03-26-2014
Ephesians 4: 15-16 - "But speaking the truth in
love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from
whom the whole body joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is
equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in
building itself up in love." (NRSV)
In the context of verses 7-16, these two pull into a focus
the progression of life together in the body of Christ. As children grow sometimes they experience
what we call growing pains; joints and muscles that hurt as bodies change and
prepare to take on more stresses put on them by more and more adult
activity. And though only legs may hurt,
the whole child is affected by the sensation.
Every fiber, sinew, and tissue has specific purpose that supports the
function of every other part of the body and is connected intricately. Each part of the body belongs to the others
if you will.
So what happens to the body of Christ when it sometimes
experiences pain born in change and growth?
Is it a cause for division and disunity?
Unlike the human body that might endure the pain because a leg can’t just
cease to be a part of the body; members of the Church sometimes think that we shouldn’t
have to suffer with, or perhaps more accurately because of, the other parts of
the body. I think that sometimes this
happens because we forget that each part of the Body belongs to the other. Healing and peace can’t take place as long as
we continue to forget that.
Each part of the body when it is working properly under the
head, Christ, “promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.” God creates and gifts with purpose, “the
whole body joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped”
to function in a specific way. Growing
pains will happen, but amputation shouldn’t be the first resort.
Whatever part of the body you were made and gifted to be,
always remember that you weren’t meant to do it alone. You belong to the other parts of the Body,
and they to you. Make covenant to grow
together even when it is painful… the result is a body that is stronger when
the pain has passed.
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