If One, All
Epiphany 3rd - Jan 21
1 Cor. 12:12-31a
† In Jesus Name †
Grace and peace, from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, is given to you all, His People.
Members of one choir..one symphony
One of my favorite novels, tells of a series of contests, where the winner of the tournament wins his own freedom, and riches beyond imagining. The contest, each round is determined by the tow contestants, as they work through a serious of grids, with one choosing the column, and one choosing the row, as they work through type of contest, subtype, and eventually what they will compete in.
In one particular round, the hero of the story is matched up against a renown world class musician. The contest ends up being a duet, and though the hero can play, he is no match for one of the world’s best soloists, on the soloists favorite instrument. The piece would feature times where they played equally, and other times where one would lead the piece, and the other support the lead’s playing. The hero, realizing that he will never match the soloists performance, determines to enjoy the odd chance to play with the world’s best.
The contest is judged among the best performances in history, as the soloist puts forth the most amazing of performances, as the young hero plays in support. The crowd, and the professional judges, sit in awe. But the shock comes, as the scores are read, and the winner is announced… for the hero, has won the event. The crowd, is angry, even horrified at the result. So is the young hero. In shock, he demands an explanation, where upon the soloist surprisingly agrees with the judges.
You see, young sir, we were tasked with playing a duet, where one is judged, not on what one personally accomplishes, but instead, on who adds more to the entire performance. My support of your lead was solid, but unspectacular, your support of my lead allowed me to play as I have never played before. Therefore, you added more to the piece, and are the better musician in the duet.
If only life in this world were as simple as a duet! In reality, it is more like a complex orchestration, with more voices, and instruments all competing for attention and position. Perhaps that is why it is so full of noise, and so devoid of music that calms the soul, and refreshes our lives?
It is in the church, among our brothers and sisters in Christ, that we should be able to find that rest, that peaceful life, a veritable symphony of praise to the God who places and conducts our life, together.
Entered by the Spirit Baptizing
Both Ephesians 4 and Romans 12 talk about our renewal
Titus3:8
If we use the concept of an band as an example of the world, we would find that the noise created is because of sin. Simply put, everyone wants to be the lead, the primary instrument, and that the music, and the other musicians are there to make me look good. The world ignores the conductor, as each member of the group does what they think is best in their own opinion. There is no such thing as harmony, or unity.
Ultimately, that is the nature of sin, which denies the plan and guidelines of God, in order for narcissism to rule. One doesn’t care about what others need, as long as he or she, gets what they need. Unity is only a tool to use temporarily, as the guitars work together to drown out the violins, then once in power, they fight among themselves for who is dominant. In that struggle for power, or success, or just attention, we find the basis for ever sin that so binds the people of the world.
Something drastic is needed, to turn us away from that path, to help us to realize that the world doesn’t revolve around us. Something incredibly drastic, as drastic getting a bucket of cold water poured over our head!
Wait, that’s it, the bucket of cold water, or maybe just a scalloped-shell full! It is, as our passage talks of,
so it is with Christ. 13 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
If we are to have any hope of unity in a church, or in a community, or in the world, that unity starts with a stark realization, that we are all baptized, we are all drawn into the body of Christ.
It is no error my friend, that whenever the Bible speaks of people using their gifts, as Pastor Knotek said last week, for the common good our gifts are given to us. Look at Romans 12 – there, prior to the discussion of gifts, is the discussion of the renewing of our mind, the effect of the baptism that occurs in Chapter 6. In Eph. 4, before discussing the gift of pastors and leaders of God’s people, there is the reminder that we are of One Faith, and One Baptism. Even in Titus we see,
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. Titus 3:5-8 (ESV)
Any ability we have, to find the peace that occurs among the people of God, gathered by Him, in His name, originates with what God has done in our baptism. There, because of the death of Jesus which we are united with, we find ourselves free of sin, of the self-centered nature that demands we are the focus of life.
Placed by God.- as he chose -
Composed/arranged/assimilated
Where are you placed?
As our passage talks of members of a body, it again reminds me so much of a musical team. Look again at our epistle today, verse 18. “18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.” And again, “But God has so composed the body,”
Arranged and composed is the Body of Christ, indeed this church. Even as God calls us into His people, into the Body of Christ, there is a place for us. He considers how He has made us, and places us in place, among the rest of the people of God, with deliberate care, and precision. Not for personal glory, but for the common good, and to His glory. For indeed, the creator of such a masterpiece as the church is deserving of glory.
Have you ever thought of why you are here? What gifts you have, that will benefit the people of God in this place? And what gifts the people of God here have, that you need, to assist you in finding God’s peace? Are you a foot, or an eye, or a tooth, or back to the band, a tambourine, a pipe organ, a voice in the choir?
Somehow, as we are all combined, and brought in together, the Lord places us here, among each other, the unique combinations of talents, and sounds the Lord arranges, even as He composes the masterpiece made of our lives, intertwined and in communion with each other, and Him.
How we relate to others is pure music
No divisions
Caring for weak..
Suffering together
Glorying together
We are, in many ways, the Opus of God. Ephesians talks of our lives as the work re-created by Christ, as he marks the ways in which we live our lives. We see that in the incredible unity we can have, even as new people come into our midst.
In verse 25, Paul talks about a lack of division in the church, a lack literally of schism. Not based in our own strength, but because we are placed, with the gifts, talents, abilities and treasures, that work together.
Examples abound of this Christ directed, Christ placed unity. Verse 25 notes it, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Those words suffer and all suffer, and honor and rejoice together, are pretty interesting. Each of the words, suffer, and honor/rejoice (for they are the same word in Greek) simply gain a pre-fix, syn – and it is no longer one that suffers, or rejoices, but the entire body of Christ. Our caring for each other, in Christ, takes on a corporate nature that is a wonder to see. As we gather, baptized believers, we share in the incredible love of God poured out on us.
This unity goes beyond anything the world comprehends, for God’s love compels us to minister as one body. Listen to how Paul describes this,
20 As it is, there are many parts, 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 parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it
Think for a moment of our weaker parts of our bodies, the parts we clothe and protect. They are essential. Our hearts and lungs, our digestive and reproductive systems, are very important, and they are protected by the body, and most of the ime, by clothing as well.
So to should it be in the church, where the least of these becomes radically important, despite the world not understanding this. Think about the joy we have, at the end of a successful week of Vacation Bible School. We have ministered to those who are children, but we treasure that. I think of the day we dedicated to Fred and Ruth, to thank God for them, and their service to us. Or the day we ministered to the Ti and Kobon people, creating some 2000 booklets of scripture.
I would even include our work with Darrell, as we raised enough money to buy him a walker, which greatly facilitates his movement. Even then, we see him ministering to those in the park he lives in, inviting people to our midweek advent service.
We don’t get rid of such parts that may be less, or weaker, or needier. We pull around them, and protect and strengthen them. If I may use another musical analogy, consider that some instruments are harder to tune, yet they will stand out, should they be played out of tune with the rest. Instead of allowing this to wreck the piece, the others simply tune their instruemtns to the off instrument, effectively covering the challenged instrument, and allowing it to be part of the beautiful musical composition.
This all happens, because God saves us, and as He calls people to faith, he seats them in place, and conducts the orchastra that is His body, the church.
One Body, to whom God gives His peace, His peace, that passes all understanding. Given to us, by our great conductor, the head of our Body, Jesus the Messiah.
