A STUDY OF THE CHURCH (7)
The Composition of the church

Victor M. Eskew

 

          We have been examining the church in this series of lessons.  This study ought to be of great interest to every saved person since every member is part of the church, that is, the called out ones or the purchased possession of Jesus Christ.  In this article, let’s consider the subject:  “The Composition of the church.”

          Paul writes about the composition of the church in the book of Romans and in the book of 1 Corinthians.  Here are the words of Romans 12:4-5.  “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  so we, being many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”  1 Corinthians 12:14-27 gives us even more information about the composition of the church.

 

                   For the body is not one member, but many.  If the foot shall say,                                          Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore                                           not of the body?  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the                                            eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  If the                                            whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?  If the whole                                             were hearing, where were the smelling?  But now hath God set                                            the members in the body, as it hath pleased him.  And if they                                              were all one member, where were the body?  But now are they                                             many members, yet but one body.  And the eye cannot say unto                                          the hand, I have no need of thee:  nor again the head to the feet                                           I have not need of you.  Nay, much more those members of the                                            body, which seem to be mor feeble, are necessary:  and those

members, which we think to be less honourable, upon those we be-                            stow more abundant honour:  and our uncomely parts have more                               abundant comeliness.  For our comely parts have no need:  but                                  God hath tempered the body together, having given more abun-                                  dant honour to that part which lacked:  that there should be no                                  schism in the body; but that the members should have the same                                care one for another.  And whether one member suffer, all the                                     members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the mem-                              bers rejoice with it.  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members                                in particular.

 

Paul compares the spiritual body, the church, to the physical body.  There is just one physical body, but that one body has many members.  In like manner, there is only one spiritual body (Eph. 4:4), but there are many Christians who compose that body. 

There are a few points that we want to stress in this article.  First, 1 Corinthians 12:18 should grab each Christian’s attention.  “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”  The moment a person obeys the gospel, he is placed into the body of Christ by God (See 1 Cor. 12:13).  Yes, God sets us in the body.  Not one person is left out.  This is clear from the words, “every one of them.”  If God put you in the body, He knows exactly where you belong.  He knows your personality, your education, your experiences, your culture, your talents, and your shortcomings.  He expects you to fulfill your role in the body.  If God put you in the body, rest assured that He will hold you accountable for your role in that body.

Second, there are many members in the body and all of the members have not the same office.  The physical body has a multitude of parts.  Our skeleton alone has 206 bones.  The spiritual body also has many body parts.  Each of them serves a purpose.  Note that they do not all have the same purpose.  Some can lead.  Some can teach.  Some can give abundantly.  Some can encourage others.  Some can visit the lonely and needy.  Some can cook well.  Some can take care of small children.  Some are skilled at giving comfort.  The important thing to remember is that all of them are needed.  They all work in harmony in order to carry out the Father’s business.

Third, every member of the body is needed.  Some physical parts of the body are small, weak, feeble, or uncomely.  This, however, does not mean they are not needed.  The other members of the body assist those parts of the body that struggle.  Again, this is true in the spiritual body of Christ.  New Christians often need assistance to carry out their roles in the body of Christ.  Sometimes the elderly also need help to perform their functions within the church.  Each member is supposed to be aware of the other members.  They seek to render assistance when a member is finding himself weak and feeble.  This help is mutual in nature.  Occasionally, every member stands in need of help from other members.

Fourth, the members are supposed to be actively involved in one another’s lives.  There is never a time when members of our physical bodies are divorced from one another.  Whatever the body is experiencing, all of the members experience it together.  The body of Christ needs to practice shared experiences as well.  Paul stressed this need in these words:  “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Cor. 12:26).  This is not something that is as common as it used to be in local congregations.  Birthdays, weddings, anniversary parties, and funerals used to be attended by large sections of the church.  Now only a handful of individuals show up at things that are important in the lives of the members.   We miss these things with little or no conscience involved.  Sadly, most members of the body expect very few members of the body of Christ to show up at important events in their lives.

If the body works together as a harmonious unit, it can accomplish wonderful things in the world.  However, if just one joint, muscle, tendon, ligament, bone, or gland fails to work correctly, the entire body strives to get the smallest of things done.  The rings true in the church also.  When every member functions at full capacity, the body is very productive.  On the other hand, if a few members fail to function as they ought, almost all forward motion can come to a halt.  Dear readers, we are fortunate to be part of the body of Christ.  Let’s remember that God put us here for a purpose.  Let’s fulfill our roles in the Lord’s body as zealously and as joyfully as we possibly can.