Why is there confusion in the church? There is confusion in the church because we aren’t listening to the Holy Spirit. The human body is a designer’s original. God is the designer. The placement of each part was designed to function best at that particular place. God put them in place so they would function as He desired and so they would work together. The church is no different. God gave the design of the church to His Son. He is the one who puts each of us in the right place. Your place might not be up front. People might not even know what your function is in the church, but that’s all right. It's not about you.
by
Dr. Henry Johnson
I love going to church. It has been my sanctuary. The church has
been my family. It has been the place for my growth in the Lord
as a result of the preaching and teaching. I am not writing to
tear the church down but I am writing because I feel the church
is falling down. We have drifted away from the Word of God. We
have also moved away from the intent of the church. Jesus is
clearly the head of the church. I hear pastors say “my church”.
This scares me. In Many cases the pastors who say “my church” or
“my people” have pushed the Lord out of the picture. They have
forgotten that they are servants to the people and not the CEO
or dictator. They have gotten caught up in material things such
as flashy cars, expensive clothes, and expensive buildings. Many
of the pastors don’t have a clue anymore what it is to visit the
sick or widows because they sent a person on staff or the
deacons or the mission sisters. They are out of touch with the
flock. Jesus didn’t have anything but the clothes on his back
but He attracted people because of his genuine love and concern
for them. In the Christian community, we say a lot of things.
Things like God is good all the time and all the time He is
good; the church is a hospital for the sick, or the church is
one body in Christ. After being saved for 21 years and preaching
for 15 years, I have begun to wonder if we really mean what we
say.
I have seen Christians who say God is good all the time and all
the time He is good, but they never smile and never seem to have
any joy. I have heard pastors, deacons, and church members say
the church is a hospital for the sick but people are rejected.
Just let someone come in the church with the smell of alcohol on
their breath or they don’t have the appropriate clothes on— we
don’t accept them. They are in the sanctuary but we certainly
don’t reach out to them. I witnessed a man being asked to leave
by an usher once. I could talk about both of these for a while
but my heart is stuck with the Church being one Body in Christ.
Let me get off the soap box for a minute and share what God has
given me. The basis of this article comes from Paul’s letter to
the believers in Corinth:
1 Corinthians 12:12- 28 says 12 Our bodies have many parts, but
the many parts make up only one body when they are all put
together. So it is with the “body” of Christ. 13 Each of us is a
part of the one body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are
Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But the Holy
Spirit has fitted us all together into one body. We have been
baptized into Christ's body by the one Spirit, and have all been
given that same Holy Spirit. 14 Yes, the body has many parts,
not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the
body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a
part of the body. 16 And what would you think if you heard an
ear say, “I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and
not an eye"? Would that make it any less a part of the body? 17
Suppose the whole body were an eye then how would you hear? Or
if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell
anything? 18 But that isn't the way God has made us. He has made
many parts for our bodies and has put each part just where he
wants it. 19 What a strange thing a body would be if it had only
one part! 20 So he has made many parts, but still there is only
one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don't need
you.” The head can't say to the feet, “I don't need you.”
22 And some of the parts that seem weakest and
least important
are really the most necessary. 23 Yes, we are especially glad to
have some parts that seem rather odd! And we carefully protect
from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, 24
while of course the parts that may be seen do not require this
special care. So God has put the body together in such a way
that extra honor and care are given to those parts that might
otherwise seem less important. 25 This makes for happiness among
the parts, so that the parts have the same care for each other
that they do for themselves. 26 If one part suffers, all parts
suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are
glad.
27 Now here is what I am trying to say: All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. 28 Here is a list of some of the parts he has placed in his Church, which is his body: Apostles, Prophets those who preach God's Word, Teachers, Those who do miracles, Those who have the gift of healing; Those who can help others, Those who can get others to work together, Those who speak in languages they have never learned. 29 Is everyone an apostle? Of course not. Is everyone a preacher? No. Are all teachers? Does everyone have the power to do miracles? 30 Can everyone heal the sick? Of course not. Does God give all of us the ability to speak in languages we've never learned? Can just anyone understand and translate what those are saying who have that gift of foreign speech? 31 No, but try your best to have the more important of these gifts. (TLB)
