Epiphany 3C

1 Corinthians 12.12-31a

January 23/24, 2010

 

              I used to be part of a week long camping ministry for the conference a number of years ago.  One year, as part of the curriculum for that particular week, one of our texts was the 1 Corinthians passage for today.  My teaching partner that year was in charge for that lesson and he taped out on the floor the outline of a human body.  When the children were all gathered, he asked them to place themselves in the outline where they thought they best fit.

              It was really quite interesting.  So many of them wanted to be the same thing.  Several wanted to be the brains.  They wanted the authority to tell the rest of the body what to do.  Many were willing to be arms or legs, strong and muscular, able to carry the body about and to do amazing feats of strength.  Some were willing to be eyes and ears, to be observant and collect information that would then be used to keep the body safe and well. And we had more than one child offer to be a mouth.  Had they been a real body, it would have been a very lumpy, bumpy, out of proportion mess!  It was equally interesting that when an invitation was extended for them to be a less well known, or obvious organ system, they all declined the invitation.  No one wanted to be the intestines or the liver or even the nose.  Well, no one except that one silly child who insisted on being the belly button! 

              Of course, by the end of the lesson, the point was made that all of the body is important; especially those parts we don’t always see or notice and no matter how little or big, strong or weak, all people are important in the church, the body of Christ.  Yes! 

              But, judging by the looks on their little faces, I know those kids did not buy into the whole “everybody is equal” schpeel.  And quite frankly, I don’t think we buy into it either.  After all, we know that a body can survive without some of its parts.  The appendix and gall bladder can be removed with little consequence.  While difficult, you can survive with just one kidney and even part of your lung can be removed and you can still breathe.  So, no, I don’t think we buy fully into the concept of the equality of the whole body.  As soon as we hear this admonition from Paul, whether we admit it or not, we all start vying for position.  We, like the children, imagine ourselves to be the strongest muscle, the most necessary sensory organ, the brains that run the outfit!  And yet, this isn’t Paul’s intent.  In fact, Paul writes this discourse to cause us to stop thinking of ourselves individually and start thinking of the body corporately!

              Historically, the church in Corinth was a MESS.  Everyone was bickering and fighting and vying for position.  It was acknowledged that they were a gifted bunch, with a variety of talents, but the problem was that everyone saw their gift or talent as the best, the most wonderful, the most necessary.  Those who could speak in tongues were quite impressed with themselves; while the healers thought they were the most important and the teachers imagined that the community would fall apart without their words of wisdom and the prophets tried to expound over the cacophony of voices.  They were a MESS. 

              Imagine if Messiah were to look like the Church at Corinth.  The worship team would point out that without them, worship just wouldn’t happen, there would be no hymns to sing or direction to our gathering.  But then the choir and music director would argue that without their leadership it wouldn’t matter what the worship team picked because their gifts of reading and performing music are most important for worship to happen.  And then the Spirit Builders and Faith formation folks would start to shout about how without them, we would have no idea who it is that we are even worshipping, because they give us the foundation for our faith.  But then the Hub would be all disgruntled because Everybody knows that they provide the rudder for our ship. And the communications team would be certain to point out that without them noone would have a clue what was going on. And the President would point out that he gives direction to the Hub to keep them on the straight and narrow.  But the treasurer would be up in arms because were it not for her, there would be no money to pay for the stuff and then the hospitality folks would stomp away because they are quite sure that we gather for fellowship based completely on the fact that they provide us with coffee and everybody knows that a Lutheran church can’t exist without coffee. And by then the family that comes to worship together will be in on the fight because after all, all of our programming and opportunities would be wasted if they didn’t have a need to learn and grow and so their gift for listening is most important.  And we’d all just be sitting with our arms crossed in our own pews, mad at the rest of the church and not speaking to one another and forgetting that we have a mission to reach out with the Gospel of Christ to all people.  Whew! 

              Paul has an answer for all of that bickering and fighting.  Paul says, “Knock it off. No one is more important than anyone else.  You are the body of Christ, start acting like the body of Christ.”  He added, “You don’t exist apart from the creator, you didn’t save yourselves apart from Jesus, you can’t move forward one iota without the Holy Spirit, and you cannot survive without each other.  No, you can’t.” 

              Paul offers us a way to stop looking at ourselves and to start looking at the body as a whole, much the same way as a weight loss book a friend of mine gave me a few years ago invites the reader into a program of diet and exercise.  The book invites me to consider my body type before embarking on any weight loss program.  And to be realistic about it.  The book suggests and the whole body be viewed rather than just the problematic parts. 

              So, as we embark on a journey together as a community in Christ, what sort of a body do we have?  What is our body type?  (think) 

              According to our Mission, Vision and Commitment documents we are a rather sturdy, strong body.  We are well grounded seven faith practices that provide for our every need.  We worship regularly, pray faithfully, study together, give generously, serve diligently, invite graciously and encourage steadfastly.  We receive our nurture from Christ and breathe in the life giving Spirit.  We are a visionary community, focusing on discovering and developing our gifts and the giftedness of our fellow disciples; allowing one another ample opportunity to flex those muscles in new and exciting ways. 

              As I look back over the last year I see that these things have happened.  Being well fed and exercised, we have stretched our arms to embrace a family in Mississippi; last week we flexed our giving muscles to make a donation to ELCA Disaster Relief of almost $1,400.  We have done deep knee bends in prayer for one another and worked those upper bodies heaving boxes of food and supplies for the Food Shelf.  Our legs have carried us into the world to perform acts of justice and compassion and make Christ’s name known.

              This is our body type.  Strong and sturdy, and yet, I wonder, are there some places where we could be just a bit more flexible?  Are there some areas where the muscle tone could be firmed up?  Are there some places on our body that could benefit from a little more exercise?  A little more support from the nerves and muscles and tendons surrounding it? 

              The body is not complete without each and every person.  If someone is missing from our gatherings we cannot reach out as far with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  If someone is missing from our worship, the inspiration God’s people receive is not as full.  If someone is missing from our educational opportunities, then none of us is fully equipped with a faith that works in daily life.

              We need each other.  We have all been gifted for the good of the whole.  You can do what someone else cannot because that is the divine place.  We are interdependent as a body. 

              God has called us each to this place and gifted us with what we need to be Christ’s body in this place.  The church cannot be the church without you or the person next to you or the person across the aisle from you.  The church cannot be the church without our youngest disciples or our most experienced disciples.  And the church can never be the church without the breath of the Holy Spirit or the saving grace of Jesus Christ, the one we worship and adore; the one who calls us to be here among brothers and sisters.  Strive to excel in your gifts my friend, but strive for them together and Christ will show us, his body, a still more excellent way.  Amen.