What the Body of Christ is to me

[Paul Hazelwood]

To me the Body of Christ is all mankind.

This Body is not conditional on where we are at in any realm, physically, emotionally, spiritually.  It is not conditional on who agrees, who is right, who has more, who has less, who prays the least or the most.   It is not conditional on the building you are in or out of.   It matters not whether you believe in a torturous eternal Hell or whether you believe that Love will change us no matter what we have done or whether some retribution awaits us after we die on this earth.  You can add in whatever you believe and as far as the body of christ goes, it does not matter.


It is the atheist, it is the buddist, it is the muslim, it is the most vile creature to roam the earth, it is you at your worst and at your best.   It is every human being that has ever existed, does exist and ever will exist.

I say that because at the moment in time that you are reading this, you were once an unbeliever, per sey.   At some moment in time, we have all, in our hearts crucified Christ. In our hearts or physically at some point at least once   :laughing7: have denied him, we have committed attrocious acts against the law of God.


I do not say that to accuse, I say that because ALL men will be reconciled, ALL men have a purpose and whatever someone has done, is doing or will do is only a point in time in their journey where they have not been reconciled to God.

I say that because to me,  the body of christ makes up humanity, and there is nothing we can ever do that keeps us from being a part of that.

This does not mean we are not to discuss or debate things to get to the truth.  It does not mean we do not try to show someone their hindrance to spiritual growth.  It does not mean we do not try to be better, learn more and perhaps even listen to someone else.

It means we are all different, we all have a purpose and God loves us all.

[jabcat]

Hi Bro. Paul.  This is my understanding as of this day  :happy3:.  Heck, I could even be wrong about some of this  :mshock:   :laughing7:.  And my apologies if this somehow interferes with you stating what the body of Christ is to you.  I believe the body of Christ is larger than many give credit to it being.  However, I also believe that we are individually and specifically brought into the body of Christ, either in this age, or the next, when God personally gives each individual the faith to believe on Him.  Maybe for me a distinction could be that we are all God's children, but His body are active believers on Him, that He has thus far chosen.  He is the savior of all, especially (set aside for a specific purpose! :thumbsup:) of those believing.  Otherwise, IMO, there are way too many scriptures that have to do with light not mixing with darkness, etc., for there not to be a "difference" between believers and unbelievers  :dontknow:.  That doesn't mean believers aren't to love unbelievers, are to feel superior to, look down upon, or totally divide from, and that our attitude is to be much different than many of ours in churchianity has been...However, IMO, we are to acknowledge our standing and assume the responsibility to be a witness to the lost, "preaching" the Good News so that they too might believe.  Every day's a learning experience;  My  :2c: for now.

[Paul Hazelwood]

Not a problem James,

In general I do not disagree with much of what you wrote.   All believers are in the body of Christ so I cannot disagree with you in that.  I also agree that the body of Christ is much larger than we think.


The reason from my perspective that I see everyone in the body of Christ is not to say that I accept that a buddist will be a buddist when all are reconciled; it is to say that we will also not be Christians then either.  In otherwords we will be one with God and we doubtfully will categorize anything with labels.   This spiritual side of things is very difficult to convey so I am not concerned if I am agreed with or not.

I can only convey my walk.  I think when we look at the physical, see the labels, see the belief systems, we do not see how it all intertwines. 

How can I make a large separation between who I am, thinking about belief in Christ, knowing for a fact that my atheist friend has actually revealed things to me that has helped me see a greater realm of the spiritual?

The vast majority,  if not all conversations that I recall online and in person with people of other faiths, I can see a glimpse of christ in their walk.  I can see that their greatest objections is not to the possibility of Christ and a loving God, it is religion that paints them as someone less than a believer, even if ever so subtly.

So when I see people, I see Christ working in everyone for his glory, I see myself and my failure to believe in some instances in my life, but I have believed, or so I tell myself, in other areas.  In those times when I try to do it on my own when scripture tells me to have faith that God will take care of it,  what makes me, being told I am in the body of Christ, different from my atheist friend?

If I am to love my enemy, I can think about it, but do I really?  Could I love my abuser?  Could I love my wifes abuser?  Well, not from my own will, I know I cannot.  So what am I doing to the body of christ when I cannot "love the lesser"?   Who actually is the lessers?  Are they simply believers that are not as good as us?  Or are they anyone we see beneath us? 

I certainly am not writing this in direct opposition to what you wrote , just trying to illustrate the perspective I am coming from.

[jabcat]

I understand, thanks.  One thought about those of other faiths, God can use whoever and whatever He chooses...He's even used me before :).  Also, I had wanted to add that I think we have to be very carefull about this; arrogance, condemning, self-righteousness, abusing in the "name of Christ", which is all too often, actually churchianity...and I ought'a know, I've done 'em.  God's blessing, James.

[alihaymeg]

Great stuff guys!

     In theory at least, all will eventually be a part of the body of Christ. It seems that the more inclusive we see the gospel as being, the more forgiving and understanding we become.

     I know what you mean when you say that it would be hard to forgive a person who has hurt your wife or child. I would also want retribution at first, but I would like to think that the truth of God's unfailing love for us regardless of our actions has "rubbed off" on me.

     The fruit of the spirit:  love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

     To often the fruit of religion: hatred, dissention, fear, judgmentalness, intolerance, prejudice, boldness, division
     What's up with that?

[Tony N]

I'm just glad I'm not a Jew or a Greek because Paul said that there are no Jews or Greeks in Christ.  :laughing7:

But, in all seriousness now . . . I think eventually all  mankind will be subjected to Christ and then God will be All in all.

But if we take the analogy of the body with a head, the Head being Christ and the body being composed of those "chosen before the disruption" who receive no condemnation (unlike the unbeliever) we see Christ orchestrating the members of His body.

Paul wrote to all "who are being (in Christ) and believing in Christ" in Ephesians 1:1

Eph 2:5 (we also being dead to the offenses and the lusts), vivifies us together in Christ (in grace are you saved!)"

I do not believe that the radical muslim (or radical Baptist [or name whatever faith]) who is an unbeliever is currently in the body of Christ. I do however believe that it is inescapable that such a one will one day be vivified (made alive beyond the reach of death), subjected to Christ (as we are too) and God will be All in that person (see 1 Corinthians 15:22-28).

But during this age or eon God is calling out a rag-tag motley crew of people and placing them in the body of Christ. Not all mankind share this blessing.

It is in the two final future eons or ages that all in the heavens and all on the earth are to be headed up IN CHRIST.

[Nathan]

1 Peter 2
3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.  9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

There seems to be a difference here between a believer and an unbeliever.  "If" the unbeliever is still a part of the body of Christ . . .it is a dead part . . which would then be an affliction to the rest of the body.

For me . . . I think that's part of the blessing we receive when we "believe" in Christ . ..we become "grafted" into a body that we were once not a part of.  Perhaps the body has a place for all but until all bow their knee and confess with their mouth . . . the body will remain incomplete??

[MacPherson]

Isn't the body of Christ the bread taken at communion?

[Tony N]

Isn't the body of Christ the bread taken at communion?

Only figuratively.
The disciples were not canibals.

[Paul Hazelwood]

One thought about those of other faiths, God can use whoever and whatever He chooses.

Yes, that is true. I think it is one of those things that I have wondered about.   Given right now is the body of Christ incomplete or just unfulfilled?

If God is using an atheist for a purpose, then that begs the question, "Does the Atheists disbelief disqualify him from the body of Christ or is it just an unfulfilled part of it?"

So again, I am understanding what everyone is saying, this is just points to ponder upon.

[MacPherson]

Isn't the body of Christ the bread taken at communion?

Only figuratively.
The disciples were not canibals.

Ah, that must mean to take the wheat and the tears figuratively too.

Peace

[Tony N]

Isn't the body of Christ the bread taken at communion?

Only figuratively.
The disciples were not canibals.

Ah, that must mean to take the wheat and the tears figuratively too.

Peace

Yep, the wheat and tares represented people.
When Jesus said: "This is My body" it is a figure of speech called a metaphor. Like we say "She is a witch" we don't mean she literally is a witch. We mean her actions are representative of a mean person.

Now then, if the "is" were missing in Greek as in "This My body" it would be a literal statement. But the 'is' is present.

Shalom

[Nathan]

Yep, the wheat and tares represented people.

Or spiritual fruit versus carnal fruit . . .