Connected

When my kids were young, one of the activities we liked to do together was build with LEGO bricks. We didn't have a billion of the plastic bricks, nor did we have many "sets," but we had just enough to design almost anything a young (or in my case, old) mind wanted to make. So I built lots of houses with my girls and lots of spaceships and weapons with my boys.

But as you most likely know, the joy of playing with Legos isn't found in just holding one piece. Legos are only fun when you start putting them together. My kids never held just one brick in hand saying, "Daddy, look, a dog!" or "Look, a mansion!" It was only after they had connected several pieces together that they would ask for my attention to celebrate their creation.

God's Lego House

Today, as we finish up our One Body blog series, we see (from verses 25 & 26 of our key passage for this series) the Apostle Paul talk about how God has connected His people together into one body.

"...that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."

1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (ESV)

As we saw in week 1, the Body of Christ (i.e., the church) is to be united. As the Apostle Paul begins to conclude this discussion on church membership, he revisits this concept but takes it a step further. The church is not just to be united, they are to be connected in such a way that when one member suffers, everyone mourns with them. And likewise, when one member of the body is honored, all rejoice in that together.

Christians are already instructed in Romans 12:15 to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, [and] weep with those who weep." But what Paul is doing in 1 Corinthians 12 is elevating this kind of sympathy/empathy from an individual expression of love to a corporate expression of love.

LeAnn and I saw this in action during the two years we lived in Venezuela serving as teachers at a school for missionary children. During the academic year, our school held a church service in English every Sunday morning. But during the summers, the various missionaries/teachers would join local Venezuelan congregations. The one LeAnn and I attended was such an inspiration of Christ-like love. When someone lost a job (which was sadly common due to the economy), the church rallied with meals. When someone's car broke down, several men would repair it. When a teenage girl became pregnant, the church became her family and cared for the young mother and her newborn. These acts of love revealed that the church was connected in heart and soul by the Holy Spirit.

I believe this is the type of church we all want Riverwood to be, but in order to see it, at least three things need to happen:

1. We have to be first and foremost centered on Christ.

Many people are willing to rush in after a crisis to help. But to truly be connected as one body requires a much longer term commitment. This type of commitment requires the Christ-centered power of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us.

2. We have to take the first step.

Too often, we wait for someone else to start something before we jump in. In "church world," many attenders wait for the church staff to start the program they want. I can't tell you how many times someone has said to me, "Hey, you know what Riverwood needs..." but they expect the Elder Team or the Sunday Team to do it all. Rather, if we are connected as one body, then you can be the hands that help get something started. So take the first step to help someone else.

3. We have to make our own needs known.

For many Iowans, being self-sufficient is a matter of pride. We don't reach out because we don't want to appear weak. Yet, Paul points out in verse 26 that when one suffers, the whole body suffers. The only way for the church to be the church is if you let the church come alongside you and carry your burden with you. So empty yourself of your pride and humbly ask someone to help in your moment of need.

And man oh man, let me tell you... when a church lives this way...👆🏼 connected to each other as one body in Christ... it is a breathtaking, beautiful thing!