“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1Corinthians 12:27 NIV)
This “body of Christ” image is familiar to us because Paul, the Damascus Road convert, developed it theologically for us. It is a metaphor that illustrates the ministry of God through the Church.
It is as the body of Christ that we preach the Gospel to the world around us. It is through the body of Christ that God demonstrates his love in this present world. In the body of Christ all barriers, that separate human beings from each other and from God, are completely dismantled.
For in the body of Christ all human distinctions disappear in Christ. There is neither bond nor free, male nor female, high-class nor low-class, educated nor uneducated, rich nor poor, old nor young.
What a beautiful affirmation of the Church. But is it realistic? Is the 21st century Church of God, with all its flaws, truly God’s people and God’s body? The answer is a resounding, YES! The Church of God at Corinth was anything but perfect, yet Paul ardently insisted, “you are the body of Christ . . .” Despite faults and difficulties; despite exclusive thinking; despite conflicting views; despite spiritual bigotry, the Church at Corinth was still the body of Christ.
Being the body of Christ at Corinth did not hinder the churches at Ephesus, Philippi, Galatia, Thessalonica, Rome, etc from being the body of Christ also. We must remember, however, that we are individual members of the body of Christ. Despite the enormous obstacles we face, the Church is still the body of Christ and we are individual members. Victory is just ahead!
Dear Father, thank you for forming us into your body. Enable us to truly see ourselves as individual members of your body. Empower us to portray your spirit and love to the world around us. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be courageous as an individual member of Christ’s body,