Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
That blending leads to loss of distinctions is just common sense. If you blend anything together the components lose their individual distinctiveness. Rich or poor, English speaking or Chinese, when everyone comes together in Christ and speaks Christ, the differences in wealth or language of individuals becomes less distinctive.
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I disagree completely. The preceding verses in the chapter describe a whole slew of distinctions (gifts, ministries, operations, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, operations of works of power, prophecy, discerning of spirits, various kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues), followed by the repeated statement "yet the same Spirit/Lord/God". Verse 11 even says "But the one and the same Spirit operates all these things, distributing to each one even as He purposes", referring the distinctions mentioned in the verses before it!!
The whole point is that there are distinctions, YET THE SAME SPIRIT. There is
nothing about losing distinctions. I'll say it again - there is nothing there about losing distinctions.
We can even see thus - as the passage then turns to compare to a physical body, how is it remotely possible for different members of a physical body (the eye, the ear, the hand, the foot) to lose their distinctiveness? It is impossible! This passage, or even just verse 24, is not about losing distinctions, no sir, no how. It is all about, as Ohio and others have said, giving honor to the less comely members and how to give more abundant honor to those weaker around us.
JJ's comment about the fact that
God has blended the body together was also so phenomenal:
1. Who has done it? God!
2. What has He done? Blended/put together/composed/tempered the body!
3. Has He already done it? Yep! The verse says so.
4. Does the verse say we need to do it? Nope!
So all the talk in the LCs about needing to blend actually misses the whole point. God has done the blending already SO THAT the weaker/uncomely ones would be taken care of. In the LCs you can "blend with the brothers" or "go on blending trips" and accomplish absolutely zero of what the verse is about. You can "blend with the bros" but there be no care for weaker members. You can "go on blending trips" but never cloak any uncomely member with more honor. We don't need "to blend" - God has done that. We need to care for those whom God has placed around us.
Amazing!