To Be Part Of A Body

I am so incredibly thankful this fall to be back and part of a local church body. About a year and a half ago I graduated and received a present from someone. At the time I felt like it was a goodbye gift from the church I had been a part of for the past five years, not that the person meant it to be that. It was just an inkling my time had come to move on. I really hated the idea, but I moved on obediently. 

The year resulted in a church shopping expedition. As anyone who has moved, or simply left a church, you know the feeling of going from church to church. Each weekend I felt like I was at a new church- literally on some weekends I was at four separate churches. I learned a lot about different churches. How they function. What struggles they have. It was a real eye opening year. 

 What I believe God wanted me to see was a new look at denominations.  He wanted me to look past the denominations or non-denominations to see God is not just a Presbyterian or a Methodist or a non-denominational, but a God willing to meet with all who seek Him whole-heartedly. We all struggle with understanding parts of the Bible. All of us tussle at times being a light in darkness.  None of us know all the answers. Yet, we all believe we do, which leads to division and discord.

For me, I was content at the church I had been going to and would have been willing to just serve there. However, God wanted to give me a bigger picture. Each church has a purpose and specific needs they meet in the community.  As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. For we are all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” We tend to use Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12 to mean inside our specific church body. I believe the one body here is the bride of Christ and the many parts are our churches. 

How often do we support the ministry of another church? Sure, if it is non-denominational we can all help. I cannot tell you the times whether jokingly or serious I have heard people say ‘Oh we can’t do this or go there because we are not part of their denomination.’ It grieves my heart to see the walls the church has put up around each other. We at times are still the disciples marveling that Jesus might even speak to some like the Samaritan women by the well, someone different from us and our background/doctrine.  My prayer is for God’s churches to unite. We can still have our differences, but we should not let them distract us from joining together for the cause of brining God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. A quote of John Wesley’s I love “If your heart beats with my heart in love and loyalty for Jesus Christ, then give me your hand.” May that be the motto of God’s churches. Or as the Christmas Hymn Oh, Come, Oh Come Emmanuel pleas:

 

“Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!”

All of this to be said, I struggled with my year in “time out” as I call it. I was sort of stuck with what to do with my life. Someone said to me years back “Without a sense of belonging our identity is shattered. Without an identity you lose the vision of why you were created.” This phrase definitely can sum up my “time out” year. A truth I held onto was I belong to God and my purpose is to glorify Him in all I do. However, I could not really grasp a vision for my specific purpose/ministry on earth, because I did not really belong to a church body. A church body offers support, accountability, love, growth, and so much more. I wanted to be back with a flock.

Finally this fall I decided I needed to put some roots down in a local church, so I can let the branches of ministry spread and grow from healthy roots.  I am still not one hundred percent sure where this life God has given me will take me here on earth, but I can feel wisdom and life pouring back into me. Perhaps the biggest benefit is my faith is more rock solid. My church family is so loving and encouraging. I am incredibly thankful for them.     

Encouragement: Get into a church body that will love and support you. When we are not part of a local church body we may learn parts of God’s story, but our faith is strengthened around others. Iron sharpens iron. Maybe this encouragement is simply to not pigeon hole yourself into a specific denomination. Be open to where God wants to place you.