Healthy Bodies Pt 4 Series

“HEALTHY BODIES Part 4”

We have been exploring the three essential principles of how God designed the body of Christ to function.

The principle of diversity

The principle of unity

The principle of mutuality

The Holy Spirit inspired the writes of Scripture to address the issues of relationships within this amazing group of people called the church, the body of Christ. I emphasized last week that these three principles are as natural and necessary to the body of Christ as they are in our physical bodies. You don’t have to learn them. They occur naturally as designed by God. Only disease causes dysfunction in the harmonious working of the members of our body.

When the disease of sin and selfishness infects the body it creates a disruption of unity, diversity and mutuality which results in body dysfunction which hinders the cause of Christ in a dysfunctional world. It is the healthy operation of relationships that draws attention to the gospel in a self-centered and broken world. The Holy Spirit issues numerous directives related to our relationship with other members of the body in the form of “one another” commands.

We have so far considered seven of them related to principle unity.

Adherence to these commands both promote and preserve unity in the body.

PROMOTE AND PRESERVE UNITY

The Holy Spirit both describes and prescribes unity in the body of Christ.

There is essential unity by reason of our connection to the same head; Jesus.

There is practical unity by reason of control by the Holy Spirit.

“LOVE ONE ANOTHER” (Don’t be indifferent to one another)

“RECEIVE AND GREET ONE ANOTHER” (Don’t reject or ignore one another)

“DO GOOD AND BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER”

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. Acts 9:36

“AGREE AND LIVE IN HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER”

“HONOR ONE ANOTHER”

“FORBEAR AND FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER”

To round out the one another passages related to promoting an preserving unity, there a few prohibitions; things God instructs us NOT to do.

“DON’T JUDGE ONE ANOTHER”

This is a greatly misunderstood issue in the church. The problem comes because the Bible seems to issue two opposite commands. On the one hand we are told to judge.

"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." John 7:24

But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES. 1 Corinthians 5:11-13

Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Colossians 2:16-17

On the other hand God tells us NOT to judge.

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Luke 6:37

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. Romans 14:1

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. Rom 14:13

The whole 14th chapter of Romans addresses the act of judging other members of the body.

Paul warned the Romans about judging worship practices of others.

One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:2-4

This can apply to a whole list of things.

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor? James 4:10-12