Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
Don,
When you get to the idea of the function of the members of the body, there is much to be said.
Is the “function of the members” something that needs to be analyzed to discover a thriving assembly worthy of the moniker “church?” If so, what is the function of the members? Is it strictly spiritual, partly practical, or always some kind of mix to be truly functioning? How many must be observed to be “functioning,” however it is that we have defined it? Does the fact that people who are not yet Christian participate in meetings diminish the group?
I do not ask these questions to shame anyone, or poke fun at anything. I have been thinking “outside the box” as is so often said these days. Even just three years ago, I would have answered these questions in a manner that I would not today. I believe that “functioning” can be all kinds of things. Often, the visible functioning may seem less spiritual. Other times more so. Of course, the “less spiritual” things would need to have true spirituality behind them or they could be simply the works of man.
But I no longer see functioning as popcorn testimonies in meetings ─ although they would be included. It is not just doing Saturday “service groups” at the meeting hall, or volunteering to work in the LSM publishing (fill-in volunteer activities at your assembly in the place of these). Doing community service is not, on its face, functioning, but if the spirit rises in some to “help the widow and orphan” so to speak, then doing so is functioning.
There is a lot that could go in there.
And what about the propensity for the functioning to be done by less than all members? We easily understand that it is probably rare (and was probably rare in the first century) to have everyone doing all the things we like to think of as “functioning.” But what is functioning? Is it really those “church things” we think of, or is it just being the full-time Christian that we are called to be? If it is the latter, then anyone who is moving forward in their Christian journey is functioning, even if someone’s idea of what is functioning is not met.
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Thank you Mike for this your latest post,
May I address one point only at this time?
I am very happy you picked up this matter of functioning within the Body of Christ. In our Local Church past we used the term but the practice was very stilted and artificial and way too limited in scope. Without the full scope of functioning by all the members it is not possible for the Lord to fully express Himself in a local practical way. (I use the term local in a generic way.)
The passage in Romans chapter 12 is our reference point for “functioning” members of the Body of Christ. Verses 3-16 refer to the action and atmosphere in the healthy Body of Christ.
Let us just focus for now on a few verses: Rom 12:6-8, And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. NASB
1. Prophecy
2. Practical service
3. Teaching
4. Exhorting
5. Giving with liberality
6. Leading with diligence
7. Showing mercy with cheerfulness
Note number seven, showing mercy. The Body does not do very well if there are not some who have the gift of showing mercy with cheerfulness. In chapter 14 we see some are “weak in the faith.” In chapter 15 some are “without strength.” Over time we all will have failures and there will always be someone who has backslidden. They will need mercy. This is a critical function. If the local assembly has some with this function, it will be healthy.
Note number four, exhorting or encouraging. Here the Greek word is parakaleo: to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, exhortation or consolation). We need some who can come right alongside of us and encourage, console and exhort. Again a critical function if the Body is to be healthy.
In the old Local Church, (bless their little hearts) we never heard much about functioning according to the chapter that discusses the matter. For some reason chapter 14 in 1 Corinthians was our reference. But that chapter is about meetings not about functioning in the Body.
Back to Romans 12, verses 9-15 show the atmosphere needed to have a healthy functioning expression of the Body of Christ.
Rom 12:9-16, Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. NASB
1. Love without any pretense
2. Abhorring what is evil
3. Clinging to what is good
4. Devoted to one another in brotherly love
5. Giving preference to one another in honor
6. Diligent
7. Fervent in Spirit
8. Serving the Lord
9. Rejoicing in hope
10. Persevering in tribulation
11. Devoted to prayer
12. Contributing to the needy saints
13. Practicing hospitality
14. Blessing those who persecute you
15. Rejoicing with those who rejoice
16. Weeping with those who weep
Quite a wonder description of the atmosphere in a healthy assembly!!!
Mike, when you were in the LSM church in Irving with the key LSM personal taking the lead in the church there, did you and Debby experience a lot of mercy and encouragement from those who had this function. Was the atmosphere characterized by a mutual devotion to one another in brotherly love? I know the answer. I am ashamed to say but in Dallas we were very short of many of these items. I am very ashamed regarding the last two items. Where was the rejoicing with those who rejoice and especially where was the weeping with those who weep? There was some but this should have been a prevailing characteristic of the atmosphere.
Yes, we should bless those who may persecute us! This phrase is not for those in the world but is right in the section on the Body of Christ. The LSM practice is to quarantine, slander and sue any who do not praise them and follow them. I expect to really get it when the rest of my book comes out. I suppose they will call me everything but a white man. Then guess who will be on the spot. Yes, yours truly. While I am looking to the Lord to bless them if and when they curse or persecute at the same time we must abhor what is evil.
Finally please note the bookend verses of this section, verses Rom 12:3 & 12:16. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. NASB
If we are full of pride, the proper functioning in the Body of Christ is dead in the water . The best safeguard is to be sure to look for the opportunity to “associate with the lowly.”
If one prayerfully considers this chapter, he would have to say that those boys in Dallas (like me) who were trying to practice the local church life were woefully short. You could use this passage to beat me for quite a long time and you would be right.
Dear brother Mike, may the Lord bless you and Debby and family and all those with whom you meet.
Your brother in Christ Jesus,
Hope, Don Rutledge
A believer in Christ Jesus who is seeking to become a true disciple.