Try this when you have a spare moment: Take your big toe (while still attached to your foot) and place it right next to your ear. Unless you’re a gymnast or under two years old this will cause some level of discomfort. The discomfort will increase as the duration increases. Once you’ve completed your contortionist impression and the pain subsides consider why 1 Corinthians 12 uses the analogy of the human body to describe believers. Starting with verse 12 there are many examples of how the two bodies are similar. I would like to propose another truth that is implicit, even if not explicit from this analogy.
There are some members of the body that should not spend a lot of time in close proximity to each other. Some of us are toes, some are ears. While there can be mutual respect and even short-term exposures to each other, long-term close proximity will make the whole body uncomfortable.
I have met believers from all over the world and have been to several countries meeting members of the body of Christ. Some should never be allowed to come within shouting distance of each other since that might be all they would do. We have some major diversity in theology, politics, lifestyle, wealth, education, priorities, worship style, etc. Any of these could trip an argument since many believe passionately in their particular “hot-button” topic. They may all have the basics down regarding the Bible, Christology, salvation, etc., but Christians have been known to disagree now and again. (Insert your own expression for “DUH” here.)
A very simple example occured a few years ago when a group of men from church were discussing finances. One shared a story about how he helped an elderly woman do her taxes and spent hours looking for five cents to make everything balance in her books. Another said that if he’s within $30 of the bank’s figure he lets it go. If that $30 remains for three months he adjusts his books to match the bank. The other looked on with incredulity and said “how can you do that?” The rest of us intervened so this would not dominate the evening, but if believers disagree at that level, how much more arguing could there be if we all thought that our way was THE way? I’m sure each of them could supply biblical support for their positions. Here we might have the stewardship of resources vs. the stewardship of time controversy.
The bottom line is that the body of Christ is way more diverse than our little worldview can grasp. As long as a person has a saving relationship with Christ, he or she is part of the body. Often we will judge whether they are living as they should or even question their eternal destiny. I think we are doing too much judging and not enough accepting. Judging tears into the body, accepting builds it. (Please understand I am not referring to confronting sin in the proper and humble manner–that also serves to build the body.) Often we are judging when something doesn’t sit well with us emotionally, not necessarily because it’s a biblical issue. We can’t let the prejudices of our narrow experience substitute for scripture.
It’s time we celebrated the diversity of Jesus’ body. That just may mean some of us will need to love and respect each other with a little more distance between us.
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