With or Without

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

As we creep along through the Book of Romans in Sunday school, the discussion led us to this subject. God has created each of us as individuals, each with unique talents and gifts. He had a plan for this, as He always does.

If God's plan is for unity, one part of that plan is that each of us, as individuals, fit together to make unity. Look at any object and how it is designed. It may have moving parts, it may not, but it will have a variety of pieces put together by various other pieces. When they all come together and it works properly it is complete. If there is a part missing it probably won't work.

So in regard to the Church (in general) God refers to it as a body...and Christ is the head of the Church...or should be. In a church, however, where Christ is the head, where it's all about Him and less about what man makes his church, there is unity. This is only attained when we humble ourselves and not think of ourselves as greater than the next person and allow Christ to be the head.

We each have a separate role in the church. As Jon discussed we are not all called to be pastors or deacons, or any other official within a church. Some are called into lesser roles. But all are necessary, like parts of a physical body. There are many parts (or members) but one body (or church). 1Corinthians explains this: If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? (1Corinthians 12:15-19)

We must accept our individuality in life and within the Church. But there is more to this. If we are a part of a body then we must be part of that body in order for it to function. This ties in with something I wrote earlier about not forsaking the assembly. If we have a function, whether it is a great role or not, we should be part of the church, not just for the body's benefit but for our own. We are as necessary to them as we are from them.

This is where not thinking of ourselves as greater comes in. Thinking of ourselves as greater is a sin. It is pride. If we believe we can do without, aren't we saying we think we are better?

Not all churches are perfect, but we need the Church. We need the fellowship. It is part of God's plan. We cannot do without the body. God created Eve for the sake of Adam because it was not right for man to be alone. I believe He created believers and the Church for the same reason. There will always be flaws within some churches because man's nature is involved, but that's why we are needed...to temper some, build up others, encourage yet more, and admonish when necessary...and receive the same from others. We are not called to travel this life without the assistance of other believers. He has always planned life to be a group effort.

I can spend time with the Lord, as we are called to do, on my own, but there is something sweet about being with others doing the same worship. Just being in their presence is encouraging and uplifting. I feel "home." I believe it's the presence of God, glad to see His children in one accord and being who they are meant to be as the parts of the body of the Church. If a church doesn't have this, it's time to look for another one.

Romans 12 continues: For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them... (Romans 12:4-6) There are other scriptures that show us the importance of coming together. We pray for each other, we grow in the company of others. And Jesus was the prime example of what we are to do.

Luke 4:16 - So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

Not Forsaking the Assembly

Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

For weeks I have had this go through my head. I have been part of a new church for six months now. While I am accepted and I'm very glad to be where no nonsense preaching is done...love amidst the hard words of Christ...no glossing over the hards words of truth...I am struggling a bit with fitting in. I know this is where I am to be. God directed me there. He laid the foundation two years, maybe more, before I even realized I would leave one church for another.

But there are established friendships which I seem to be having a difficult time entering into. Maybe six months isn't enough time. Maybe, on the other hand, this is God's will for me...to not be so wrapped up in friends and growing closer to Him. He did, after all, remind me after I worried about leaving all my friends, that it's not about the friends I would be leaving, but about following where He was leading me.  Matthew 12:48-50 - But He answered... “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

So, okay, I am seeing two thing here. It's about following Him...and His friends are His followers. I know these people in this church are His followers too, and they are friends. So where's the problem? I can only believe that God will be continuing to direct my path and help me to see what all is going on. I'm sure it has to do with me and a change that needs to take place in me. I'm seeing this outside of church too. Directions I need to take. Words I need to speak. Fears I have to get over. Oh, praise God for the excitement in that!

It's so all about Him. Though I'm not certain where He is leading, I can do nothing but trust Him. There may be a major breakthrough for me along the way, one I cannot possibly fathom! Hah, I have been waiting for a major breakthrough for years...perhaps it won't be major but little by little, without my even recognizing it! Just like Him to do that.

I just know that while I question this feeling of aloneness in the midst of a congregation, I am also reminded that we are not to forsake the assembling together...God has appointed us to do so and it is where He is glorified in the midst of it. It is where we are instructed/instruct, encouraged/encourage...and perfected in Him (certainly what I need...don't we all). We are all needed with whatever we have to offer.

The part of that scripture that caused me to dig deeper was as is the manner of some. I found this explanation. It mainly deals with the Christians in Jesus' day, those who were turning radically from one religion to follow a man who turned religion upside down. It ends with a thought on today's thinking:
(1) some may have been deterred by the fear of persecution, as those who were thus assembled would be more exposed to danger than others. (Jews turning to Christianity...which even happens today.)
(2) some may have neglected the duty because they felt no interest in it - as professing Christians now sometimes do. (Today some have no interest in Christianity or any religion or blatant rejection of it.)
(3) it is possible that some may have had doubts about the necessity and propriety of this duty, and on that account may have neglected it. ("Christians" like I was who believed in Christ but didn't feel a need for a church.)
(4) or it may perhaps have been, though we can hardly suppose that this reason existed (back then), that some may have neglected it from a cause which now sometimes operates - from dissatisfaction with a preacher, or with some member or members of the church, or with some measure in the church.  (Needs no explanation.)  (Barnes Commentary)

I'm seeing that in the days ahead we cannot go on on our own without the assembly, rooted and grounded in at least the same beliefs. We need to know there are those around we can turn to in a time of need...or be there in the time of someone else's need. Who am I to say I can do this on my own? I know I cannot. I know I need the assembly. I learn from Christ but am strengthened by others here on earth as well...if I open my mouth to speak of the weaknesses I have, the doubts, the sin areas in my life. It's called corporate worship.

Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.