The Body

The church is often referred to as "the body of Christ" - probably the best way I can think of to illustrate the unity that Jesus prayed for in John 17:20-23. However, when I read Jesus' prayer for us, I sometimes wonder why his main request for the church is unity. Why not boldness? Why not protection, like he prayed for his disciples?

I won't claim to have any definitive answers here, but the question did spur a thought process:

There are a lot of different types of bodies out there. Tall, squat, muscular, hairy, slender, etc. Most of a body's appearance and behavior is due to its DNA - the inherent genetic code at the foundation of its growth. Christ followers also have a foundational DNA - that given by the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.). Our physical and spiritual DNA is inherited, but there are a lot of aspects of the body that we can control, through two well-known disciplines:

Diet.

Think about what the body of Christ is consuming (and I'm not talking bread and grape juice). Think about a typical day - do you discipline yourself to consume daily portions of Scripture (bread), have authentic fellowship with friends (protein), and supplement that with beneficial knowledge and productivity (vitamins and minerals)? Or do you find yourself continually going back to the cookie jar for extra helpings of distraction (sweets, empty calories)? As for me, I know that all too often I'm not only taking second helpings, but I'm the one baking the cookies and cramming them down people's throats. Don't get me wrong here - there are tons of great "desserts" out there, but discipline is necessary. Entertainment isn't bad - but only as part of a balanced breakfast.

Exercise.

Each Christ follower has a specific role to play in this body - and just as in our own bodies, these parts need exercise to function at their full potential. What is your spiritual fitness level? Are you training yourself to be used to the maximum, or are you the type of body part that is content to move only when needed, and just hang out in between uses? Once again, I find that all too often I'm willing to do just what's necessary, without pushing myself to be of maximum use. Discipline is again the key here - it takes discipline to open your Bible and journal, just as it does to go to the gym and lift.

Which brings me back to unity. Why did Jesus put so much stress on this?

When one part of the body rises up against another in the church, we call it division. When a part of our physical body rises up against another, we call it cancer. Cancer is among our most feared diseases - its spread is unpredictable and its symptoms can go unrecognized for years - the only way to effectively destroy it is to catch it early. Does this sound familiar at all? It's the same with division in the church. If not caught early, division will eat away at the body from the inside, and by the time it's caught, it won't be healed without exhausting and harmful intervention (chemotherapy).

This begs the question: are we treating division in the body of Christ with the same seriousness as the medical community treats cancer? Are we vigilant in examining ourselves for lumps and cutting out the tumors? I have no answers, but I think a higher awareness is warranted.

On the bright side, one profound difference between a physical cancer and a spiritual cancer is the hope for a cure. Despite all of the work on a cure for physical cancer, it is not promised to us, whereas our spirit's cure will come in the future establishment of Christ's kingdom.

"...we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." - Ephesians 4:15-16