Just as a body, though one, has many
parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one
body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one
Spirit to drink.
Even so the body is not made up of
one part but of many.
Now if the foot
should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would
not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if
the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it
would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If
the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole
body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But
in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he
wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would
the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one
body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I
don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker
are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less
honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are
treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts
need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater
honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should
be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for
each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with
it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
I Corinthians 12:12-26
The Body of Christ is one. Every
follower of Jesus Christ is brought into unity with all Christians everywhere
as those born of the Spirit (John 3:5-8). Race, status, gender and perceived usefulness
do not factor in determining one’s inclusion or importance in the Body.
Each one in the Body is equally
important and equally dependent on others in the Body. We are also equally
responsible to look after and show concern for each other. The Body needs all
of its members to make their contribution to the benefit of the whole Body. We
share in each others’ sufferings and joys. We share what we have to give and
depend on other members to do the same for us when we need it.
