Body issues (part one)
by Emma Strelan
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Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27).
These lines from the song ‘If We Are the Body’ by the Christian band Casting Crowns always come into my mind whenever I hear this passage:
But if we are the body
Why aren’t his arms reaching?
Why aren’t his hands healing?
Why aren’t his words teaching?
The reason they stick with me is because when I look around the church, I think these exact thoughts. Why aren’t his feet moving or his hands healing? Why does the body seem so dysfunctional?
I read this verse the morning before starting two weeks of youth camp leading. As often happens for me before camp, a lot of my insecurities were playing through my head. I wasn’t as funny as that other leader, good at making quick decisions or small talk, or as energetic or experienced with kids. It was then that I opened up this very passage we’re reading today. I realised how camping ministry is a perfect example of Christ’s body working. It’s a beautiful way to see just how God brings flawed people with different skills and abilities together. Some camp leaders are skilled at making campers comfortable, can do and fix just about anything, can get into deep theological conversations, notice the quiet kids, and so on.
If everyone fits that one specific leadership model I have always held up as the ‘ideal’ leader, then camp wouldn’t function. What’s more, the whole church wouldn’t function at all. And I know there are plenty of amazing body parts in the church that I don’t get to see and things that I’m involved in that other church members don’t know about, either.
I think the church needs to constantly look at itself and ask how we can better function as a body. But I also know that the body has many internal parts that keep working, even when the outside looks old, bruised or dysfunctional.
A body is never in perfect condition. But you’d be amazed at how adaptable the brain/head can make it. As the head, Christ guides us and knows exactly how to use each body part, no matter how broken.
I encourage you to celebrate a part of Christ’s body today that you might not have thought to appreciate before.
Dear Heavenly Father, today we lament that in the body of Christ, the arms aren’t always reaching, the hands are not always healing, and the words don’t always teach. Please forgive us when we fail in this. We find joy in knowing Christ is the head of our body, and we can trust that his hands do reach, heal and teach. Please show us this today. Amen.
Emma lives in Adelaide and is studying a Master of Divinity at Tabor College. She also works as a freelance videographer, filming weddings, events and factual videos. She’s currently trying to work out how these two passions can fit together. Emma has a heart for youth camping ministry and for effectively communicating Christian concepts to the younger generations. Despite being in her early 20s, she’s a self-confessed grandma who loves reading, gardening, embroidery, cardigans and drinking tea.
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