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There’s a lot of teaching in the New Testament about “the body of Christ.” Today, many people speak about being a member of this body; of having ‘joined’ or ‘entered’ into this body. A lot of people consider joining a church or ‘accepting Christ’ to be the equivalent of having entered the body of Jesus.
But there’s a certain irony to all of this. While the New Testament does, in fact, have much to say about this particular status, I’m thinking (among other things I don’t have space to delve into here) that this understanding has almost worked to the detriment of Jesus, his work, and his influence in today’s world.
I feel this way because it’s almost as if many professing to belong to this body see it more as a position or status achieved – as if they have done their part and that should suffice. Because of this, millions attend church and by doing so, feel as if they have completed some sort of Christian requirement – as if they have done what has been asked of them – i.e., been faithful.
I sometimes wonder what would happen if more teachers/pastors put their emphasis not so much on ‘joining the body of Christ,’ but on ‘embodying’ Jesus. There’s a big difference between these two perspectives.
When I say that we should put more emphasis on being the ‘embodiment of Christ,’ I’m saying that the emphasis ought to be whether or not, or how closely, we’re carrying ourselves in a way consistent with the life and character of Jesus. What are the particular marks of a Christ-follower evident in the way we live? Are there demonstrative differences – ones that are reflected in our relationships, actions at work or by the things we’re clearly devoted to?
Anyone can join a church. But that does not assure that they will bless those who curse them and be loving, merciful or charitable toward those who need it most. And THAT is the stuff of which the Jesus lifestyle is made.
As you go about your week, consider how you are the embodiment of Jesus to others. I think if you’ll keep this perspective in mind, you’ll be pleasantly surprised and amply blessed at the difference you begin making in the lives of others.
Blessings!
16 comments to “Body of Christ or Embodying Christ?”
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love your thoughts here and while I agree that the organized church keeps people trapped, I think there’s a dilemma on the other side of the coin as well. A group of folks just gathering, if they’re embodying Christ, will be attractive to some. Soon the room’s too full, and ‘PRESTO’ you’re organized – resist growing and you’re no longer embodying Christ as clearly – grow and you move towards institutionalizing.
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I love the post, but wanted to see something so often missing from a good deal of post-modern/Christian/etc. language — naming the power to embody Christ. I cannot just by my own effort embody Jesus. I need to receive the power of the Holy Spirit every day/moment – dying to life lived in separation and living into the truth of who I am in Christ — for I have been crucified with Christ, so it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.
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I don’t feel the separation, Michael. Separation Theology, in my opinion, is one reason that for 59 years I never felt close to God for any lengthy time.
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Correctly understanding and applying the radical values or principles that Jesus personally applied to his time on earth is a real challenge for me. He obviously understood the problems and deficencies of the Judaic system he was born in and rose above them. From my perspective, as I slowly tap into what made Jesus tick, I can then begin to apply the principles to my life. But that is so complicated and difficult – at least for me. The simplistic, yet profound answer always centers around the word LOVE. The more I allow Love to permiate my being, the more I can love my fellowman.
Looking back on my days when I wholeheartedly embraced the institutional church system, I now believe we placed so much importance on the “church, the body of Christ” that we at times actually worshipped the church more than we did God. Thankfully, I can honestly say I have shucked that.
I am now at a point in my understanding that, though I am thankful for the work of Jesus, I believe God should be the primary object of our love and appreciation. So what can we do as humans to show our love to God? What can we do to or for God? Nothing. We can however, love each other.
Thanks to everyone for your good comments.
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And then there are all the layers to explore, in understanding the meaning of “Christ” … our true identity IN Him, & what gets in the way of us realizing that identity … and thus demonstrating it.
So much needing to be UNlearned, so that what is can be known and/or remembered …
I see the point being to live life connected … and to ask of the sense of separation … “Is that true?!?”
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I agree with the distinction between non-institutional religion and community; those are two different realities. One can enjoy community fellowship outside of institutionalized realities (the good, the bad and the ugly).
Another distinction in play might be one’s perspective on atonement or at-one-ment. In my own tradition there is a less commonly received take on atonement that is still not considered heterodox. In a nutshell, the incarnation is not considered some type of cosmic repair job. If we are groaning, it is not because we have been injured. Rather, it is because we are participating in one great cosmic act of giving birth.
The theo-wonk take on this is that we are not unfortunate participants in some ontological rupture located in the past but gifted co-creators in a teleological striving oriented toward the future and taking place right now, in the present. The Franciscans with Scotus, and I reckon some of the Jesuits with Teilhard, do not see the incarnation as God’s response to any felix culpa (happy fault) of humankind but as an integral event foreordained in creation’s unfolding from the cosmic get-go. In other words, God was indeed coming because He so loves the world and participates intimately with the world and not because it was otherwise in need of a cosmic makeover.
Our solidarity is not, then, a reality to establish or re-establish but a Oneness to which we can awaken. We do not join the Mystical Body but either realize it or not. We are participating and will participate in this embodiment and can either come knowingly, willingly and celebrating or otherwise get drug kicking and screaming into His banquet hall where Her banner over us is love for nothing can separate us … as it is written.
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Love what you’ve said here, John:
“Our solidarity is not, then, a reality to establish or re-establish but a Oneness to which we can awaken. We do not join the Mystical Body but either realize it or not. We are participating and will participate in this embodiment and can either come knowingly, willingly and celebrating or otherwise get drug kicking and screaming into His banquet hall where Her banner over us is love for nothing can separate us … as it is written.”
And I think that people who aren’t particular even aware, are so asleep, and really oblivious to the Oneness in most respects also are in the banquet hall… there with the rest of us — all there under the beauteous banner that is love. Let not man put asunder what God has wedded.
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I’m sorry, gentlemen…but this sounds an awful lot like “Sheldon Speak” from the “Big Bang Theory”..
a LOT of big words and overthinking the Word of God. The Corinthians were intellectuals who openly debated everything, and Paul was amazed at how quickly new Christians abandoned the Gospel and returned to appease the old law. In other words….the good news of Jesus and his one time ultimate sacrifice…thrusting us into the Christian age where God lives within us and we in Him (not in a box…the ark of the covenant..or in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, but in our “hearts and minds”) is not that complicated as you would make it seem…it was understood by very uneducated men and women very clearly and without all the hype, hyperbole, and intellectual debate. Read the Bible, try to mimic Jesus and his ways, and his commandments…(“not everyone who says to me..Lord, Lord,…will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he does the will of the Father who sent me..” and “if you love Me, you will keep my commandments…”———Doesn’t sound like rocket science to me. It sounds like a good way to confuse those looking for Christ into thinking “man…there is no way I’m going to be able tto understand all of this..” and therefore, most won’t even try. -
I find this interesting…because I have been in the same conversation with a missions pastor at a great church here in Houston.
Don wrote about the same topic here… http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/note.php?note_id=166881706749&ref=mf
What I am noticing and feeling in my own heart that what you described is what has caused Western Christianity to lose focus over the years. We have become so consumed to indoctrinating people to our own individual standards of how the church should work and be and how you are to act within that church that we have left the very idea of what it means to be a Christian.
We look at the life of the incarnated Christ and assume that the life he lived is one that is unnatural and unattainable. We look at that life and quickly turn a blind eye to the idea that we ourselves should be pursuing such a life.
What I have come to understand is that the life Christ lived is not to shame us but to show us. To show us what humanity was intended to be. How true humanity looks upon the earth. To ere is not to be human but to live a life of Christ is.
Of course that runs in the circle of the holiness movement and is by far in my own belief something we will not obtain. The war with flesh is so strong that I am sure that other than Christ that life will not be lived…however, with the filling of the holy spirit our lives are different. Our acceptance of sin in our own life and life of others should not be tolerated or gone with no challenge…either within our own souls or the souls of others.
I would also say that the pursuit of such a life should not be made void whether we believe we will obtain it our not…because it is within this life that we not only bless those around us but bring Glory to His name.
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John –
OH! You’re singing my song! A symphony of awakened joy!
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Tim,
Maybe “embodying Jesus” will depend on who a person thinks he is while being a member of the “body of Christ” is about who a person thinks that they are. Both seem to be (emphasis “seem”) some sort of self defined identification.
I feel like the body of Jesus are those that Jesus identified with rather than the other way around. Pondering the question of who he thought was his, or who he identified/s with, can be a head trip depending on how inclusive your perspective is. It’s that way for me anyhow, lol!
Hi Tim, there is really no question about the truth of your comments. I really believe this is the very reason that so many are leaving the organised church these days. Today being a so called Christian In my mind doesn’t mean the same as it did even 20 years ago. Today just about anyone can claim that title. But to be the embodyment of Christ relates to “being” rather then “doing”. And this is where the diffrence is. But in my life I have been in that trap and found out that in that system the “doing” part is never quite enough, but I also think that is how the organised church keeps folks trapped. …………Andy