We know the Church is a “Body”. But when I look around I'm not sure our actions line up with this truth. We need to slowly mull over the Scripture on this to renew our vision and inspire new action.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 introduces the concept:
For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body—though many—are one body, so too is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not a single member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. 16 And if the ear says, “Since I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. 17 If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell? 18 But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided.19 If they were all the same member, where would the body be? 20 So now there are many members, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot, “I do not need you.” 22 On the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker are essential, 23 and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members are clothed with dignity,24 but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another. 26 If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it.27 Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues. 29 Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they? 30 Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they? 31 But you should be eager for the greater gifts.1 Corinthians 12:12–31, NET
You’ve probably read this before, so let’s draw out what I’m thinking.
- This Body should be lots of people with different gifts, all serving each other in their different ways (v12-31).
- If someone is frustrated in their gift, the rest of the Body should notice and rally to help them (v26).
- The quiet achievers should be known as “essential” (v22-23).
- There may be more “honourable” parts that do more up front ministry, but they will be backed up by those that seem “less honourable” but really are essential (v19-26).
- There’s also a multiplicity of up-front leaders (v28-31)
Does this describe your church? Or any church that you’ve been to?
I suspect for most of us, it doesn’t!
Here’s a typical conservative church that I’ve been to, on those same 5 points:
- It’s mostly about one person with their gift of teaching. Those who do serve in other capacities are dispensable, but the teacher is indispensable and central to everything.
- Nobody notices those who are frustrated in their gifts, nor gives opportunity for growth in gifts other than ‘pastor’. Evangelists are told to go out by themselves; those with prophetic insight are ignored or rebuked; pioneers are sent overseas or left for parachurch organisations; workers are valued essentially for their ability to tithe; and mothers are pitied, if included at all.
- The quiet achievers are left to their quiet selves; if they are acknowledged, their position does not change: their insights are not sought after.
- It’s lonely at the top. Those in up front ministry are unchallengeable and don’t have mentors, pastoral care for themselves, or other balancing members of the Body.
- The main attraction is the one or two leaders up the front.
It reminds me of the Thing - a hand - from the Adam's Family.
A horror. A disembodied hand.
It’s not all bad news though.
Notice, firstly, that there are other people around who have different gifts. They simply go unacknowledged, unappreciated and so on.
Second, despite the way we organise church, we are still a Body. So we are able to reorient ourselves around that truth, and flourish once more as a Body, since that is what we really are.
Let me leave you with a true story of a different church. One that embraces different gifts and strives to notice God wherever he’s moving amongst the church.
This church encourages multiple leaders with different gifts, such as teachers, preachers, pastors, evangelists, those with prophetic gifts, music, administration and so on—but not just for the Sunday service. They also recognise that others have gifts in business, pioneering, mothering, hospitality, care and more. Furthermore, they are always eager to hear where God is working and support that, regardless of that person’s position, or lack thereof.
Their expectation is that God will give each person a gift, and thus it is incumbent on us to notice where God is moving in each other’s lives, and to follow where God is leading, rather than our own idea of formal leadership positions. Formal leadership has its place, but imagine if the early church had our attitude today, and did not support or simply ignored God’s movement through the wider body into the Gentiles (Acts 11:1-18)! Thank God for this expectation that God would lead, and often outside of formal leadership.
If you agree with this, I invite you to pray the following: Lord Jesus, help me to notice people’s gifts and encourage them, whether they have a title or not. Amen.
If you are not sure where you stand on this: Lord Jesus, help me to understand this topic better. Amen.