First Presbyterian Church, Cottonwood Falls, Ks

God’s Hands, Reprise: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Rev. Pat Ireland, Pastor

Jan 24, 2010

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

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.

This week’s reading from I Corinthians extends last week’s lesson. You might remember that Kevin preached and told us that when we are in God’s hands, we are God’s hands. This week’s lesson makes that perfectly clear. Those who follow Jesus are called to be his body in and for the world. But just as there are different parts and functions of the body, so too we who, are a part of the Body, have different responsibilities and functions.

Let us Pray: Holy Spirit of our Triune God, guide the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts that we might embody your love and compassion. Amen

The human body has 206 bones, 639 muscles and about 6 pounds of skin, along with ligaments, cartilage, veins, arteries blood, fat and more. Every time we hear a sound; every time we take a step; every time we take a breath, hundreds of different parts work together so that what we experience is a single movement, our minds and bodies working as one unit. Even the greatest engineers struggle to make anything like it in mechanical form. The human body represents one of the most complex systems in existence. That is why the body is one of the most powerful images for the church offered in scripture.

Of course, Paul was not the first to use the metaphor of the body for a household, community or group. What Paul did was to give the metaphor a revolutionary twist that is easy for us to overlook. The conventional use of the metaphor in Paul’s time was to reinforce a hierarchical system. The metaphor was used to remind those of lower social and/or political status of their place in society, namely a place of subservience to those of higher standing. In secular society the metaphor of the body for a household or other group was used to tell the folks at the bottom to be grateful for the protection and guidance of their patriarch and superiors.

Paul used the metaphor earlier in his letter^10:17 but in chapter 12 he gives it new meaning. The apostolic church was an eclectic bunch of folks including intellectuals, merchants and widows; male and females (in leadership); slave and free. In a society that valued position and honor even above wealth, this in itself was radical. For Paul to lift up the “less honorable parts” for special honor is a revolutionary twist on the standard use of the metaphor.

Further, Paul is not saying simply that diversity is good he is saying that we are incomplete without it! When we are a people who all think and look alike, we are like a puzzle with missing parts. The Body of Christ requires different kinds of people from many different places in order to emulate the fullness of God. Last week Kevin emphasized our connectedness in our creator. This week we lift up the diversity of our unique persons and congregations as complimentary and essential to the whole.

Both elements are counter to the world’s point of view. Our culture assumes that a CEO is worth more than a janitor, and a doctor worth more than a teacher. If you doubt that compare their compensation. Most of the groups in our culture are based on similarities. We add people to a group whom we believe to be compatible with the whole. Presbyterians have for generations been the educated and well-employed people. We have not sought out the illiterate or unemployed.

Paul might suggest we have been in error in that. Paul seems to suggest that we need diverse experiences and perspectives to help us recognize the multitude of ways that God works in our midst. Roman theology was forever marked by the inclusion of the Celts in the church. Think of how our conception of God has been expanded since women became serious and respected biblical scholars and theologians. Third world readings of the Bible have opened our eyes to God’s action and advocacy on behalf of the oppressed and sidelined. The passion and enthusiasm of the African Church challenges and compliments North America’s staid traditions.

In order to see the whole, we need a variety of viewpoints looking from all sides. Our differences are not simply to be tolerated and minimized. Only in our differences can we effectively work together. In order to be the body of Christ we need a variety of gifts and functions. God is the source of the whole range of gifts. One is not more important than the other. All are needed. Paul repeatedly insists that God arranged it so that all members would not have the same gifts, but that within the unity there would be diversity. “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.” ^{12:18, 24, 28} Diversity does not just happen. It is a part of God’s gift to the church.

Do suppose that our homogeneity, our sameness comes from our neglect to accept all of God’s gifts? Maybe to the extent we do not reflect the diversity of our mission field; we are allowing God to form us! Think on that for a moment: perhaps to the extent we do not reflect the diversity of our community, we are not allowing God to form us!

If God created us different with unique gifts and skills, it follows then that we need one another. Paul illustrates this with great humor giving voice to the foot and ear to speak their feelings. The foot’s envy of the hand and the ear’s envy of the eye turn out to be ridiculous words and can only be mocked. Then Paul gives a voice to the eye and the head, each to speak its word of disdain to an apparently lesser member of the body, but the claim that, “I have no need of you” is clearly absurd! The point is that what keeps the body functioning properly is precisely the “need” of each member for the others.

If we are not complete in and of ourselves and need one another to follow Christ, then it follows that there is no hierarchy of gifts within the church. Paul phrases it this way: “The members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” ^v.22 The members of the body are interdependent, relying on one another for life.

This is a counter cultural notion still in our time. The world teaches us to be independent and self-sufficient. That is why we are so reluctant to ask for and accept help. Yet when we hide our weakness and brokenness from our brothers and sisters in Christ, we not only deny them the opportunity of serving us, we teach them that they too must be strong and independent.

There are times when we serve and times when we need to be served and both are essential. The one who teaches is not more important than the one who shovels the walks and the one who sings is no less important than the one who directs. The total needs of the body eliminate any notion that some gifts are more essential than others.

Therefore there is need for mutual care of one another. Just as a migraine headache makes it impossible to read, to run, or to appreciate good music, so the suffering of one part of the body affects the whole body. How can we ignore the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Haiti? As John wrote to the church: “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? ^{1 John 3:17}

We carry each other because we need to, because we need others to know they are not alone in this tragedy. We carry each other in prayer; we carry each other in spirit; we carry supplies; we carry the dead; we carry the hurting; and we carry with us God's love that promises to be transforming. We ignore the needs of others only at the risk of hardening our own hearts and arteries!

We can take comfort in our connectedness through the church. Presbyterian Disaster Services and Church World Service whom we support through the CROP walk and the One Great Hour of Sharing were providing relief in Haiti before the international community could respond because they, like so many other Christians, were already working in the area. They quickly trucked in supplies from Dominican Republic and continue to work with local partners. Our tradition of working with local partners lets us respond quickly as well as stay for the long haul.

However there are also needs closer to home. Our Methodist brothers and sisters in Elmdale and Strong City mourn the loss of Rev. John Hastings as they adjust to the leadership of lay pastor Warren Olson. We pray for them in this time of transition.

The Cedar Point community still searches for a pastor 6 months after David Gass accepted a call in Salina. Many pastors won’t even seriously consider a small rural church and of course, any congregation needs to discern that a candidate is called by God to lead them … or they won’t follow!

Similarly, Rick Smith is retiring from the Cottonwood Baptist church. Next week will be his last Sunday with that congregation. Sheri’s disease continues to progress and Rick needs to be with the family full time. Being a member of the body of Christ does not exempt one from life’s trials. It does mean that you don’t have to walk them alone!

The Ministerial Alliance carries on short handed looking for ways to minister together in our diversity.

We hold these other members of Christ’s body in prayer and watch for ways that we might encourage or support our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are very different in style and understanding but we have all been touched by the Spirit of the Risen Christ.

Neither I, nor Paul is naïve about the differences within the Body of Christ. Certainly the struggles of the apostolic church were as heated as any we have seen in our own time. No, Paul is not naïve! Even as he builds his case for the diversity of the Body, he lays the groundwork for a still more excellent way. And I think it appropriate to close with that excellent way.

So, I want you to turn in your pew bibles in the New Testament to 1 Corinthians 13. It is on page 1000. Now, let’s read together verses 1-13.

¹ If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels,

but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,

and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned,

but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; ⁵ it is not arrogant or rude.

Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

⁶ it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.

⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away;

as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

⁹ For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect;

¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child;

when I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part;

then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.

¹³ So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.