Wrong Thinking in the Body
Memory verse: “In Christ, we who are many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5)
Today we are going to look at 6 statements/thoughts that people in the church may have, about the church. These statements/thoughts represent wrong thinking and need to be examined in the light of scripture.
“I think we should clean up our church’s rolls and get rid of the names of people who don’t attend anymore”.
The first question this church needs to ask is, are these people members of the body of Christ—are they Christians? If God added them to your body because that is where He wanted them (see 1 Cor. 12:18), do you have a right to delete them? A church needs all the members God has given the body. This church should pray and ask God to show them how to reclaim these wayward members for active fellowship.
“So-and-so got himself into trouble by breaking the law. It serves him right that he has to spend time in jail.”
When one member suffers, everyone feels the pain (see 1 Cor. 12:26), even if the suffering is the consequence of sin. Members of Christ’s body are commanded to love one another. Read 1 Corinthians 13 to see how love would respond in the body. Show concern for all members of the body
“I think I should be asked to be a ministry leader. After all, I have been a faithful member of this church for X amount of time.”
This could be a self-centered desire. We serve in the church by God’s assignment. We do not choose our own function. If God intends for you to serve in a particular capacity, the Head, Jesus Christ, can bring the rest of the body to recognize that. Will you trust Him to do that through your church?
“If I can’t be a leader/trustee/staff member, I’ll quit coming to this church.”
The church needs to be sensitive to what others sense God may be leading them to do. However, scripture tells us that God is the One to decide where some one functions in the body. Trust Him to let the body know. A nominating committee for church-leadership positions must prayerfully discern God’s will. Both the individual and the church must carefully seek God’s will and trust Him to make His will clear.
“I don’t care that the rest of the body thinks that God is leading them to ask me to serve in that role. I have never been a ___________, and I know I couldn’t do it. I don’t have the necessary talents.”
One problem we face in the body is that we seldom see God at work. We just see people. I try to see God at work in His people. The Holy Spirit enables a person to carry out any assignment God gives him or her. Just because you have never done something before or because you don’t think you have the skills, does not necessarily mean God is not giving you that assignment. Moses gave some objections like this one when God was calling him at the burning bush. Take very seriously what the body believes to be God’s will. Talk to the Lord about what the body senses about you and trust God to guide you correctly.
“If those 10 families can’t agree with the majority, that’s tough. In this church the majority rules. If they don’t like what we are doing, they can go somewhere else.”
The church functions by the rule of the Head—-Jesus Christ. We often settle for majority rule because we don’t want to wait until the Head has time to convince the body of His will. If we are willing to sacrifice the unity of the body so the majority can have its way, we are not taking 1 Corinthians 12:25 seriously. Didn’t Jesus pray for the unity of the church in John 17 so the world would believe in Him? We ought to have a similar burden for unity. Give Jesus—the Head—time to do the convincing. When He has brought the body to an understanding of His will, His timing will be perfect for you to proceed! Each member is precious to God. In God’s kingdom, how you do something is as important as what you do.