A healthy Body….!
1 Corinthians 12:12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
Over 7 million people attended AFL games in Australia in 2011. However, with there being only 16 teams in the AFL competition with each team having 42 players, there are only 672 people who actually play AFL football. “So what?” you might say. Each Sunday many people attend churches throughout Australia but the actual number of people who actively are involved in each of these churches would be similar in the relation to AFL spectators and AFL players. The Apostle Paul says that all Christians are part of the body of Christ and each believer has a part to play in the health and work of the church.
The church has sadly become so much like the world that the ‘body’ of Christ has become fragile, weak and powerless. Read through church bulletins across the world via the internet, churches that have solid ‘attendance’ yet are always begging for Sunday school teachers, people to serve in areas struggling to be met in the church, when in reality each church should be overwhelmed with servants, helpers, Sunday school volunteers, cleaners, sweepers…..!
What is the problem?
People do NOT consider the church they attend, ‘their’ church. They keep a ‘loose’ attachment which allows for escape, no accountability, no responsibility, no commitment to be there, no ties. This same spirit is reflected in marriages, parenting, relationships and a life that is selfish, without a care or ownership when times are difficult or trials come.
My question to you is do you have a church to which you belong? A fellowship that you carry out certain tasks, roles, and support as it seeks to win the lost. Or do you have ‘your church’, that is the one where you are accountable to yourself, responsible just to you, not required to do anything unless there is a benefit to you in your eyes.
The church, the body of Christ, in one Sunday, if the attendees all became players would in a moment, in one day, become the most powerful, exciting and true representative of Jesus Christ the world has ever seen. So, what do we do? You do your part and you begin caring one for another…1 Cor 12:25. Secondly, volunteer, commit, serve in the needs of the church, and if another person does what you do, just think how much difference that would make…! But even more, what if a third person in your church followed suit – WOW!
No more spectators, no more attendees only, all players and then the church bulletins everywhere would never have another request for Sunday school teachers, transport servants, cleaners, ushers, counters, greeters, communion servers, creche carers and, and , and ……! This week come down from the bleachers and step onto the field – there are souls to be won!