January 24, 2010

One Body

Psalm 19 sung as a Psalter #166 “The Heavens Above Declare God’s Praise” and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ January 24, 2010

INTRODUCTION


1 Corinthians 12:12-31
As we discussed last week, Paul challenges us to remember that the gifts of the Spirit should be used for the common good. The image Paul uses in this passage is commonplace in other ancient writers, who used the images of the body as a metaphor for a community. The ancient writers use it to describe the way a city should function. Like Paul, they stress the importance of each body part, but only when people keep in their place. That is, they believed the city does better if the various parts function as they are expected. In other words, don't try to change your social location. However, Paul uses the image differently, to stress the diversity and interdependence of the members. In a striking departure from the ancient political theory, Paul writes that the less honorable members ought to be treated with greater respect in the Body of Christ. What is evident is that the Gospel has social implications. If we think that the Gospel simply baptizes the status quo, we haven't yet read Jesus or Paul very deeply.

12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.


SERMON
Today we are once again ordaining and installing officers and we will be installing Trustees during our annual meeting. The act of ordination is a sacred charge of the church to choose leaders who will serve in particular ministries. Life in the body of Christ is never about power but about service. Paul also faced the challenges of one group “Lording” over another group of people. They saw they positions, ideas and service as more important than others. Such behavior is the death knell of the church. No one can be Lord but Jesus.

Our sense of identity, who we are as Christians and who we are as a community of faith, lies not in the role we play, nor the status, nor the reward our role brings, but in the sense of oneness with the life of Christ which is the life of God. We are not asked as individuals to be saviours of the world, although many suffer from this misconception and the burn out it produces. We are asked to be members of a body, of Christ, and to play our part - not more, not less. Each part is vital for the health of the whole body of Christ.

My father was a double amputee late in life. He was healthier without those legs but he still missed them. God has designed the church to need all it’s parts working like the human body to use more effective in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of us are visionaries and others very task oriented. The visionary is no better or worse than the task worker. Both are needed to make a difference in this world. What are your gifts for ministry? With whom do you work well? These two questions are the basis for most service in the church, because God has designed us to work together to his greater glory. He has given you strengths that will support another’s work and where you are weak there is someone in the body of Christ who is strong. There is a beautifully communion hymn called “One Bread, One Body” by John Foley


The refrain is:
One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless. And we, though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord.


The church uses images of body, bread, community and family to talk about the wonder of belonging to Jesus Christ and the challenges of having to share Jesus with the world. In every church there is someone who sings off key, or another who talks too quickly, or a child who disrupts the worship service. But that same singer is there to make sure a mission program is sustained, that fast talker has a deep and abiding prayer life and the child races to greet the loneliest member with a big smile and a hug. Church is about nurturing our gifts of the Spirit and growing in faith so all will know Jesus is Lord. It is never easy, but together it is what God has called us to be. Amen.