Piecing the Parts Together
Take a look at these photos one by one without peeking ahead if possible:
What do you think is going on here? Is he angry? Is the sun making him squint? Perhaps he’s looking off in the distance. Maybe he needs glasses. Could he be frustrated? How does he feel?
Let’s add another part to the whole.
What impression do you have now? Could he be surprised? Maybe he’s at the dentist or possibly getting a throat exam. Perhaps he’s calling out to a loved one? With only eyes and mouth to look at, it’s hard to tell, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it help to see more of the body to better figure out the puzzle?
Of course! But take a guess, if you will, before you go ahead and look.
Did you perhaps glance ahead to get more clues? We would be inclined to do that because we know with each additional piece we get a better idea of what the person looks like, how he feels, and what he’s doing. Otherwise we’re just guessing among many possible interpretations.
Look below. Is this what you imagined in your mind’s eye? Probably not exactly.
The Whole is Greater than Its Parts
This mystery of the whole applies to the body of Christ as well. The more individuals we encounter who belong to Christ’s body the better we will understand the whole body and the character of God that body reflects. Each person expresses God’s nature in a somewhat different way. A group of real believers moving and acting together is a greater witness than any particular individual, however impressive, will ever be. The world needs to see more than just one part of a body to understand what the body is all about. Each representative of the body of Christ has unique gifts and roles to play in God’s grand plan for his Kingdom. The picture of who God is becomes so much clearer to those around us, as his people love God, serve one another and move together as one. The corporate anointing is greater than what an individual carries alone, no matter how prominent that individual. Each person in the group is precious and valuable yet together we make God more clearly seen to those around us. Together we shine in a way that makes Jesus Christ the Superstar, not any particular individual.
Answering the Cry for More
A few weeks ago, I heard a testimony coming from the mission field, out of Lagos Nigeria. A missionary told of holding a baby in his arms while the child’s mother desperately clung to his feet in tears. Her child had died. She hoped to see her baby, now dead, alive again and restored to her. Sadly, it did not happen in spite of the fact that several big name leaders took turns holding this child and praying for him. Bob’s story ended as he shared his passionate desire to see greater miracles. “We need more!” he said, “We’ve got to pay the price, whatever it takes!”
Especially the Parts that Lack
Didn’t Jesus say, “whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
Then, why is there such a struggle to see the works that Jesus did or even greater ones in our time? What price is required to see miracles, signs, and wonders proliferate in this world? Could that answer be, not found in the achievements of any individual, but rather in the interconnectedness and maturity level of the whole body of Christ? Could it have to do with how we love, honor, and serve one another? I think as we learn to love and honor one another more effectively, it will take us a long way toward seeing the manifestation of this heart cry for greater works to take place with increasing frequency.
Over the years I’ve been in various meetings, both large and small, where believers sought supernatural healing for a person in need of it. Typically there’s been this tendency for the participants in the meeting to give the credit for any healing that takes place to the person up front with the microphone, a mouth of the body of Christ. This has bothered me. Jesus Christ accomplished the healing. And he used not only the mouth but also the other parts of his body to do it. He used all who were willing and engaged. And I believe all get the credit in God’s eyes for exercising their faith. Shouldn’t we see things that way too?
Scripture says to give double honor to those who minister among us. Honoring the leader is good and has its place. But scripture also says to give greater honor to the parts that lack so there will be equal concern for all. I suggest to you that we in western Christianity need to focus a bit more on that second part of the honor equation so that we truly have equal concern for each other. Can we give more thought to embracing a community mind set and setting our hearts to honor everyone and in that way make Jesus the Superstar?
Being in One Accord
Personally, I think so. What about you? Do you know you are needed; that your part is important for a healthy body and we can’t be whole without you? Please consider how you can enjoy functioning in your part as you honor and encourage others for being who they are and doing what they do. We all need each other. As we consider these sorts of questions and apply our hearts to growth in love, I believe we will see the whole body come up higher in signs, wonders, and miracles, with Jesus getting the glory. Just weigh the possibility and consider what it says in the scriptures. Below you’ll find one. You may know of others. Post them as comments if you’d like.
Romans 12:4-5: “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Fire Starter for Jesus 