(August 29, 2023) Brian Bell shares encouragingly on an important 2023 matter… 

These few thoughts I share with you here are taken from 1 Corinthians 12:12 – 31 in which Paul addresses the subject of spiritual gifts.

In these verses the apostle uses the human body to bring an illustration of the church – those early Christian believers – the ‘body’ of Christ.

And those lessons are also for us today in these troubled  times… Paul reminds us that within the body of Christ all of us are important. It doesn’t matter if we have different roles, abilities or gifts – whatever our part, our role – we should serve for the encouragement and strengthening of one another!

Diversity
In verse 28 Paul lists some members that God has placed in the body – ‘… apostles (sent ones), prophets, teachers, those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who can get others to work together, those who speak in unknown languages.’  

This list does not mean we are in competition with each other! As Paul points out in verse 27 ‘each of you is a separate and necessary part.’ He is speaking about diversity, not competition.

Sadly, over the centuries there has been a tendency for ‘competitive’ attitudes to arise in churches circles. This caused hymn-writing minister Samuel John Stone to write about the church: ‘… with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent as under by heresies distressed…’

Whatever church (denominational or other) you may be in fellowship with, be encouraged to be a part of the body and glad that the Lord can use you for its well-being!

None of us superior to any other member, as Paul points out in verses 21-22! So if we are in a role which is more easily seen by others or more prominent, we are reminded that those who may seem ‘weaker’ or least important are really the most necessary.

In the context of my home fellowship I think of those folk who attend faithfully week in week out; also church weekly; are faithful in giving  financial support; found at the weekly Bible study; attend times of prayer… although they would not be comfortable in the forefront but they are just as necessary to keep the body functioning.

Built on Christ!
In 1 Timothy 3:15 Paul describes the church as the ‘pillar and foundation of the truth.’ One of the early lessons I learned in my Christian growth is that the church can only be built on a strongfoundation – the only foundation, one that remains unchanged today and is the revelation of scriptural truth.

As the hymnwriter above put it ‘The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord.’ maturityEveryone who comes to saving faith is built on that foundation.

I also see a need for clarification between superiority and maturity. As believers in the body of Christ we should be seeking to grow in faith, but not all will reach the same level of maturity… as in the Matthew 13 parable of the sower, the seed which fell and took root in good ground ‘matured’ some 30, some 60 and some 100 fold.

Yes, there are some whose gifts may include spiritual leadership and that is what I see in Paul’s description in verse 31 as a ‘helpful gift’, also in verse 28 as ‘someone who can get others to work together.’

Whether a person has a more prominent role, for example serving as deacon or pastor, they too are a part of the body –  but not its sum total –  because sooner or later people may (and do) move on. But note: Their going should not affect the foundation.

Harmony and dependency
I would go further and say while a leadership role brings additional responsibility and may require a certain amount of authority to be exercised, irrespective of any ‘title’ they may called, leaders should in effect be serving as ‘builders’ because it is the harmonising together of each individual which is vital!

As Paul says in verse 25 ‘all the members care for each other equally.’ Message Bible reads: ‘… every part dependent on every other part.’

This is also what this great church builder reminds us of in Ephesians 4:11ff when he speaks about the ‘building ministry’ of those who are in roles such as apostles (a term not much in use today… we tend to think of churchplanters or missionaries), prophets, evangelists, teachers and pastors.

The point here is that when we build on a solid foundation, even if what is built on it may be shaken, it can withstand the storm to the honour and glory of the Lord’s name.

United in Jesus
Many years ago, here in Northern Ireland we used to sing a little chorus…
‘I don’t care what church you belong to
Just as long as for Calvary you stand.
If you’re washed in the blood that was shed there,
I’m your brother so give me your hand.’

Different Together in Jesus is the title of a short scriptural meditation by Sheridan Voysey writing under the banner of Our Daily Bread Ministries.

Offering some thoughts about Paul’s letter to the Galatian believers, he speaks about homophily, defined as the tendency to prefer people like oneself. While natural, he says ‘… it can be destructive if left unchecked, in other words when we only prefer “our kind” of people.’

Voysey says the early church brought together people of different ethnic backgrounds, social class, religious backgrounds, men and women. What had brought them together? Jesus.

While it is natural to want to live, work and even go to church with people like ourselves, Jesus pushes us beyond that… in a world fracturing along various lines (and sadly that will include families – emphasis mine), Voysey says that Jesus is ‘making a people who are different together united in Him as one family.’

To conclude these thoughts, here are some words to encourage you from Bill and Gloria Gaither’s song The Family of God –

‘I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood,
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family, the Family of God.’

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Brian Bell is a diaconate member, Christ Church (Congregational) Abbots Cross, Northern Ireland, and a volunteer with Disabled Christians Fellowship Ireland. Brian describes himself as ‘grateful for the privilege and opportunity given me to serve my Lord.’
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