-reading 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Paul who is credited with writing this passage was trying to address a splintered church in a city where the sense of Christian community wasn’t a priority and the church seeing itself as being one body was in serious jeopardy.
Similarly, the primary threats to our sense of Christian community include intense political polarization, hyper individualism, and the often-toxic nature of our digital information age. Online algorithms direct our attention down informational rabbit holes that feed our brand of outrage.
It doesn’t matter which way you lean. Our debates lack mercy. A sense of common decency is deemed as a weakness. We all live with a sense of fear and distrust of those we view as the “others” measured by ethnicity, spirituality, sexual orientation, gender and political persuasion.
Seeing our Christian faith even as one body of believers seems unrealistic. The divides seem insurmountable. The right hand says the left hand should go back to where they came from, the left foot says the right foot isn’t Christian because of who they love. The nose says the ears don’t listen anymore and are taking the body in the wrong direction. The eyes have given up and have decided not to be involved.
When we think of the body of believers, we may need to make our focus smaller. Our congregations, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Being a Christian may just involve starting out by reaching over the fence with a handshake and starting with engaging in conversations with those we don’t know well or may be uncomfortable with. Changing the world starts small.
Prayer: May your Spirit blow freely and broadly to speak words of life, hope, trust, compassion, and forgiveness to and through each of us in these troubled days. Amen
Written by Jeff Johnson