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The main reference bible passage is taken from 1Cor 12:12-27.
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And 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, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor 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. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
From this passage, what can we understand by the word "body"? First of all, a body consists of many parts. All the various parts are doing their rightful functions. Every functions are needed for a body to perform her tasks. Though some parts are more desirable, but no part can ever claim that she is the most essential because they depend on and complement one another to fulfil the required tasks of the body. Quoting from the movie [Spiderman]: "More powers come more responsibilties". Therefore, the stronger parts will need to protect the weaker ones in order to preserve the overall good of the body.
Here are some of the common ways which many of us would understand the above passage. Firstly, every person[1] is important, though not equal in comparison, which means that no one should be despised or overly honoured. Secondly, every person has different gifts or talents, which means no one is insignificant or indispensable. Thirdly, every person is associated with the church in some ways, meaning no one is a bystander or a total monarch. Lastly, every person is inter-connected with one another, meaning no one is a lone ranger or an Indian chief.
Such discrete categorisation are useful and important to establishing the unity of the church, but by focusing solely on the individuals, it has inevitably excluded an important element from the main equation. This crucial factor is termed as the "fullness" of a body. Not surprisingly, this oversight has caused a great deal of distress in many churches, especially when their members begin to realise that their church is not a true body of Christ or is just a pseudo body of Christ. It is, in fact, more correctly to describe such churches as a factory of Christ's body, which excels in producing many similiar parts (but not all) of the body.
Let us explore more on the definition of a factory. A factory can be defined as a place that produces an uniform product, without concern for individuality [2]. In order to examine such analogy, perhaps we can pause for a moment and recap the past and existing initiatives and emphasis in which your local church were/are engaging in. In our enthusiastic efforts to fulfil the Great Commission [3], are we not moulding and conferring many members of a quick diploma or degree in Evangelism and/or Mission? In our passion to make disciples, are we not conducting countless workshops, conferences, seminars, classes and training just to tell the world that we are a disciple-making church? In our zealous to lead a Davidic worship, are we not holding a wide variety of music lessons, dance practises, vocal training and what have you, so that we can be on par or near world-class music standards? What exactly are we doing?
Are we producing or assimilating parts of the body of Christ? Did the bible tell us to manufacture or to assemble?
Has God called all of us to be evangelists? Are we all disciplers? Are we all nominated to be worship leaders? My simple answer to all these questions is NO! Now, God has called each and every one of us to be the ONE body of Christ and not a factory of body parts. If everyone is an evangelist, who is left to influence the workplace? If everyone is a shepherd, who is left to teach? Each one of us ought to do what God has called us to accomplish in His divine will. Pastors, elders, deacons and church leaders should, all the more, help their members to discover their spiritual gifts and talents which God has graciously given so that they can use them to build up the church and thus fulfil the visions of the church.
But sadly, what some churches of today are doing is to tell and teach their members to first ignore or adjorn the fulfilment of God's primary calling in their lives, and simply to engage in other priorities which the church is currently involved in. Some leaders even claimed that their members can slowly discover their primary calling through their involvement in such church priorities. Granted, sometimes it works. But is it better to first quiet down our heart and seek God for our primary calling? Today, i see many devout christians who are afraid of serving because they are confused and unsure of their primary calling. They lamented that they cannot do the job or someone more capable should take over them. Now, if the eyes cannot recognise distant objects and lamented, can the feet take over their roles? No, the feet are meant for walking and not for seeing. Conveniently (or carelessly), most of the churches are generalising the sacred God's calling universal set to just a mere handful of serving positions. Are we missing some parts of the body of Christ? To put it more correctly, are we neglecting certain functions of the parts of the body of Christ so much so that they cease to become operational (or even important) over a long period of time?
Recently, i met a usher in a church at Monterey. He is an old man but his wide smiles and passionate welcome can really brightens up all the visitors' day. After service, i heard another church member mentioning that he has been a usher for many years, yet is still full of energy and passion in that serving position. I am quite certain that God has put the gift of hospitality into his life and he is realising this great potential to welcome people into the house of the Lord.
Now, imagine discovering your hidden potential which God has put into your life so that you can accomplish the unique purpose(s) of your existence in God's kingdom. I believe that is the greatest joy for which a person can ever receive on Earth. We can compare that feeling to a young eagle soaring to the vast sky or a little penguin diving into the deep sea for the very first time. Finally, they have discovered their true self and begin to venture out on to a more meaningful and complete life.
In conclusion, the body of Christ is not restricted to the few parts which we are familiar with in our church. In fact, there are so many others, some of which may not have been discovered yet. Therefore, as we continue to share the great gospels to the world, let us be mindful that some rare parts can exist and are waiting to join the body of Christ. Therefore, we must learn to accept these people and allow them to assimilate smoothly into our midst, hence building up the church. When receiving them, we should not be quick to train them or assign them serving positions. Rather, we should be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, hence discovering their primary calling and spiritual gifts from God. Then we will truly know how they can fit nicely or complement our shortcomings. Only then can all the existing parts, along with the newer ones, be called the true body of Christ.
References
1. Person here means all christians associated in a specific or universal church.
2. http://dictionary.reference.com/bro
3. Matthew 28:18-20
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