Dec 22 2007
The Passion
Something to be Passionate About
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5
The church has been called a “body” of believers with Christ at the head. And just like our human bodies, the body of Christ has many parts. But what are these parts? What does this body consist of? Is it the church building, the classrooms, the landscape, and the parking lot? No. The body of Christ consists of much more profound and important parts than physical locations or buildings.
The parts of the body of Christ are you and me.
Without each of its parts, a body will not function the way that it is designed. If your nose were missing, your body would not function to its full potential. Without your shoulder, your arm would not be as useful. For the church to function as the vehicle to spread God’s message of truth, hope and love, all of the parts of the body must be present.
But there is one more thing necessary for the body to reach its potential. The parts of the body must be functioning - they have to work. If you have ever broken your arm or leg, then you know how useless that broken limb is until it is working again. That is true with the church too. Just showing up for one hour a week to worship corporately is not enough to keep the body healthy and working. God wants each of us to use our gifts for his glory and to use those gifts to serve in the church.
Too many of us, though, put church and service at church on the back burners of our lives. We cram our schedules full of events and activities until there is no longer room for everything. And too often church is what gets pushed aside. But that is not what Christ intended. He wants us to live our lives with the church - to do life with church as a priority. And nothing should take priority over living the life that Christ wants for each of us.
This week, remember that you are a vital part of the body of Christ. Remember that you are needed in order for that body to reach its potential. Use the gifts that you have to help spread God’s message. Remember, the church is one thing that Christ was passionate about. It is something that you should be passionate about too.
For more information about this and other subjects, visit the Ed Young Ministries website: www.edyoung.org
by Ed Young
So True!!!
I believe most of what this says, However, the church is NOT a building. I dont believe that it is necessary to show up weekly to a building in order to worship the Lord our God. I feel The Christian Family is failing due to “sunday morning mandates” to a Church building and the forgotten truth that Christ needs the Church out here in the World- not only for sunday worship. We should join forces against the war we are battling against those who are trying to silence “The Truth”. I feel that the very things Christians avoid are the things we should be taking on full force with Christ leading the way. Our families should never be forced to be silent or forced to share the ways of the rest of the world.
As far as the theory above in discecting the scripture in question, the author did a great job in specifing the importance of the body of Christ. But we as Christians need to be out here freely confessing our Faith in everything we do.
It should be impossible for the World to make charge against us, but they do this because the Army of Christ doesnt have any real power outside of sunday morning service.
May God Bless all who have an ear to listen and the heart to care.