Christ's Love Unites

I rejoice in the wisdom of God, how He has comprised the body of Christ of many members.  Jesus Christ is the Head, and He grants gifts and talents to each of us through the Holy Spirit.  The book by Os Guinness titled "The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life" explores the call of God upon our lives as Christians.  Though it's been years since I read the book, I remember how he made a distinction between the general call and the specific call upon each Christian.  All of us are called to love God and one another, to forgive, to pray for one another, and to share the Gospel with others.  These are all aspects of the general call we must embrace on the path to discovering our individual calls to specific roles and functions in the church - the Body of Christ.

God has seen fit to draw together people of various ages with unique perspectives, different backgrounds and personalities, with distinct talents and weaknesses to make up the church that spans the globe.  He has sovereignly led each believer to gather and join in worship and service with Christ as our common denominator.  He lays upon our hearts varying degrees of desire to accomplish His will and the power to accomplish it.  Even those who share a call to a single role will have unique ways of answering it.  This is a beautiful thing, the freedom God has provided each of us as we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:28-30 says, "And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"  The answer to Paul's rhetorical questions is obviously no.  God has given unique calls, gifts, and roles in the church.

Directly after these verses, Paul launches into a better, higher way of living:  one where all we say and do - indeed the very substance of our lives - is to be the demonstration of God's perfect love.  Every calling, all service, every distinct ministry in the church is intended by God to be according to His love, the same love Christ demonstrated when He went to the cross for the sins of the world.  What I have witnessed over the years (and nearly in the past slipped into that sticky slough myself) is people becoming more and more critical towards the "church" in general.  They feel it is their calling to be watchmen, to warn like the prophets of old.  Predictive and didactic (corrective) prophesy is a vital part of the Body of Christ today.  In accordance with the Word when a prophet speaks today, his words and tone must be motivated and flavoured with love for God and others - even for atheists, heretics, and hypocrites!

What can happen with our individual callings is think everyone should share our perspective or approach.  When others do not agree with our methods or conclusions, the temptation is to separate ourselves from them.  It is sad how when we give the smallest differences the power to divide us when Christ and His resurrection power should unite us!  God's love is never content with distance.  Division in the Body is a massive problem.  I'm thinking if your leg was chopped off in a car accident, instantly you would know you are in serious trouble and need to see a doctor immediately.  Have you cut yourself off from fellowship with other Christians because of a disagreement?  Take the initiative to humble yourself, leaving your gift at the altar so you might first be reconciled with your brother.  Is it wise to use the internet to air your unresolved differences with the whole world, stirring up bitterness, judgments, and gossip?  Why not just suffer wrong and tell God about it?  We must be careful examine our motives in everything we do - even when we write a blog post! :)  Do we write because we love God and people, or do we just want to make our point?  God knows.