To correct the body
Jesus equipped special people for the church. He equipped priests, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and pastors for this task. Their task: 12 He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work …
And the result is: 13 … working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. 14No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. 15We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other.
I want to scream: NO WAYS! NO! Because when I look around me, this is exactly what I’m NOT seeing.
The church is anything but strong. Actually, it seems weak with little or no impact in the world. People keep moving further apart and there is little unity to be seen. I don’t know if the church really helps people to get to know Jesus better. It doesn’t seem as if people know their brother Jesus. Certainly, people do not behave the way that mature children of God should. They act more like babies …
As soon as the first little breeze starts picking up, people start scurrying around and it looks as if they have no faith. They run from one pastor to another and everybody wonders who is right. And without realising it, they end up going in the wrong direction Loyal? Not anymore, sorry, because today there is more than one truth …
I hang my head in shame and wonder how strong our relationship with Jesus actually is. Yes, Jesus is the head, but we as the body of Christ are falling apart. We do not live a life totally and 100% dependent on God, but rather mammon. And I know many pastors, priests and prophets would like to say it’s not that bad.
But I really think we should for once acknowledge that Paul’s picture of the church above is not the same picture that we have of the church today. What is wrong?
Nothing wrong with the head of the body, because that is Jesus. I suspect there is something wrong with the body. The body is not looking well. And who is the body? You and me. We make up the body. We cannot point the finger at anybody else.
It should look like this: 16He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.
Go and think about your role in the church. Go and do your bit, because if each of us does the little bit that we have to do, Jesus’ body, the church, will look different. We will look like Jesus’ picture of the church.
Scripture:
Reflection
What is your part in the body of Christ?
Do you do your part?
Where can you start?
Prayer
Father, how very different would your body look here on earth if only each of us would do his part. I know I’m not doing my part. Please help me to do what You expect each of us to do. May your body look like your picture of it. Amen
