We did not emerge from the wombs of our mothers with instruction manuals.
Our parents did not tell us how to function in those formative stages. They showed us by example, and then we would reach an understanding we would follow. The development of speech, movement, and other key functions defines how we live—how to eat and drink, dispose of internal waste appropriately, put on clothes, etc.
From these functions, we then get in our heads that we actually want our bodies to operate in a particular way to deliver a specific outcome. We get in our heads and shape our functions to fulfil what’s in our heads. From the pursuit of finance to the desire for sexual pleasure – the body functions from what gets in our heads.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (Ephesians 4:11-14 ESVUK)
In contrast to the physical experience, there are helpful instructions for us as we emerge as new creatures in Christ. The chief helpful instruction and direction is our example. Indeed, that chief helpful instruction and direction is our Head – the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sadly, there’s a significant focus on the individual relationship with God in terms of the gospel. The picture that’s often painted is God sent His Son to die just for me. I was the object of His love as Jesus died on the Cross, and now, if I pray this prayer, then when I die, I’ll go to heaven, and as I wait for that blissful day, I know God will bless me in all I do and give me good advice to help me tackle the issues of the world.
Sure, we meet together every week as we’re told to, but really, that’s about getting a good motivational talk to learn how God will help me. As we meet, we can also do a few lovely things for others.
This picture, however, does not relate to the whole story of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The eternal purpose of God was not just about the individual. It was about a collective – a Body. A Body made of different parts that would function in various ways, but all those parts were united in the Spirit to grow to become like the Head. The Head is the foundation of our function and forms that function. It would be worth looking at the importance of Jesus as the Foundation and how that forms who we are and helps us avoid being conformed to this world and pursue being transformed by the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.
Our individual interactions with God support our corporate interactions with each other, which aim to demonstrate God's rule among ourselves and to the watching world.
On that basis, Paul's letter to Ephesus is so important. Elements of how the Body of Christ functions can be picked up throughout the Bible—yes, even the Old Testament has much to say to influence how the Body of Christ should function. It’s just that of all those references, Ephesians is structured around the universal perspective of God’s eternal purpose and its application to how His Body functions, from general community interactions to the building blocks of the community—the family.
Look at what Paul says about who Jesus sends to help equip the Body to function as it should. We could get caught up in looking for individuals who display those qualities and gifts. We could be downhearted at not noticing anyone who is an apostle or a prophet and wonder why others are content with just having a pastor who happens to teach. That option is open to us.
Another option I prefer to consider (and we could converse on how it’s expressed elsewhere) is to trust God that His Body will have what it needs to grow to become like Jesus. That’s about Christlike character—fundamental to everything we do to reflect how we’re transformed. It’s also about, however, being taken with how Jesus functions.
Prophetic – It should be no surprise that the Word that became flesh operated on the power of the written Word and the Spirit that expressed that Word. Jesus Himself expressed the heart of God, which had been marked by the prophetic from centuries before. As we hear from God, we can align with what He’s saying about who He is and how we should act in light of that. We are aligned with that word so we can understand our responsibility to express it faithfully and fearlessly.
Evangelistic – Jesus followed John in declaring the good news. Jesus embodied the good news, fulfilling it in His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. His Spirit in the lives of His followers emboldened them to carry on the wonderful work of making the most of every opportunity to express this glorious news. It’s not the preserve of extrovert, brilliant communicators. This is the good news we received; the good news we believed in and understood the nature of the good news means we cannot keep it to ourselves.
Shepherding – The Good Shepherd showed how good He was by His act of sacrifice to protect the sheep He sought to guide. However, that sacrifice was part of the responsibility to care for and guide those He knows by name. He cares for them; He guides them. He expresses that in His healing, monitoring, and desire, all who follow Him should reach their destination. That desire is not the sole preserve of individuals trained in a setting and have letters after their name to prove it. Caring, guiding, healing, and helping are things that we all have a responsibility to express to function as His Body.
Teaching – Those who followed Him referred to Him as Rabbi. He taught with authority because He was in tune and in touch with the heart of the One who outlined these lessons. He taught with authority and integrity – nothing He taught was missing from His example. The teaching responsibility is not about showing off the ability to entertain and dazzle listeners with inspirational words and techniques. It is about the desire to see disciples made who observe everything that God has commanded and reach the level of maturity to see our responsibility to encourage others to likewise grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.
Hey Christopher, what about the Apostolic ... well ... I'll cook on that in a future entry.
All of this is to say that the Body's function sees expressions of the life of Jesus being our calling and sees us growing into those. We are not all teachers, administrators, evangelists, plumbers, prophets, cleaners, apostles, bakers, or pastors. We’re not called to be. We are called to grow to be more like Christ and that happens as we see together the wonderful plan of God and work out together to function in displaying the call and character of Christ.
For His Name's Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
