On Being Part of the Body of Christ

On Being Part of the Body of Christ….

Read Romans 12:1-8

I’m still thinking about my sermon from a couple of weeks ago. (August 21, 2005) I only hope my parishioners are also thinking about it!

I have read this passage over and over for years. I can quote it. I know the words. Nevertheless, the Lord helped me to see the words in a different way as I prepared for this sermon.

     “…present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” Romans 12:1

Are words that I was quite familiar with, yet, this time around, I learned something about the words. Our Christian culture in America tends to stress the individual and his or her relationship with God. As I have read this passage time and time again, I have read it through the eyes of the individual. Most probably because of the words “present YOUR bodies”. This has always struck me as a rather individualistic kind of thing to do. You can’t present my body for me—I must present it myself. The insight comes just a few words past this “as a living sacrifice.” Did you catch it? I didn’t for so many years. Our bodies are not presented as sacrifices. That is each of our bodies is not offered individually as thousands and thousands of sacrifices made to God. Rather our collective bodies—are offered as one sacrifice.

When this revelation came, it made sense. After all, that’s what the rest of the passage really is talking about. This passage is about how, we, the many, and made into one body—the Body of Christ. It further explores the giftedness that God has made to the individuals to be used, not for their own benefit, but for the benefit of God.

How do you view your relationship with God? Is it as an individual or is it as a member of the body? Let me know what you think.