The Body of Christ is Always Better Together

When it comes to ministry there is one important truth I have learned: We can do it better together. Two is always better than one. No matter what the community need might be, Christians make more of an impact when they work together.

The Bible calls it the Body of Christ. I am grateful for the churches in Montgomery County that have combined efforts to share the love of Christ with a hurting world. I have witnessed the formation of the www.montcares.org website. I have seen the development of Hub Ministry, where volunteer case workers gather to better serve the needy. In cooperation with Trinity Mission, a transient housing ministry may soon be launched. The food pantry has expanded from three to five days per week.

Six churches are working together to send a Basic Utility Vehicle (BUV) to the Congo. This simple, sturdy, high-mileage-per-gallon vehicle can be used to transport children to school, gather fresh water and haul supplies. It could literally change the lives of an entire community in the Congo. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to purchase and ship the BUV to Africa. On Oct. 31, a fund-raising event is planned near the Habitat for Humanity headquarters on Jennison Street.

The Body of Christ is an image of being spiritually connected. Over and over again the Bible calls the church the body of Christ. Romans 12:5 says in the Living Bible: “Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it and it takes every one of us to make it complete for we all have a different work to do. So we belong to each other and each needs all the others."

This one passage is full of spiritual truths. Here are four:

1. First, notice the Apostle Paul acknowledges we are all different. Each of us is unique. God doesn't want you to be like anybody else. Often, folks resist cooperating with other believers from other churches because of our differences. What matters is what we hold in common: faith in Jesus Christ.

2. We all have different roles to play, different work to do, different niches to fill. In a body not everything does the same thing. Can you imagine if all the parts of your body did the same thing? Imagine if every part of your body did the digestion. It would be redundant and uncomfortable because our body does more than digest food. All of us have different roles to play in the body of Christ.

3. Everyone is needed to make the body complete. The hand cannot say to the foot, "I don't need you," and the ear cannot say to the nose, "I don't need you." We are all needed in the body of Christ. While some parts are small, they are still needed. Have you ever damaged one of your little fingers? Few people realize how important your little finger is until it is injured. Even the most insignificant part of your body plays a role. If it gets hurt you notice. There are no insignificant people in the body of Christ. At night, the most important light in my home is not the big chandelier in the dining room. It is the little night light that keeps me from smashing my toe. Everyone has a role to play in the body of Christ.

4. We all need to be connected with each other. The Christian life is not just a matter of believing. It means being connected to each other. When we become disconnected our effectiveness wanes. Community needs are far too great for one church to tackle alone. When our ear becomes detached from the body, it no longer functions. Unless it is attached to a body it is no good. What good is a foot if it becomes detached from a body? A foot cannot do anything unless it is connected to a body. Why did God choose the body as an illustration of what the church is to be? Because in a healthy body all the parts grow together - they grow in harmony.

Our most important connection is to Jesus Christ. The second most important connection is to get connected to the body of Christ, the local church. And when local churches work together to tackle community needs, our witness as a light in a dark world is strengthened considerably. As Jesus told Peter, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18, ESV)