Colossians 1:24
“Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.”
One facet of the Church’s identity is that it is the body of Christ. Ephesians 5:23 tells us that Jesus is “the head” of the body. So Jesus as the head leads and directs the life and function of the body which is made up of His followers. Not only are all Christians part of one universal body, but local churches are also considered to be “local bodies”. Our local churches essentially are smaller individual bodies that together make up the greater body of Christ.
Now, the reason why the Church is referred to as “a body” is because there are several ways that the body of Christ needs to emulate what the physical body does and how it works. I just want to point out three specifics applications.
1) Christians need to be attached to the body.
I’ve heard several people who would identify themselves as Christians say that a Christian doesn’t have to be a member of a local body to faithfully follow Christ. Our culture tends to produce a non-committal, individualistic concept about what it means to be a Christian. This is in no way what Christ calls us to in His Word or what He exemplifies Himself. Even Jesus was committed to community with his disciples before there was an official “church”. So, that’s why we cannot “forsake the assembly” as Hebrews 10:25 expresses. To be detached from the body of Christ is like being a body part cut off from the rest of the body. We will not experience the life that Christ has for us because He intentionally provides it through His church and designed us to be a part of that body.
2) Every member is crucial to the life of the body
Another way that the non-committal trends of our culture show up within the Church is when we come to church but refuse to contribute to the life and function of the body. Romans 12:4-8 goes against this way of “passive church-going”:
“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, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
This list of potential gifts we can contribute to the life of the body with is not an exhaustive list. There are so many ways that we can take part in what God is doing in and through the church. But the point is that we have all been created by God with unique abilities and resources, therefore, as members of the body of Christ, we are called to use what God has given us to contribute to the life of the body. To not serve or invest our gifts within the context of Christ’s body is to be a body part that betrays its designed function. That not only would deprive us as the dysfunctional part from the fullness of life God has for us, but it also hinders the rest of the body.
Now, I want to speak briefly to those of you who might think that you have nothing to give. I want to tell you that is NOT TRUE. God has created you, beautifully and wonderfully with a unique personality, perspective, talents and opportunities so that you can be part of what He is doing in and through His people. Everyone has an important part to play, and all are crucial to the health and life of the whole body.
3) Leaving a local body must not be taken lightly
This is more of a plea than a point like the others, but because I’ve experienced the pain of watching friends, mentors and beloved siblings in Christ leave my local body, I find it necessary to make this plea. The image of the church being a body explains that pain and implies a necessary warning.
If a part of your body were to be suddenly torn from you, it would be incredibly painful, leave potential scars and at least for a time, compromise the overall function of your body. The church is similar in that way. Therefore, I urge you, if at any point you find yourself considering leaving a church, please be careful, be Biblical and understand the impact your actions will have on the body of Christ. The church is not just a social club where we can flippantly bounce from one to the next without any consequences. There’s an interconnectedness that is unique to the church, and therefore the severing of any part is incredibly damaging.
Now, my point is not that you should never leave a church for any reason. But, the reasons that scripture gives us are not as long a list as we typically follow today. In fact, just to clarify, here’s a link to an article that explains the reasons scripture tells us we should leave a church. If those issues listed in the article have been confronted in accordance with the process written out in Matthew 18:15-18, and not repented of, then by all means we should leave the church.
Leaving a church according to how the Bible guides us minimizes the damage, works to maintain the unity of the greater body of Christ and ultimately glorifies God in the process. I pray that it would never be necessary for any of us to do so, but if a day comes when it is, please leave well. Let your departing be an intentional surgery guided by God’s Word. I say that for our good, the sake of the body and the glory of God, because all three of those things will either be benefited or compromised by the way we leave a local church.
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