Forthright Magazine http://www.forthright.net Straight to the Cross ---- Body Responsibility, by Tim Hall Unity in Diversity, by Mitchell Skelton ---- COLUMN: Heavenly Connections Body Responsibility by Tim Hall I flinch when I hear it. One of the members of the congregation I serve has undergone surgery. A few days later I check on her progress, and am glad to hear that she's recovering well. However, only one other person has called to check on her though her surgery has been publicized. It's not the first time I've heard such a discouraging report, and it likely won't be the last. Whose fault is this? Should blame be laid on the preacher, the elders, the deacons? Exactly who is responsible for monitoring the welfare of other members? ... As I swing my hammer, something goes wrong. Either my aim was off just a bit or my thumb was out of position. At the moment of impact, many things happen within my body. My vocal cords begin vibrating and my lungs thrust air outward to produce a shriek of pain. At the same time, muscles in my arm quickly spring to action to move my thumb toward my mouth, already open to receive and soothe the offended digit. My legs and feet begin convulsing as I bounce up and down, an action I can't explain but which automatically follows such an injury. Tears push their way through tear ducts in response to the surge of pain, a sensation made possible by a complicated network of nerve cells. When I finally coax my thumb out of my mouth, I note that extra quantities of blood have rushed to the scene to help with the healing process. A number of physical responses have taken place, and I didn't have to take time to plan any of them. It's how a healthy body responds to injury. ... Now, back to our question about responsibility toward church members in need: Doesn't the human body illustrate truths about the Lord's body? Paul certainly thought so: "that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it" (1 Corinthians 12:25,26, NKJV). Before beginning his ministry, Jesus worked as a carpenter (Mark 6:3). Little is revealed to us about this work, but it's likely Jesus bruised his thumb once or twice. As he looked upon the injured member, he could take comfort in knowing the body (he had personally created) would respond in marvelous ways to restore that thumb in minimal time. If the body worked according to divine plan, healing was a certainty. Jesus also designed the church, his body on earth (Colossians 1:24). As we saw in the passage above, that body is also designed to nurture those who are injured or in need. When the body works as it should, the recovery process is certain. Who is responsible for checking on members who hurt? We're all responsible. And to the extent that any member fails to function properly, the entire body is weakened. ---- What's your reaction to this article? Tell us here: http://www.forthright.net//body_responsibility.htm ---- COLUMN: The X-Files Unity in Diversity by Mitchell Skelton Conflict and controversy are two sure-fire ways of exciting people into Bible study. Sadly, this kind of fire seldom resolves anything, rarely incites people to go into the world to save the lost, and most often causes division and even congregational splits. Words like "liberal" and "legalist" are discussed in church meetings and brotherhood papers so much that they seem to outnumber words that should be considered like "missions," "saving the lost," and "fellowship." Brethren become "experts" on the topic of discussion, and very often they become "one-issue" Christians. If you do not believe as they believe then you are a liberal and therefore must not be fellowshipped. Soon, these brethren try to force their issue into every situation possible and onto every person possible. Brothers and sisters, it is time for this to end! It is time for the Lord's church to stop majoring in minors. It is time for the Lord's church to complete the mission Jesus set for us and "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Will there be a time when doctrine is assaulted and needs defending? Sadly the answer is, "Yes." When these cases arise we must unite and defend the faith, but not every issue discussed is a matter of faith or fellowship. Jude wrote to the early Christians concerning this issue saying, "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 3). Jude wanted to write a letter of encouragement to Christians to inspire them in their evangelistic efforts, however, because of certain people and problems he was forced to write a letter urging them to be unified. Unity is not giving up the fight, as some perceive. Unity in diversity is often a phrase that gets tossed around like a hot potato. We should never compromise on the doctrine of Christ, yet who would claim that the Lord's church is not made up of a group of people with diverse beliefs? Paul urged the Christians at Rome to have unity in diversity. "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters" (Romans 14:1). In other words, Paul says, accept your brother without giving thought to his differing opinion. If Christians would strive to do as Jude commands and "contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints," then we could do away with much conflict and controversy. Later in Jude, those who cause division are said to have gone the way of Balaam's error. It is interesting that even Balaam, when he listened to God, got things right. "How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?" (Numbers 23:8). When one is seeking to please God and is not violating God's commands, then how can God's people denounce him? Paul says the same thing, "Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand" (Romans 14:4). Do you agree or can we agree to disagree? ---- What's your reaction to this article? Tell us here: http://www.forthright.net/the_xfiles/unity_in_diversity.htm ---- You can help us get the word out. Here's how: http://www.forthright.net/editorial/lend_a_hand.htm