What Does It Mean To Follow?

The questions being asked today are, how can "the church” — be the the Body of Christ — outside the confines of a building?  How can the Body function if all the part don’t work as one unit?  How can the Body stay healthy if the parts are going in various directions?  

The Biblical analogy comparing the church to a body comes from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. 

12 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. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

The traditional way of  thinking is that in order for this body to function, in strong and healthy ways, it must come together as one whole unit.  To work together like our individual bodies do.  And I would guess that is exactly how Paul intended his listeners to think. 

However, if the concept was held as true, the Body of Christ would be highly limited.  Right?  

It would be unable to function on a wider landscape.  It would only be effective within the small town or city in which their church building of situated. 

In reality Christ’s Body did not begin in a building.  It had a much broader span.  And it has reached all corners of the world from Jesus’ time right smack into 2018.  And! It will continue to expand on into the future where ever his gracious love is preached and lived. 

If we think clearly enough!  The many members of the Body of Christ are much more effective when acting as members with a common goal.  A common way of living and thinking!  Moving about the world bring the one  truth that so many are searching for. 

The Old ways of being “The Church” have lost their purpose.  The purpose of being people together to worship our Creator God.  To share his love.  To live as one unit, supporting and encouraging each other, as those who love God and believe in Jesus.  In the early years church was a family place to gather with their friend in Christ for social as well as faith reason.

That model of the church has lost its power — its effectiveness.  The world is not only bigger; but busier.  Much busier!  And the needs of the people have changed enormously.  And the church, with its "membership" and expectations, has gotten too small — too limited in focus.  And almost trite, to the larger world!  

How then, does the Body of Christ today find it's purpose outside the confines to a building?

I am positive that now, in order to be effective ministers of God’s word, we need to go.  To like Jesus did!  Go into the market place and meet people.  Where they are!  How they are!  Who they are!  What they wonder!  What they think and feel and need!

Ministry has alway been following Jesus!  Right?

But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.