One Body

by Michael
(NC,USA)

1 Corinthians 12:27

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."

Why is it we often try to distance ourselves from other Christians based solely on their social status, race, political party, level of education, wealth, or even denomination?

Is it that we do not consider them members of the same Body of Christ?

Lets look at the Word of God and see what it reveals on the subject

1 Corinthians 12:12-16

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14. For the body is not one member, but many. 15. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16. And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?"

So as you can see there is but one body of Christ and as Christians we are indeed all members of that same body.

Now, for those of you who may not know it I lost a finger last year so I know first-hand that a body can live and complete its required tasks without all of its members. However many times these tasks are not performed as efficiently as they would be with all its members present. For example my grip is no longer as good as it used to be, I can't type as well as I did before, and there are several musical instruments that I will never be able to play.

Is not the body of Christ the same?

Again let's turn to the Word to see what it says

1 Corinthians 12:17-22

"If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19. And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20. But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary"

This is the body of Christ that Paul is referring to here so I hope you can see that even the body of Christ works more efficiently when all of it's members are included and united as one in that which God has called us to do.

Now you may ask... What is it that God has called us to do? Let's let the Scripture reveals that as well.

1 Corinthians 6:20

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"

So as Christians, as the Body of Christ, we are called to glorify God and to lift up his name that the whole world might know him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Is this not a task that we wish to perform as efficiently as possible?

Then I ask you again why is it we often try to distance ourselves from other Christians based solely on their social status, race, political party, level of education, wealth, or denomination?