16.01.04 Colin Being the Body of Christ (2)
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People are very different. Look around here this morning and recognize the difference, not just physical, but difference in every way. Even in families, from the same gene pool, children are usually entirely different! So it has been from the moment of creation onwards. The world God created is a place of unbelievable diversity with the most astounding diversity of nature and species and creatures.
So, we can be assured that from the moment God started the creation process, he was committed to a diverse creation full of unique beings and creatures. The great German classical scholar, and philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche articulated man’s understanding of this stating "every man knows well enough that he is a unique being, only once on this earth; and by no extraordinary chance will such a marvellously picturesque piece of diversity in unity as he is, ever be put together a second time."
So, as I look around the faces of this diverse group of people I know I can say about each individual here that:
YOU ARE UNIQUE
There is no one else in this world like you
No one the same shape as you
No one with the same group of genes as you
No one with the same fingerprints as you
No one with the same human experiences as you
No one with the same ideas as you
No one with the same emotions as you
YOU ARE UNIQUE IN THIS WORLD
In fact you are unique in history. At no time in the history of this world has there ever been another human being the same as you. You therefore have a unique gift to give to the world that no one else can give!
Lets for a few moments then reflect quietly with God, about his creation of each of us as a unique individual, creating a world full of diversity. Let’s thank God for our uniqueness and the unique gifts that he has given us.
The uniqueness of each person is a most wonderful part of God’s creation, but it is also part of the conundrum we face in thinking about the church. We are created by God as unique human beings, but also as part of mankind, designed to come together as a diverse community of people. Steve described the human response to the Tsunami disaster in the reflection last week by saying that ’the world community has responded, just for once, taking corporate responsibility for meeting the awful needs facing so many so suddenly”.
We are created as unique individuals, with unique gifts, but with a corporate responsibility for the world. We are part of a world that cannot function effectively unless we contribute our gifts for the common good.
The picture of the Body of Christ clearly illustrates this principle: unique individuals with unique gifts and talents; but part of the Body of Christ: ‘a living embodiment of Christ in the world’; ‘embodied believers – contributing in an interdependent way to being Christ’s body in the world’, as Steve described the church.
This then is the great message of 1 Corinthians chapter 12 – that the church of is made up of diverse group of unique individuals, who have each been given gifts by the Spirit to share with others inside and outside of the church. The purpose is quite clear – it is to enable this diverse group of individuals to show by their life who God is, and to enable them, despite their diversity, to demonstrate the loving, caring harmony that comes from being part of Christ’s body. The church, the Body of Christ, has to model for the world how the incredible diversity of people that has been created by God, can live in harmony.
The gifts are given so that we may illustrate to the world, by the mutual commitment to supporting each other, who God is. Created as both unique and interdependent, we NEED this diversity. Indeed the Body of Christ cannot function properly unless we share with each other the diverse and unique gifts we have.. The world itself, that God created, cannot function properly unless its people are able to learn how to recognize, and celebrate, the uniqueness and diversity of its people.
This then is the glory of the Body of Christ.
o Firstly, it celebrates the immense uniqueness, diversity and creativity of God’s creation, especially of each individual created human being..
o Secondly, by the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, each unique individual is provided with a gift given for the ‘common good’
o Thirdly, it celebrates the uniqueness of each individual, but sets that very uniqueness in the context of the community of the Body of Christ. Each diverse individual is essential to the wellbeing of the Body.
We are, as 1 Corinthians 1 verse 9 describes it ‘called into fellowship’. Called to work with all those who are called by God to be part of the Body of Christ. This is not always easy for even in a small congregation like ours there is an amazing variety of types of people, with different social and racial origins, with different views and understandings on life and our faith..
Yet, we are the Body of Christ, as we often say as part of the liturgy, and ‘Being the Body of Christ’ we are called to celebrate the uniqueness of every individual that we meet, and to celebrate the uniqueness of the gift/s that each of us brings. The great diversity of people in God’s Kingdom provides the opportunity and responsibility to share whatever gifts we have been given. Celebrating together the uniqueness and diversity of God’s creation is the evidence we provide for the world that in the Body of Christ we demonstrate who God is.
So today, let us give great thanks to God for our uniqueness. Let us celebrate with our Lord the diverse range of people and gifts that he has created, especially the diverse group we have here in St James!
Let us commit ourselves to using our unique gifts to build up the Body of Christ here in Leith and to demonstrate to the world who God is, and how a very diverse people can live in loving and supportive harmony.