if we get young curate past the shock."