Ephes. 1:13-23
It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first instalment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the centre of all this, Christ rules the church, the church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
I has been raining and cold all week- and I have spent lots of time in front of my computer writing essays… every now and then I have got up to make tea and grab a biscuit from the tin … this is not good, after the first couple of days I was beginning to feel the stress of being indoors with relatively little exercise, and so I took advantage of occasional breaks in the cloud, saved my work and headed out across the fields. On the couple of days when the rain simply did not stop I practised some Tai-Chi exercises. I felt the benefit of my whole body being active, my mind was clearer for a bit of extra oxygen from the exertion.
This passage from Ephesians teaches us that the church is Christ’s body, and that as a body it receives energy and life through its connection to Christ, a connection forged in every individual when they receive assurance of personal salvation. So we are separate members but we cannot live without one another.
Paul uses the illustration of a body again in 1 Corinthians 12, where he is talking to the church about spiritual gifts, how different gifts are given to every member and how each and everyone is important and has a vital role to play within the body.
I don’t know whether you are science fiction fans or not, but if you are and worse still if you are fans of Dr Who, you might remember that the leader of the Daleks was once human, all that now remains is a brain in a robot body. His army are all robots, his life is limited, he is no longer whole… the same story is echoed in Star Trek, with the Borg, whose mission it is to assimilate other species, other inferior species and to incorporate them into the collective, where they exist emotionless part biological, part machine. In both cases, the loss of physical freedom is seen as negative. There now you know all about my bad viewing habits!
As Christ’s body the church, are we guilty of not exercising? Do we rely upon one or two members of the body to do all the work are we content simply to sit and receive and not participate, are we in danger of becoming merely assimilated beings or robotic Christians?
Do we value one part of the body over another so much that unused arms and legs toes and fingers become useless as muscles whither away? Or worse still do we expect the hands to act as the feet and the stomach to speak… the legs to lift like the arms… Or even worse look to one part of the body to fulfil all the functions for the whole?
Just stop for a moment and consider your spiritual gifts, your place in the body, do you know what they are? Do you know your value and worth?
Consider also the role you expect the Minister to fulfil?
Listen in for a moment to a regular mealtime at the Manse…
Just sitting down to eat, when the phone rings,
Just checking to see if all the service sheets will be ready for Sunday, making sure you will get your hymns in on time… you know the organist… oh so sorry to disturb your evening meal….
Two mouthfuls later the phone rings again
A hospital visit is needed…
And again
Hello minister I knew I’d get you as it is tea time…..
And so it goes on… The Minister is expected to be the pastor, preacher, teacher, visitor administrator ….. and this is why the minister often will not answer the phone at tea-time!
Another conversation for you to eaves drop in on…
Me pray? In church, out loud, Oh know I don’t think I have the confidence to do that…-
These words were spoken by a teacher, a professional woman who had been taught that she must be quiet in church, church was other, your gifts and talents from everyday life are no use to the church…
Does this all seem a little crazy? It should because it is!
Jesus calls us all to be his followers, all to be his disciples, active hearers not passive ones, he calls us all to be involved all to find our place, all to recognise that we need to play a part and to recognise our need for one another.
So how has the body of Christ managed to get so out of shape, so out of balance? Well both the reasons above are a part of the story, and so are the conditions those reasons create, ministers often feel that they are the only ones who can do things properly, and lay folk feel that they have nothing to offer, and they are not really needed… the result, disillusioned and de-skilled people leave the church feeling useless, giving goes down and finances become stretched, ministers now need to care for more churches, they become more stretched , the lay people feel abandoned and the cycle goes on…
Time to stop, something drastic needs to happen, the church needs to stop, take a long hard look in the mirror and embark upon a fitness routine. It may take time, but re-equipping and valuing of the laity must be a priority, that will free ministers up to follow their call, and all can go forward together, within this framework, we need to recognise that some are called to full time non-ordained ministry, they may be gifted preachers, they need to be valued as such, the minister may not be good at administration, time for somebody with that gift to come alongside and offer that gift to the body.
Hospitality, administration, helping, encouraging, pastoral, teaching, practical (from decorating to cake baking), listening, having time, preaching, intercessor, children’s worker, … and so the list goes on, each valuable each valid, each one necessary, each one needing that endless energy and boundless strength from Christ refreshing them by the Holy Spirit. Each one needing the others, each one a full time part of the Body Of Christ, with practical gifts and spiritual gifts, growing together in the spiritual fruits.
Growing and learning and gaining in strength: . The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
(Thanks for the encouragement Mike!)
