Week 14 Questions and Answers
Know your place is a phrase used today with a pejorative connotation to it. It is typically used to try and belittle someone. That is not the case when we are trying to figure out where we fit into in the Body of Christ. In this case, knowing our place in the body means we can better utilize our gifts to advance the goals of that body. Sometimes, this requires some hard introspection that reveals uncomfortable truths.
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What does Jesus’ headship of the body you see yourself as a part of mean to you?
Perhaps the first question should have been, “Are you a part of a “body of Christ?” The second question should have been, “What part of that body are you?” The third question would have been, “What does Jesus’ headship of that body mean to you?” I’ll take those in order below.
First, “Am I a part of the Body of Christ?” Yes. I could get more wordy than that but let’s leave it as a simple yes or no answer. Yes, I am a member of the Body of Christ.
14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:14-15 (NASB)
Second, “What part of that Body am I?” This one gets more complicated. I am a member of the global Church Universal, A United Methodist, I lead a Sunday school class, a husband, a father, and a man. All of those can be and are fields of ministry in which I get frequent and infrequent opportunities to reflect the love of Jesus Christ to the people I meet. I fail to reflect that love adequately very often. Are those the only bodies I am a part of? No. Any group or organization I am in, work with, affiliate with, participate with, support, or interact with is a “Body of Christ” whether that group is specifically Christian-oriented. A body of atheists is still a Body of Christ. Just because they reject or do not acknowledge God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit does not absolve them of being under God’s rules.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11 (NASB)
Third, “What does Jesus’ headship of that body mean to you?” There is probably an entire book contained in this one question and answer. The Headship of the Body might be a good title too. The meaning could boil down to me trying to make my life follow more of Jesus’ ways. It is something of a misnomer to say, “make my life look more like Jesus’ life,” because that means being perfect, evangelizing in every city I can get to, being imprisoned falsely, punished, and killed for my beliefs. I am not Christ. I am not perfect. I am not called to preach on the street corner or travel to other cities and do it. Could I be? Yes. Am I now? No. Those last two questions and answers should indicate to us all that what we are doing now may not be what God wants us to be doing in the future. We should be ready to change when He indicates it is time. Change. I should be willing to be obedient to God’s call on my life, whatever that is. That means I should actively listen and observe for steppingstones He places in my life that direct me on His path, not my own.
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NASB)
As a member of His body, what servant-oriented things do you perform for the body?
At the moment, I lead a Sunday school class. That is purely for the pleasure of those who willingly submit themselves to the class. I have learned that it is my place there for the time being. While I strayed from that path for a time, I have returned and now understand it is where God wants me. Regardless of what I think to the contrary, I will remain in place until the class asks me to leave or God does, or there are no more students willingly walking in the door every Sunday.
Is there a way to reflect more light through yourself on this situation?
I am currently in prayerful consideration of my position in the church, my participation in all forms, and what I should or should not be doing there. In addition, there may be other roles outside the church for which God is preparing me that may or may not be something I grow into. I am not ready for them, but my efforts will grow as we move from the milk of belief to the meat of faith.
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.
2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,
3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men?
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
1 Corinthians 3:1-7 (NASB)