“Together and individually.” The great tension between cooperation and independence, or between community and individuality, continues to be a challenge for humankind. When we rely on others too much, we may be branded as a freeloader. When we rely on others too little, we may be judged for making things too difficult. When we are only part of a community, some may insist that we lose our own identity. When we are too independent, we may be considered antisocial.
It seems like there’s no way to win here, and some might be tempted to just give up. However, this isn’t a new problem (even in the church), and there is some Biblical advice to help us find a balance.
In the church, it should be possible for both community and individual characteristics to work together beautifully and productively. However, walking the line between these two extremes is not simple.
When we take togetherness to the extreme, and perhaps all try to be the same, then not only can those with differences feel left out or pressured to conform to look and act like everyone else, but also we can miss out on the variety that God created in – and gifted to – each of us.
When we take individuality to the extreme, we miss out on community and service to others. We find that our weaknesses are no longer covered by the strengths of others, and we are going to struggle to be what we were created to be: valuable contributors to a family, while also receiving from others in that family what we lack.
This tension has apparently challenged Christians since the first century. Let’s see what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV
This doesn’t provide a lot of specifics, but I think that there’s some guidance here for us to go on. For starters, those who are part of the church cannot forget that we are both things: collectively we are the body of Christ, and individually we are part of this body. Neither of these simultaneous roles makes sense without the other: we can’t be a body without having something to make up that body, and we can’t be part of a body if there isn’t a body to be a part of.
In addition, our responsibilities are to both roles: we must remember that there is a larger body, made up of more than just us, implying the need for community (which is stated more clearly elsewhere in the Bible) and mutual support. In addition, we must remember that we are a part of the body, with obligations to both give and receive among others in that body.
And, if you felt like you had to do it all (like some pastors do, I’m sure, especially in small churches), Verses 28-31a should provide you with some comfort. After all, per verse 27, each member of the church is a part of the body…not the entire body! You – or your pastor – weren’t expected to do everything in the church. Not only is the church made up of multiple people with different roles, but even what we do accomplish is aided by the Holy Spirit. It’s not about you. It’s about God and His church.
No matter how the Holy Spirit chooses to allocate spiritual gifts for us to use today, let’s seek His direction and His power, and follow His guidance to use whatever gift He has given us for the good of others.
Consider what Mark Scott wrote in the Lookout (cited below): “God is the giver of the gifts, ministry is the purpose of the gifts, and edification is the goal of the gifts”.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for April 14, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, April 14, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 Corinthians, by Richard E. Oster, Jr. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 