THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

 

Chapter 11

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The Church, The Body of Christ

No inferior organs​

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Eph. 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling.

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The head that we have on our physical body cannot be separated from the body. Life would end with such separation. Such is a testimony to the truth that spiritually, Christ is inseparable to us who have made Him both Lord and Saviour. Our joy is His joy, our success is His success and our seeming problem, His problem. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4) were the words of Jesus to Saul, the persecutor of Christians who later was persecuted, the injurer who later was injured and the blasphemer who later was blasphemed.

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Jesus was not present in the physical world when Saul raged persecution to the Christians. But Jesus never asked, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute my people?” He personalized the persecution to be on Him.

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Another big aspect of the head and body metaphor in the Church’s relationship with Christ is the consciousness that the head thinks for the body. When the leg as a member of the physical body is to undertake a function, the head must signal accordingly. Our will must therefore be crucified or be surrendered to that of Christ, our Head (Gal. 2:20, Rom. 7:15). So, Christ is right to direct that we both CALL Him ‘Lord’ on the one hand and also OBEY Him on the other hand (Luke 6:46).

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Obedience to the head will also unite the different members of the body despite various functions. It will promote interdependence too. The leaders of various local believing communities should encourage the members to endeavour to allow what bothers one to bother the other. When the ultimate aim of one member is to desire the well-being of another, Jesus will not be difficult to see in the brotherhood.

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Since Jesus is the replica of the love of God, the proof that He is being taught among a people is measured in the love shared. Love, simply put, is a sincere desire to bless others (John 13:35, 1 John 4:20-21). Help should go to whoever actually needs it most, not to whoever has the biggest title. That includes the pastor too – they do not get to cut the line.

 

And no one deserves special treatment just because they seem ‘more anointed’. Jesus said, “To whom much is given, much is expected…” (Luke 12:48). The more God gives you, the more you are meant to serve others, not be served yourself.

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The leaders, as other members of the body, are not given a superior Holy Spirit with which to look down on the others as though they are inferior. Because all talents are GIFTS, there is no place for a meritorious spirit from recipients. Please read ‘1 Cor. 4:7’ on this.

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Evaluation Questions & Answers​

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1. What physical example, according to our brief lesson, do we see to conclude that Christ cannot be separated from His believers?

   • The head and body. The head cannot be separated from the body. Life would end with such separation.

   • “Saul, Saul why do you persecute Me?” (Acts 9:4)

   • Jesus was not on earth. Saul touched the Body, but the Head felt it.

   • Proof: Our joy is His joy, our problem is His problem. He sympathizes with our weaknesses (Heb. 4:15). Cut the Body, the Head bleeds.

2. With the Church as a body and the Christians as members, which part of the body can we say is inferior or superior?

   • None. “Those members … which seem to be weaker are necessary … God composed the body, having given greater honour to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism…” (1 Cor. 12:23-25)

   • Superior / inferior is carnal thinking. “The foot is not inferior to the eye. The orphan ministry is not inferior to the pulpit. All talents are GIFTS (1 Cor. 4:7). There is no place for a meritorious spirit.

3. If the presence of God’s love is among a people and God is love (1 John 4:16), what problems are impossible among such people?

   • Division. “If someone says, ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, he is a liar.” (1 John 4:20)

   • “By this all will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

   • Impossible problems: Schism (1 Cor. 12:25), unanswered prayer “if two of you agree” (Matt. 18:19), Saul vs Stephen persecution (Acts 7:58 – 8:1).

   • Where love rules, hell cannot. “Love never fails.” (1 Cor. 13:8)

   • If the Head is Love, and Love is present, what can defeat the Body? (See Rom. 8:37)

4. If a challenge that bothers one member bothers all of the other members, can such a challenge win and bring sorrow in the end?

   • No. “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honoured, all … rejoice.” (1 Cor. 12:26)

   • Result: the challenge loses. “Peter was kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered… by the church.” The whole Body prayed, the whole prison opened (Acts 12:7). Shared burden equals halved burden. Shared prayer equals heaven’s invasion. Sorrow cannot win where the Body moves as ONE. “Fight for your brothers.” (Neh. 4:14)

 

Prayer

​Father, help me to know that anointing on the ‘liver’ keeps the ‘mouth’ alive; that no member is inferior; that no gift is merited; that all are gifts, and that to whom much is given, much is expected (Luke 12:48). Amen.

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