For just as each
of us has one body
with many members,
and these members do not
all have the same function,
so in Christ we,
though many,
form one body,
and each member belongs
to all the others.
with many members,
and these members do not
all have the same function,
so in Christ we,
though many,
form one body,
and each member belongs
to all the others.
Romans 12:4-5 (read 12:1-8) - NIV
Paul touched on a basic reality of our existence:
diversity in unity. He cited the human body as an example. The body is one but
has many members. He applied this concept to the church as the body of Christ.
Paul speaks of the benefit of the diversity of gifts in the church and that
each must develop his or her own for the good of everyone else. Variety
strengthens the body and lets it develop to its fullest.
I would like to extend this analogy further: this body
to which we belong is not only the church but the whole world.
Earth itself teaches us diversity in unity. Research
shows that nature has evolved from the simple to the complex. It has shown that
over 3.5 billion years ago the biological forms of life began with simple cells. Multicellular
organisms began to evolve about a billion years ago. Since then, with the
coming and going of global catastrophes, life has taken on increasingly complex
and sophisticated forms. Humans are among the latest to arrive on the scene. We
are part of and depend on this complex biodiversity system.
But tragically humanity is now reversing this rich diversity
which it has inherited. With super population and industrialization, the
environment (God’s creation) is being devastated. Thousands of living species
are going extinct. The delicate balance established by millions of millennia of
development is being systematically destroyed. We are destroying this very body
of which we all are a part.
There is a great diversity of human cultures and this
produces a countless variety of religions. Religiosity is part of our genetic
makeup and in, one way or another, is almost universal. Spirituality is
expressed in all cultures – each in its own unique way.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam have a hard time
accepting as valid the many expressions of faith that are different from theirs.
Each one limits its own interpretation of God and of truth as being universal
and unique. They want to convert everyone to be like them. Each one sees itself
as the whole, isolated body of the people of God. It would be a tragedy if
everyone were Christian, or Muslim, or Jew, or Buddhist, or Hindu, etc. The
result would be stagnation and spiritual poverty. Each religion has its
positive aspects and has something it can learn from others as well as share
with others.
I consider myself as belonging to the whole body of
humanity and that everyone is my sister or brother independent of her or his
religion or lack thereof. We all come from the same universal womb. I seek to
use my gifts in a way as to contribute to the welfare of everyone else,
including the other species that God has placed here to coexist along with me.
ROMANS 12:1-8 – NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)
A LIVING SACRIFICE
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to
offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your
true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
HUMBLE SERVICE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of
yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober
judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For
just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all
have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each
member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the
grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in
accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching,
then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving,
then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show
mercy, do it cheerfully.
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