“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body though many are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, ESV).
What is the significance of this truth? Christ is one body of many members. As a member of the body of Christ, the church, you are one member of many who share union with Christ and express Christ to each other and to all. The church is Christ expressing Christ.
Do you think of your union and identity with Christ so closely? You do not separate your head from your body, for in union they are you. So it is with Christ who is head of his body, the church (Ephesians 4:14-16 and Colossians 1:18-20). The Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Christ in us, creates the union and manifests a real communion with Christ. This oneness is the fellowship Jesus shared with his own Father; and this is the joy and glory Jesus prayed all his disciples would grow to know (John 17). Dedication to a few habits would nurture a growing experience of Christ expressing himself in us and through us as members of his body.
Habit 1: Dedicate yourself to meeting with other members of Christ in small fellowship groups. Meet regularly for the purpose of seeking the manifestation of Christ just as he promised the obedient (John 14:15-31). Opportunities for this kind of meeting should be regular and often; ideally in homes, showing hospitality to members, visitors and children. Members should encourage an atmosphere of meeting without negative, divisive agendas; but with glad and sincere hearts for two positive purposes (1 Corinthians 3, Acts 2:42-47 and Hebrews 10:42-47).
Habit 2: Dedicate yourself to the first positive purpose of discussing and entering into the full meaning of communion with your Lord and the other members of his body. During and after the Last Supper Jesus revealed to his disciples the most important things on his mind before he went to the cross. When the early disciples ate the meal of the Lord’s Supper they did not merely formally partake of symbols; and certainly not in a hurry as many do. They examined themselves and discerned the meaning of the meal, of Christ and of his teachings for their lives (John 13-17, Acts 20:1-16 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34). Traditional worship services have become so formalized and compacted, that time for discussion and sharing our lives and testimony is separated in time and place. Nevertheless, we should not neglect what is vital to our faith, spiritual development and mission.
The sharing of our lives and testimony may be prepared or spontaneous; through a story, a song, a prayer, a need, a poem, a question, a goal, an idea, a word, praise, thanks, a helpful hand, and a partnership in good works, service, visitation, intercession, etc. In practice, so that all may be edified, the sharing, whether individually or as a team effort, should permit taking turns as time reasonably permits (1 Corinthians 14). The potential is to increase our experience of the knowledge and love of Christ so that Christ is all in all through his church (Ephesians 3:14-4:16).
Habit 3: Dedicate yourself to the second positive purpose of spurring of one another to love and good deeds; not just talk, but to the power of action. Group members are more likely to follow through if they join together in the mutual ministry tasks of their priesthood (1 Peter 2:1-10). The focus is to learn and do the good works of the new covenant ministry of the priesthood of believers (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4:7-11).
While it is appropriate to share ideas for works, events or programs; the groups should let leaders or other ministries in the church do the planning and organizing of these. Yet fellowship groups should support the works, events and programs of the church by encouraging involvement. The heart and soul of the group however is the fellowship and priestly ministry to one another and to others. By drinking of Christ’s Spirit the group will fulfill its purpose through God’s word, through prayer, through love, through thoughtfulness, through going, through service, through dedication, and through the face to face meeting of human need. Priests impart the knowledge and blessing of the Lord in order to bring renewal to people’s lives, families and communities (Malachi 2).
In conclusion, the light that illuminates the path of Christians as lively members of Christ’s body is this purpose: Christ expressing Christ. The body is Christ, so when the body is filled by the knowledge, image and rule of its Head, then Christ is expressing Christ so that all will be in Christ and Christ will be in all.
Buttram, Bryan. “Christ Expressing Christ.” WordPress.com: 2007/11/18.
1 Comment
November 26, 2007 at Monday, November 26, 2007
I agree, Bryan. I especially like the way you tie this to habits. Habits are essential to change. They create the rhythms out of which we live.