"The Body of Christ"

John 15:1-8   I Corinthians 12:12-31

 

     Recently I have been reading a book called Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy Tyson.  The writer is the son of a Methodist minister and the book is set in Oxford, North Carolina in 1970 when racial tensions were high.  There was a sign on the outskirts of the city limits that read WELCOME TO GRANVILLE COUNTY-OUR HOME, YOUR OPPORTUNITY.  In other words, outsiders are welcome but understand you are not from here.  You can take part in the life of the community, you can help the economy, but you will never be a native of this area.

     

      That reminded me of a family in Nicholasville, Kentucky.  They had been in the clothing business in Nicholasville for forty years.  Shelby was elected mayor of Nicholasville.  But in the church it was always made clear that the Combs were from eastern Kentucky, not Nicholasville.  They could be active members, they could contribute to the budget, but they needed to know their place. 

 

     When Paul writes "you are the body of Christ" Paul does not say, but some of you are more important because you were here the day the doors opened as opposed to others who came later.  Nor does he say some of you are more important because you were born in Corinth.  Nor does he say some are more important because their parents were members.  He simply says you are the body of Christ.  You are the hands and feet and voice of Jesus in the world. 

 

       Paul also does not say you are like the body of Christ.  Like it or not, you are the body of Christ.  When I think of the body of Christ I think of something that is whole, one, united.  Hands and feet and eyes and ears that work together for a common purpose.  But when I think of the church as the body of Christ I do not see that wholeness, that oneness, that unity.

 

       We destroyed the body of Christ once when we hung it on a cross.  We beat it, we nailed spikes in it, we mocked it, we put it to death.  It seems to me that we are doing a pretty good job of putting the body of Christ to death again.  The body of Christ is not whole, it is not one, it is not united.  It is broken and we really don't know how to fix it and worse than that, we don't seem to care about fixing it.  We have detached arms and legs and hands and feet and we have separated the head from the body.

 

       When someone is baptized there is a wonderful feeling in the congregation as the seal of Jesus is put on the person.  We welcome that person into the family of faith and we appear to be one big, happy family.  But when we look at the church we recognize that the person is now a part of a split family.  And the members of the family seem more intent on arguing and espousing their position than keeping the family together.

 

          That should not be surprising to us.  By being baptized in the body of Christ we are baptized into his death.  He was broken and put to death for being faithful.  The church when it is faithful should expect the same kind of treatment.  But from the world, not from each other.

    

        The problem is that the church is not broken because of its obedience.  The church is broken because of arrogance, because people insist on their own way, because some are sure they have all the right answers, because some members seem to be more important than others.  The church is broken because we spend our time trying to save the church rather than being faithful disciples. 

 

        I wonder what the church would be like if each member was seen as gifted and invaluable, if it was more important that a person experience the good news of the gospel rather than be a name on the church roll, if we took seriously our call to be agents of reconciliation rather than argue about the color of the wallpaper in the restrooms.    

 

        It is important that we discuss serious issues as sisters and brothers in Christ but when those issues take precedence over our mission to proclaim the good news of the gospel, we all lose.  We are called to heal, to reconcile, to become one with Christ.  The church will never heal anyone but Christ can and will.  When people are broken and hurting, it doesn't help them to visit a church that is broken and divided.  They need to experience the love and support of people who are united in Christ.

      

        Irregardless of what goes on in any other churches, may we at Waverly Road Presbyterian Church seek to be the Body of Christ.  May we take part in Christ' ministry of reconciliation, in preaching the good news of the gospel, and in healing.  May all who come this way be welcomed as an invaluable member of  Christ's body.  May we agree to disagree in peace and love.