By: Henry Knapp
When was the last time you spent time seriously thinking about your pinky finger? Or, your big toe?
OK, unless there is something seriously wrong with you, I’m betting it has been a long time. One simply does not pay much attention to the pinky finger, or big toe… or an appendix. I will confess I never thought about my appendix, until, that is, it ruptured when I was in my teens. Then, it was hard for me to think of anything else. Similarly, my guess is your pinky or big toe comes to mind only if you had the misfortune of stubbing it, or injuring it in some way. Then suddenly, you find out that you use the pinky surprisingly often throughout the day—when it’s not available, or healthy, suddenly you discover how important something small like a pinky really is.
The Apostle Paul makes great use of the “body metaphor” when talking about the Church of Jesus Christ (1 Cor 12; Romans 12; Ephesians 4; Colossians 1). Because we share in the redemption of Christ’s death on the cross, we are spiritually linked together, one people, one, united body. The imagery Paul employs stresses that every member of the Church is like a part of the body—each one important, valuable, and necessary. In making this argument, Paul is fighting on two fronts: first, the temptation to think that others are not as essential in the Church as I am; second, the temptation to think that I am not very important to the congregation when it gathers. Both attitudes are plain wrong; both “insult” what God has done on the cross by making us one people. Just like it would be ridiculous for one part of your body to demean another, so it is ridiculous to deny what Jesus has done by calling us together—He has made us “a body.”
What does this mean for how we function as a body of believers, as a congregation?
· When one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts. We care for one another because, as a body, we share the struggles of this life.
· When one part of the body rejoices, the whole body celebrates. We enjoy fellowship together in part because we are fundamentally linked in Christ.
· When one part of the body is strengthened, the whole body benefits. When God does great things in your life, sharing it with the Church blesses us all.
· When one part of the body is missing, the whole body is lessened. When someone is missing for weeks from worship, it impacts all of our worship.
Like it or not, admit it or not, we are joined together as believers in Jesus. Not just because we share the same thinking or beliefs, but because God Himself has woven us together as a body—much like He has done in creating Adam, He has created “The Church,” His Body. God has indeed called us individually to follow after Him—but He has called us together as well. We cannot function well as believers unless we are functioning together, for we are, by creation, His Body.
As we move into the Fall, we need to move together. We need one another when we hurt, when we rejoice, when strong and when we are weak. God’s body at Hebron includes you… and we are blessed by being together in His sight. Join us in our worship, our study, and our service in His name and for His glory!
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The Stewardship Team is embarking on a series of messages about stewardship which is a predominant theme of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation; from when God made man and woman stewards of Earth, to when God will make His children stewards of the new creation. To the extent that we put the biblical principles of stewardship into practice, we will enjoy the freedom and fulfillment that comes only from being the Lord’s servants. Look inside for more info from the Stewardship Team.
