Many Members, One Body
The Church is many members, One Body and as the body has many parts and yet is the one body, so too it is with the Church.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Romans 12:4-11
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Unity seems to have long been the buzzword of the world, the notion of unity is the common desire of the world, at least it seems that way on the surface.
We are to be united, we are all to be ONE, we are to come together at all costs, we are all the same, at one with each other, at one with nature, at one with the earth, we are equal.
But as noted in George Orwell’s classic fiction Animal Farm, when all seven moral commandments were removed, they were replaced by one which stated simply “ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS”.
In a world filled with moral subjectivity, the only UNITY that can be found is one that is unified in error!
Once it has been broadly agreed by the world that there is no such thing as truthand that no singular standard of right and wrong can possibly exist in which all people are held to account, once we have determined that truth and ethics are completely subjective, then the world will be equally agreed in error.
Sadly, however it does not stop there, because the UNITY of the world DOES NOT ACTUALLY ALLOW FOR DIFFERENCES, and consequently we find the world more divided than ever.
It should not surprise us that this comes at a time when truth itself is rejected. When we cannot be united in truth, we are never going to be united in error. Some will always see themselves “MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS”.
LET ME GIVE AN SOME SHORT EXAMPLES
Feminism.
Feminism has had several phases in history, but Today you are no longer a true Feminist unless you are willing to accept that men can be women too.
Yes, the fight for feminism has moved on from the desire to have the right to vote and equal pay for equal work, and women’s health etc.
Germain Greer, the radical Australian Feminist of the last few decades who scored women for having children rather than pursuing a career, is now herself scorned for having the disunified notion that only woman can be women, and there should never have men who think they are women, competing in women sports etc.
This was however in 1999. By 2015 she was refused to deliver a Lecture titled ‘Women and Power’ to Cardiff university because her views on transsexuality was because she had demonstrated Quote “‘time and time again her misogynistic views towards trans women”[1].
“In a subsequent BBC interview about the controversy Greer said, ‘Apparently people have decided that because I don’t think that post-operative transgender men are women, I’m not to be allowed to talk.”
In Varsity magazine at Cambridge University, where Greer first cut her teeth in the feminist movement, Eve Hodgson wrote an article headlined ‘Germaine Greer can no longer be called a feminist.’ According to its author, ‘Greer is now just an old, white woman who has forced herself into exile. Her comments are irreparably damaging, reflecting a total lack of regard for trans lives. Thinking what she thinks, she cannot be a prominent feminist any longer. She no longer stands for the same things we do.’[2]
But it does not stop there.
In a world that has lost any ability to be unified in the truth; a homosexual is no longer a true homosexual UNLESS they also hold the same political bent.
In 2016 the Homosexual Billionaire Venture Capitalist and Co-Founder of Pay Pal, Peter Theil, endorsed Donald Trump at a Republican Convention, when he did so he became a “non-gay” in the eyes of the most prominent Gay Magazine in America;
Douglas Murrey in his best selling book The Madness of Crowds, writes “To have gone to the right – and to the Donald Trump right at that – was such an egregious fault that Advocate excommunicated Thiel from the church of gay.”[3]
But the same is apparently true also if you are black.
There was a time when just the color of your skin placed you in unity with those of the same color, blacks referred to one another as ‘brother’ or ‘sister’, but not anymore. Now to be a ‘brother’ or a ‘sister’ in the black community you ALSO need to hold the same political views, else you cannot be united.
But people such Thomas Sowel, Candice Evans and Kanye West have discovered that they are apparently not black because they don’t tow the party lines. They are NOT AS EQUAL AS SOME and therefore excluded from the unity of their race.
It is Unity and Equality that the world seeks, but when truth is not the unifying foundation, it will come to be seen that “ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS”.
Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life, and no man cometh to the father but by me” (Jn 14:6)
To be unified in truth you must first believe the truth. Jesus Christ is the personification of truth and when we are truly joined in him we are joined in ONE BODY and YET WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT;
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
It is in Christ that each one of us can be both unified and distinct.
We can be who God created us to be, and yet we are also ONE in Christ, we are unified in one body; but that does not mean that we cannot be different from one another.
In fact, it seems that this is exactly how it is MEANT to be;
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Paul explains more in verse 6
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, …..
Unity in CHRIST in NO WAY presumes equality in either gift or office, and yet we are ONE BODY, and members one of another.
You have the freedom to be who God created you to be and yet have perfect unity and fellowship in one body.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,
Gifts, there are gifts given to us that are different one from the other. This means each of us can be members of ONE body and yet each one of us can differ one from another in both character, ability and purpose.
We see this as Paul goes on to speak of some of the gifts given to us;
He writes;
whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
You notice that each gift here differs both as gifts AND as office.
Prophesy: Preaching the scriptures
Ministry: Serving and caring for others
Teaching: Teaching the scriptures and manner of life
Exhortation: Counseling, advising, appealing and encouraging etc
These are gifts that minister in many ways and have eternal value in the Church, in the lives of those who make up the Church.
(Church is not a building, it’s a body)
But lest you think in the natural vanity of the mind that one gift is of more value that another, lest you lift yourself up in pride saying “to preach the word is of greater value than serving or ministering” be reminded first of all that these are gifts that are GIVEN.
Consider the last few months for example:
How have you all faired?
You have tuned in to the preaching of the word from the comfort of your own homes, the Pastor has streamed his sermons and you have been able to hear them, how have you faired?
Now compare how you are doing when we have gathered as a Church and each of you exercising your own gifts one to another, each of you together as one body ministering to each other.
Yes, the Pastor holds an office to which he has greater responsibility, but that does not mean he is all the Church needs, on the contrary, that which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.
turn in your bibles to;
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (it does not matter what your background is, these are broad references, fill the multitude of gaps in between.
No matter who you are and no matter what your background or life has represented in the past, you QUALIFY for salvation, to be both baptized and drink into one Spirit, the Spirit of God.
Are you a thief? YOU QUALIFY (doesn’t matter if you have only stolen a paper clip, you’re a thief)
Are you an adulterer? YOU QUALIFY.
Are you a murderer? YOU QUALIFY
Disobedient to parents? YOU QUALIFY
Cheater on taxes? YOU QUALIFY
A beholder of “EVIL GRAPHICS”??? You qualify for SALVATION
Your background and level of sin in your mind makes no difference, if you are born again you have been baptized into one spirit and are a member of ONE Body, the Body of Christ
14 For the body is not one member, but many. (there are distinct parts of the body, yet one body)15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? (true, where is the rest of the body if the entire body was a leg?
Where is the rest of the body if all the members were teachers? Who shall they teach?
Where if all were givers? Who shall receive? Etc.)
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body (No division or faction); but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it
(When one is in pain, we are all in pain, we grieve when any single member is absent from the Body. When one is honored and blessed, we rejoice with them.
Yet another reason why the Lord tells us not to forsake our assembly one with another, because when one is missing, another misses the ministry of that member.
It is to the Devil you bring the greatest joy when you decide to break away from the body for a time.
Know then who it is that is most pleased with you when you remove yourself from ministry
The Body of Christ is one unified whole. All who have believed the truth of the Gospel are saved by the same blood that was shed upon a cross of wood two thousand years ago.
- The faith that saved Paul the apostle saved you.
- Did you come to Christ recognizing your need for a Saviour? So too Peter.
- Did you doubt your way to faith in Christ? So too Thomas.
- Where you but a youth when you came to the Lord? So too was John.
- Are you a Doctor of medicine and science? So too was Luke, it was his faith in Christ that saved him and not his occupation.
- Did you work for the government? So did Matthew.
- Where you evilly possessed of a devil before you came to Christ? Mary of Magdala was possessed of seven.
- A prostitute? Well, so too was Mary of Bethany and her love for Christ is spoken of to this very day.
MANY MEMBERS, ONE Body.
ONE BODY IN CHRIST
9 Let love be without dissimulation.
Paul begins here a list of practical manners of the Christian life that should demonstrate practically that we are all ONE BODY IN CHRIST.
9 Let love be without dissimulation.
There should be no fained love, no form of love that gives cover to the true emotion, no pretentious appearance of care and concern and love.
This is the BODY OF CHRIST, Jesus did not pretend to love those he died for…his death on the cross demonstrated the LOVE of God for all of mankind.
The Death of the Son of God was the greatest demonstration of Gods love to the world than could ever be otherwise demonstrated, there is THEREFORE NO ROOM IN THE BODY OF CHRIST FOR FAKE LOVE!
Telling a person you love them and yet behaving as though you could care less, is evidence of dissimulation.
A “simulation” is a mock up, a model, an imitation of that which is real.
“Dissimulation” is a covering over of the real feeling toward a person.
This form of pretentious love makes hypocritical mockery of Christ and in no way reflects his love.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Our feelings about evil should replicate God’s feeling respecting it. You are becoming more like Christ when you think the same way about evil as he thinks about it, you “Abhor” it.
ANECDOTE OF “THE SUPRANOS”
One man had seen my writing many years ago to the Church respecting the infinite value of the Bible and how it transforms our lives.
He wrote to me in disagreement believing that the Spirit within him is what he is led by. He gave an example that, half way through the second season of The Supranos he felt his spirit lead him to stop watching it as it was evil. Therefore he did not need the Bible to tell him that.
I responded saying, I understand but had you simply read and trusted Paul’s command in 1 Thess 5:22 to “Abstain from all appearance of evil”, you would not have endured 1 ½ seasons of that apparent evil.
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good
Yet another example of leaving and cleaving.
The body of Christ should see ALL FORMS OF EVIL AS EVIL.
There are things that Christians entertain today that are simply evil but they refuse to Abhor it. They generally know what it is, but they have long excused it and their discernment has simply been dulled.
Turn to Ephesians 4:17-24
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Paul warns here that Christians too can indeed walk as other gentiles, in the vanity of their minds. Christians too can indeed “have their understanding darkened”, they can also be “past feeling”, that is, beyond discernment and then give given themselves over unto lasciviousness (Lustful, sexual and wonton desires. The unrestrained viewing of “Evil Graphics” that I spoke of the other week is an example of Lasciviousness).
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good
If there is a problem with the Mind, consider Phil 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
(This is the verse Natalie titled her blog and Podcast with Saskia “Think Loveley”)
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business (see Jesus in Business Luke 2:49) ; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
CLOSE
The ONLY UNITY IN DIVERSITY is found in the Body of Christ, the world, like all its attempts to imitate Gods truth while rejecting it, can only create a cheap counterfeit, a forgery that falls apart when it is tested.
But when the body of Christ, holds and affirms the truth of Christ, they are unified in one body and, though each person differs one from another, they work as One Body In Christ.
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
A passage to read and re-read many times.
What we see is the most wonderful consistency in the Bible, this book is designed to teach us, it is the reason why the doctrines of the Bible are not found in isolated places, but here a little and there a little. That as you read the scriptures you are transformed by the renewing of your minds.
Yes, we are all different, and yet in Christ we are all ONE BODY.
This cannot work in the world, but it does in Christ.
[1] Murray, Douglas. The Madness of Crowds (p. 244). Bloomsbury Publishing.
[2] Eve Hodgson, ‘Germaine Greer can no longer be called a feminist’, Varsity, 26 October 2017. Cited in
Murray, Douglas. The Madness of Crowds (p. 303).
[3] Murray, Douglas. The Madness of Crowds (p. 173). Bloomsbury Publishing.
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