“4-6 In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? (Romans 12:4-5, The Message)
Paul reminds us that as Christians, we are not just part of an organization or political party or maybe even ethnicity, we are part of a sacramental union of believers. We do not raise our hand at baptism and swear an oath of allegiance as we do for citizenship in a country. We become part of a living organism made up of people around the world who play different parts and we all work together for a single purpose – the health of the whole body. The body is complex. And so sometimes we feel like the church might have the flu when we are arguing and struggling with different ideas. But we may also find health through forgiveness, love, and encouragement when the church works well.
Let’s take a moment and ponder our role in the body, the church universal. How do you see yourself? How do you contribute? How does the body help you? Perhaps dividing a paper in half and label one side “Organization” and the other side “Body” and then write down similarities and differences. Let’s thank God for the body of Christ!
On the Way to Wonder 