Weird Ideas: One ChurchSample

It doesn’t look like there’s one church. Nor does it look like many churches want to be one. Too often each local church is content doing its own thing, focusing on its own agenda, and living as though they are the totality of the body of Christ.

Previously, we described the Church as the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul really spells this out. Churches, despite all their differences and disagreements, are unified because they are connected to Jesus. And if you’re connected to Jesus, you’re connected to each other. That’s what makes them one. This is why the metaphor of a human body works. Lots of different parts, but all linked in service to one will. In this case, the head, or Christ.

Paul will talk about individual believers (and by extension, churches) as “members.” Think “body part” when you hear that word, not joining a club or organization. We are all body parts of Jesus.

This helps explain why churches can look so different and focus on very different things. They’re not supposed to look the same! Arms don’t do ear things. Kidneys don’t function like a lung. None of them look alike or focus on the same unique purpose. Yet all of them share the same DNA and are interconnected for the greater good of Christ’s body. Churches should have a diversity of look and expression.

There’s all kinds of cautions we can derive from this, too. When one part doesn’t function right the whole body is limited. Hands shouldn’t punch themselves in the face. It’s never good when one body part abuses another. Indifference doesn’t work either, because we all know that when one part hurts, the whole body is affected. The purpose of every local church is the same, but the way they go about achieving it is unique. We live in a diverse world. We need diverse churches to connect with different people intimately.

So don’t worry if every church doesn’t look the same. That’s not necessarily a sign of confusion or lack of unity. Look beyond the surface to what every church is a part of and called to do.