Being the body of Christ in a modern day age

Who would have thought that in this modern day age, prophets would be contending against prophets on social media? Evangelist would be engaging in turf wars and God’s appointed apostles would be standing upon his word releasing death warrants against one another. When you look at the church today, in light of the scriptures, you would probably ask yourself when did the body of Christ, stray so far from the reality of Ephesians 4; 11-12.

"And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-12

It can become quite disturbing witnessing the members of the body of Christ attacking one another with great passion under the pretence that they are doing the church justice exposing the sins of the brethren before the world. As they emphasise the disunity of the church to a world blinded by Sin, religion and A.I, it’s no wonder believers are departing from the faith and unbelievers are mocking our faith, just as openly as we are contending against one another. God did not ‘call us out’ from this world, so that we could be in a church ‘gang’, a church business or better yet be a church ‘bully’. We were ‘called out’ to be the church. But what does being the ‘church’ mean to you? and what has happened to the identity of the church? Maybe if we return back to who we really are as a body , we will be able to function as the church God has called us to be.

The church (ecclesia)

In scripture the church has been liken to many constructs, such as:

• A temple ( 1 Corinthians 3: 16 -17)
• A house (1 timothy 3: 15)
• And a body ( 1 Corinthians 12: 27, 1Corinthians 12 :1)

Christ is the Head of his Body ( the church) Ephesians 1: 22, Ephesians 4: 15, Colossians 1: 18), and he also has another special relationship with his church which is that we are to be his Bride (Ephesians 5: 23 -25, Revelations 21: 2). We are first the body of Christ and then the Bride of Christ. This picture of our relationship with Christ, is very similar to the first Adam’s relationship with Eve in the book of Genesis. In the book of Genesis, Eve was created from the body of a sleeping Adam. When God presented her to Adam, Adam received her as his bride. Similarly, it was after Jesus Christ death (when he was in a state of sleep) and resurrection we see the church who were chosen in Christ, emerge to be the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:4-6, 22-23). It is not surprising that the Greek word Ecclesia (or Ekklesia ) means ‘out of’ or ‘to call out’. It is between the Cross and the Crown, the Spirit born Church (an assembly of believers) is now being prepared by God, so that he may present them as a Virgin Bride to Christ ( 2 Corinthians 11:2).

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. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12: 12-13

When you reflect upon 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 , you will discover that it is on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-3, by the baptism of the Holy Spirit we were considered one in the body of Christ (Acts 1: 4-5). One Holy Spirit , One body of believers, One baptism and One united hope ( Ephesians 4: 2-6).

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4: 2-6

I want you to take a pause at this point and look at how you view the modern day church of today. Do you see an organisation, a family or a religious structure? What if we looked at the body of Christ as a living organism kept alive by the Holy Spirit, instead of seeing ourselves as being a part of an organisation, a religious charity, or a denomination. Maybe we would probably treat each other more mercifully. We may even refrain from trying to pull down the members of Christ’s body and look at how we could edify one another, in areas where we are weak, during times of moral failure and periods of mourning. When we understand that we are meant to be ‘living members’, not fleshly members, in Christ, we may correct our ways and begin to walk united in Christ Jesus.

Why are we called the body of Christ ?
It is not often we consider why us? Why use us believers, to be the body of Christ? especially when Christ can exist without a body. These questions, as simple as they may sound lead us to look at the purpose of a body. What a body should look like? And why? To help answer these questions I want you to think about human life. Before God breathed life into the body of man, the soul life of man could not find expression. The manifestation of the soul’s personality could not be revealed. The body was needful to manifest the life (Genesis 2:7). In like manner, for Christ to reveal his glory to the world he would need a body (The Church). The church, you, me and all believers worldwide are the vessels God uses to reveal Christ to the world. Apostle Paul caught this revelation and said in Philippians 1: 21, ‘For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain, he also said ‘Christ in you, the hope of Glory’ (Colossians 1:27). Our lives have been saved so that the world can see Christ, and so Christ can be revealed in and to us.

Let’s reflect:

There is so much more to discover about the church. It’s mission, it’s call as a bride, it’s stature in Christ and it’s mystery. But, the point of this blog is to not to delve into these areas of truth, but rather reveal to you why you are part of the body of Christ and what the body of Christ is used for. We all have a duty, to reveal Christ to the world, not by our own strength, but by dying to self and submitting under the governing authority of the Holy Spirit. When believers fail to submit to the Holy Spirit, allowing his transforming power to perfect them, you will discover that they will end up bringing their fleshly appetites and desires with them into the body of Christ. The ‘works of their flesh’ begins to oppose the fruit of the Spirit, which is meant to be revealed in each member of the body of Christ. Christ was not and is not fleshly. Which is why, if we refuse to change our carnal ways, we will continue to misrepresent Christ to the world. It is time that we (believers in Christ) repent of our idolatrous ways and stop trying to maim working members of Christ’s body. We must learn how to support the operation of the Spirit of Christ working in and through them. This does not mean that you cannot correct a brother or sister who has fallen in sin. It just means that we must be mindful how we do this, so that the correction will support the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Rebuke another in sin with the Spirit of love , not because you want social media likes and follows. But because you do not want to see a soul lose their faith. Pray for internal healing for those believers who are walking with church wounds and past hurts. Stop picking faults at the external fruits of their transgressions. When these believers are healed, they will find freedom in Christ, because they are released from the bondage of these experiences. In regards to our ministerial duties , God has not called you to offload your God given responsibilities in Christ to another. Rather, we must know how to support one another. Lift up a brethren when they are weary or tired. Edify one another. Pray and fast together and intercede for one another. Laugh together (Yes, you can laugh in the joy of the Holy Spirit) and walk in fellowship with the Holy Spirit under submission to your head Jesus Christ. Remember, it is not too late for the members of the church to change their deviant ways and wholly submit their lives in faith to God in Christ.

Finally, If you are not doing so already, pray daily for your fellow brethren in Christ. Pray that Christ may be revealed to and through them.