The Mess Called the Body of Christ

Life within the church is at times sheer-exhilaration but at other times treacherously problematic. Chuck Swindoll, in addressing the messiness of church life, once mused as he compared it to Noah’s ark, “the stench inside the ark would have been unbearable had it not been for the flood outside.” Church life is at times harsh, messy, and tricky, but the alternative is even less promising.

What makes church life so difficult is us. We are a combination of big-mouth “know-it-alls” like Peter, critical busy-bodies like Martha, passionate but weak-willed dramatics like David, powerful but stubborn like Paul, super-spiritual and position-hungry like James and John, and cynical doubters like Thomas, all thrown together with only one thing in common-we have recognized that we need the grace of God to be saved. Somehow…we are supposed to turn our world upside down for Christ. How in the world will that ever happen?

Paul gives some keys in 1 Corinthians 12 when he unpacks the metaphor of the Body of Christ. Several reminders from this text will be helpful. First, God is given full responsibility for the hodge-podge of people that have been brought together. We didn’t pick this team, He did. We probably shouldn’t question His judgment. Second, every part is different. Hands, feet, elbows, and kneecaps are all important parts but all play vastly differing roles. There are creative geniuses, plodders, relational giants, spiritual-gurus, and methodical wizards that add to this messy thing we call the church. Third, Paul says every part is necessary. Try text messaging without your fingers, balancing your glasses without both ears, or walking straight without your big toes and you will get the picture. We need one another. Four, every body part will have days of honor and days of suffering and like it or not, both the honor and the suffering are to be mutually shared. There is no place to distance ourselves from one another for if we do, we may find ourselves sadly alone when we suffer.

Finally, to ensure that such loneliness and separation do not occur, Paul calls us to “have the same care for one another.” This “care” is a reflection of Christ’s character who calls us to cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
Godly care is not demonstrated by the 3 friends of Job who came along in his pain to point out error, identify fault, and criticize his life. Instead, it is perfectly modeled in the Good Samaritan, shown as the example by Jesus of authentic care. He had compassion, not a critical spirit. He saw the man’s pain as a call to mercy, not a chance to gain advantage. He gave without receiving what the man couldn’t do for himself and risked his own reputation for the healing of the bruised man on the roadside; this is authentic care and that which Scripture calls us to in the Body of Christ.

Just as the Samaritan made sure that the wounded traveler was taken to an inn where he was in a position to find wholeness, we have that responsibility to one another. The Psalmist speaks of the anointing that is poured on the High Priest’s head and drips down to cover every aspect of the body (Psalm 133). We are called to care for one another by keeping the hurting attached to the body so that the healing that flows from Christ’s own head, might flow without hindrance and bring hope and healing to their pain.

Sometimes it’s easy to be spiritual like the Levite and priest and pass by the broken on the roadside, even those in our own church body. However, God has called us to care for one another. May He teach us what authentic care really looks like.