Yesterday, I opened with an analogy that we are like puzzle pieces in the bigger picture. It is one of the best conceptual representations of the church. We fit together in a way that takes our weaknesses and turns them into strengths. It takes the areas I need to mature in and helps me address them by leaning on others and shaping me into a more complete picture of Christ. Yet, puzzles are disposable. If I have a few missing pieces, I’ll throw away the cheap cardboard picture and pick a new one because a puzzle and its pieces are disposable. We, however, are not disposable; we are not cheap.
As great a picture as a puzzle is, it is not the best representation of the church. The best expression of the church is found in the words of Paul. He describes us as a body.
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 ESV)
The human body is a much stronger metaphor. If we are missing a piece of our body, it hurts. We feel it. It is noticeable. Our hands, fingers, and eyes do not grow back. When a part of the body is gone… a hole is present, and it is obvious. As we note further in the passage, hands, ears, and eyes are not interchangeable. They all have distinguishing roles and functions within the body. Functional uniqueness tells us something important about our lives together: you are vital and necessary. The body needs you. You are more important than you can ever imagine. Sure, the body might be able to limp along or compensate for a missing body part, but wouldn’t it be better if it didn’t have to?
A few weeks ago, we had our Song Fest. And it was wonderful. It was uplifting and a huge blessing. But a lot of body parts were missing. It was noticeable. It hurt. Some from other bodies drove 4+ hours to be a part of the gathering, and I am thankful that they did because it only encouraged us all the more.
I wish that these were isolated incidents. However, when we have functions, I can’t help but notice body parts missing. It is heartbreaking to think that someone in our congregation doesn’t see the value in being present. There is a profound beauty in being a part of something bigger than themselves. Some must believe that the body will be fine without them being there. That is not true. The body needs you. It is weaker when you aren’t here.
You might consider yourself only a small percentage of the whole. You might think, “No one notices when I am not there.” But I assure you that we all notice. Being integrated into a body strengthens you in every possible way. It is a benefit to the body and the parts, and it is a perfectly complete organism. To the church in Ephesus, Paul writes:
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From 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).
Each part is growing; each part is supporting other parts. We can be so much more if we are involved. We become the complete and mature body, working in unison, harmony, and tandem with each other. We need you. Each part individually is just a piece, but those pieces make up the body. We are all growing together and upward. We are all pieces.