After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body.
The image of the body is a familiar one in relation to the church, or the all-encompassing group of believers in Christ. It is used several times in the New Testament, and it is a great illustration. Each part has a role to fulfill, and without the cooperation of each part working together, the true purpose cannot be achieved. But I would like for you today to think about not only the role that each part has, but the role each part plays in the life of the other parts. We are clearly needed by each other. If your nose itches, it has no capacity to scratch itself. It is dependent on the hand to assist in that job. If your lips are dry, they cannot produce their own moisture. They are dependent on the tongue to lick them, or the hand to apply Chap Stick to meet their need. If your hand needs to pick up something, it is dependent on the arm to guide it to the object to be retrieved. Each part needs another part to help it out from time to time. And the cooperation they display all comes from their commitment to the body as a whole.
In similar fashion, our relationship to the body of Christ is a gauge of our commitment to Christ. We exist to fulfill our roles in his body, but we can make it a much more pleasant “work environment” for each other if we are committed to help each other through this life. Can a person belong to Christ and not be a part of the church? Yes, Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Obviously, some are in the habit of not meeting together—some are not involved with the people of the church.
But what does the verse go on to say? “Let us encourage one another.” In fact, the verse before that one talks about us, “spurring one another on toward love and good deeds.” I don’t know about you, but I need someone in my life that will spur me on in this world. I need someone who will remind me of the truth and hold me accountable to do the things I have been commanded to do. I need a hand to scratch my nose when it itches! Without a committed presence of believers in our lives, we are asking for a much harder existence than God intended us to have.
I attended a bonfire a few months back. While the logs were close together, the fire burned and grew, producing warmth for all around it. When it was time to leave the area, those in charge began separating the logs from one another. In a short period of time the separated logs began to loose their flames. They burned a little while alone, and then they went out. Our lives are just like those logs. While we are together, we are strong and warm and we can accomplish our purpose well. When we are split apart and left to carry on alone, we lose our flames and die out. We can not accomplish our goals without the help of other believers. And only when we function well together will we demonstrate to a lost world what God’s true character is like. We grow, accomplish, and witness best together. We reflect God best together.
So, what if I don’t like everyone in my church? You ask God to give you an unconditional love for them through the power of the Holy Spirit. What if I don’t feel like I need the others in my church? Don’t trust those feelings—they are not right. Our prayers are more powerful with others (Matthew 18:20), our lives are easier with others (Ecclesiastes 4:10-12), and our character is refined with others (Proverbs 27:17). We need each other.
What if I feel like I can make it alone and that just Jesus in my life is all I need? Well, you should think about what Jesus considered valuable. Ephesians 5:25-27 says: “…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” If Jesus valued the church that much and we are to be imitators of Christ, then we should value it too. We will only be better for it, regardless of the cost.
Points to Ponder
- Do I have the proper view of the body of Christ?
- Do I demonstrate his same values in the way I interact with his body?
- Am I trying to live a “lone ranger” Christian life, separated from others?
- Have I found the place he wants me to be in his church?
Prayer
Holy Father, I thank you that you are the one that shows us how to function as a church. I thank you that you are the one that created this body, and through it we can fulfill all that you have planned for us. Help us to value one another the way you value us. Help us to love each other with your unconditional love. Help us to honor you in all of our relationships with each other. Give us the power to do all this through your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.