The Body You Always Wanted (1 Corinthians 12)

      Did you read the title of this morning’s sermon?  I suspicion once you read it, it got you thinking, not so much about 1 Corinthians or Pauline theolgoy.  Rather, I would imagine many of us read that sermon title and then commenced musing or perhaps stewing over what the sermon title brought to mind.

      The title of today’s sermon:  The Body You Always Wanted. 

      Stand in front of a mirror long enough and each of us will start fussing over something that you think is less than attractive or desired.  It is alright to feel that way.  It is part of being human: that wonder of your parents’ DNA, two different strands of genetics, intertwining together to give you big ears or a firm jaw line, delicate fingers or stubby toes, the right shade of blue eye color, or big frizzy hair to keep up with (or if so genetically inclined, hair that you fight to keep).  Everybody has something about their body that they wish was otherwise.  It’s part of being human.

      “The Body You Always Wanted.”  Call a diet book or an exercise DVD or a reality show by this title, and you’ve already made a tidy sum.  We Americans drop quite a bit of money on diet programs purporting to help us lose weight by sometimes the oddest methods.  We hang on the words of the “health guru” of the moment. Richard Simmons still teaches classes in Los Angeles to his devoted fans, complete with those spangled sparkly short-shorts.  Simmons is among the few multi-millionaire diet kings, who emphasize the inescapable work that goes along with his methods.  Most of us do not want such candor.  We would love to miss the fine print that we would prefer not to read: “This diet does not work alone and must be balanced with exercise.”

      So we stand there at the mirror, fussing over the third chin, the eyebrows that just cannot be tamed, and last but not least, wonder whether or not we can pull off another year of saying, “Oh, me? I’m 29…forever!”

     In the epistle reading today, we encounter a familiar teaching about the nature of the Church.  Calling the body of believers “the body of Christ”, Paul uses the metaphor of the human form, detailing various parts of the human body and says none of them are non-essential.  Every single part of the body is of use and importance.  This language is quite winsome calling the Christians gathered together to remember we are all on common ground, one in Christ Jesus.

     This lofty ideal is given to a church on the ropes, the Church at Corinth. You do not help figuring out this epistle is written to people in conflict.  The members are nearly at each other’s throats.  The fellowship faded away.  Old scores were being settled. Chairs were being likely thrown.  And worst of all, some folks were cutting in line at the church potluck!  

     Paul was called in as a long-distance interventionist, a wise leader who could be trusted by all sides to have a good word.  Essentially, the tone of the Corinthian correspondence is like this:  Want to be “the Church”?  You’ve got to work out your differences and build up your life together.  Corinthians: rise up above your squabbles and be one in Christ!

      We present-day Christians read these first century words between Paul and the Corinthians and other early Christians, and essentially, it’s a bit like reading other people’s mail.  The first century is now long distant, but my, my, the words Paul imparts!  The church is one.  The church is many.  The church is united in Christ. 

What a marvelous vision!   What good theology!   What a challenge to live it out!           

      Despite being two millennia old now, Paul’s writings serve us well, especially when you apply these lessons to the body of believers you know best.  How does our congregation measure up when we look at ourselves in the mirror? 

      What does it mean to be together?  Will we ever be satisfied with our appearance?  Do we secretly long we looked like something other than ourselves?

     For the Corinthian Christians, Paul’s words are needed.  There are some in the Corinthian fellowship who claim pride of place by virtue of their spiritual gifts or their status in the church of society.  Persons who speak in tongues claim greatness. Those who are wealthy muscle out those who are weaker for the best places at the table.  Persons claim prominence, based on criteria of their own devising.  As for Paul, he claims each and every person has equal worth.  No matter who you think you are, no matter who others tell you that you are, the Body of Christ is the place where all are one, not on our terms, but on that of Christ. 

      When somebody asks me how many people belong to First Baptist, I give the number of over sixty adults and nearly a dozen children.  I claim this number with pride, as this number, though smaller than our general membership roll (we claim “260” by virtue of baptism and transfer of letter) represents the people who have declared a vested interest in our fellowship continuing onwards.  You are a remarkable group of people, and the annual report reflects the fruitfulness of your intentional investment in the life of this fellowship. 

      Deep down, though, we find ourselves looking in the mirror and ask what we would like to change about our congregation’s “body” or what we wish was otherwise.  Any church inevitably finds itself musing and perhaps frittering over the church we always wanted.  What will it take to feel attractive?

     What makes us feel a bit uneasy or unsettling when we look at ourselves in the mirror?  Books, DVDs, and media-savvy preachers (with the best hair, teeth, and makeup this side of Hollywood) give us an impression that you have to look “just right” to be relevant.  Are we still beautiful, even if we glimpse a wrinkle or two in the mirror or quietly wish something about our body could be changed or excised? 

    As Paul says elsewhere, one faith, one baptism, one Lord is our identity and our goal.   We are called to be one in Christ.  We tend to obsess about what is wrong or what should be changed so that we can somehow become better.  The New Testament claims that we are already one, the many diverse and gifted, drawn together by the Cross.  Paul indicates the gifts of the Spirit are many, and instead of trying to claim one is greater than the other, or worry the Church is always under some sort of drought, we should realize God has given us what we need. 

     When he hears of a church where some think they are “perfect” or “gifted” and believe so at the expense of others, Paul calls his readers to honor all the gifts, all the people, for they are all one in Christ’s body, all are gifted by the Spirit, all are treasured by God. To be part of the Body of Christ is to be part of the whole, the many who are also one. 

      God has given us one another for the sake of Christ and the Church.  Each of us has something to give to the Body.  Not one of us is expendable or inferior.  All persons and all gifts, properly understood, are for the common good among us.

       We use our gifts not for individual benefit or glory.  We offer ourselves and our abilities, no matter how great or small they might seem, so that all might benefit in our contributions.  When we yearn for a more perfect Church, the “Body of Christ” we have always wanted, we ask ourselves, how are we doing serving one another?  Are our gifts given freely and with due humility?  Scholar Paul Minear wisely says Paul’s measure of a gift’s worth is found in its use and user’s intentions.  Do we offer our giftedness for the “upbuilding, encouragement, and consolation” of the Church? (Images of the Church in the New Testament, Westminster Press, 1960, p. 193).  Just like the flashy diets or the latest face cream claiming to make you look years younger, reality still trumps.   You cannot build up the Church by focusing only on the things you want or prefer as outcomes.  It takes every single part working together to build up the Body.

            These past few years at First Baptist have been a time to pull together and make “big picture” decisions for our common good.  When I first met you in January 2006 as an interviewee for the intentional interim minister’s position, you were tired from a difficult past, but hopeful for a different, brighter future.  In September 2005, you voted to start a new path, though admittedly, no one had the proverbial “crystal ball” to guide where things should go next.  No clear ideas were on the table however your willingness to explore possibility was in itself a mile maker for the journey ahead.  You made a tremendous first step in faith saying we need to change.  Some churches have closed their doors still waiting for members to say this important word to one another. 

            Today, you will consider accepting the reports of the church boards, the proposed 2010 budget, and the nominating committee report we share a different story in January 2010.  We may not be a hundred or two on Sunday mornings, but we have made important decisions that have amplified our mission and ministry in this community.  Instead of “where’s that?” when people mention First Baptist, the word on the street is becoming, “Oh, that’s the busy church.”  How did this happen?

            Paul’s writings would claim it was the work of the Spirit in our midst.  The collaboration and partnerships that are happening in the community with First Baptist at the fore happen because collaboration and partnerships are happening within our fellowship.  People are more engaged in our congregational governance and “big picture” questions are being wrestled with successfully.  The many are one in Christ.  In a congregation great or small, things are healthy and at their best when the many are giving their diverse gifts for the common good.

       You have chosen to be the Body of Christ, by being aware of what a body needs.  Rather than embracing the view that we are “too far gone to change”, we have been taking bold steps towards our short and long term wellbeing.  It’s almost as if we’ve started looking at our body less as something to feel inferior or vain about.  In fact, we are taking good care of ourselves. 

      Nonetheless, we have to keep working at it.  We are never “finished” in tending the wellbeing of a congregation’s heart and soul.  It’s a bit like what your doctor would advise at the annual physical.  To stay healthy, the body needs exercise, the right diet, and all of its parts working together.  Indeed, we are getting a better prognosis:

***Exercise (we’re talking more about what it takes to be Church together—our annual meetings are becoming part of an ongoing conversation, not just a ho-hum event that seems a bit like jury duty with spreadsheets.  We tell our story, affirm our future, ask questions about what will improve our ministry, and then, we eat good food, some of which our doctor would prefer us not to eat…);

***the right diet (we are exercising more oversight and strategic planning.  Our organization is becoming more structured and efficient.),

***and all of its parts working together.  (Without a doubt, each and every person who chooses to be part of this gathered people is essential and equal here. You have a voice, you have gifts, and thanks be to God, we are endeavoring to use all of our gifts and ourselves to build up the common good in our midst.  We are all gifted people, different yet united.)

       Look in the mirror, First Baptist.  Now, you might still spot things you wish you could change, but is it me, or are you looking pretty good? Despite being 183 years old, I think we could even pass for 157.