On Sunday, Rev. Dr. Harsh spoke to us about the God’s Gift for the World using Paul’s letter in Corinth. The scripture includes, but is not limited to 1 Corinthians 12:12-14:
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.”
Paul’s discussion of the body fights against two primary lies, which some members of the body may be tempted to believe:
“You don’t need me.”
“I don’t need you.”
Paul wrote this letter to correct what he saw as erroneous views in the Corinthian church. Several sources informed Paul of conflicts within the church at Corinth. There are often erroneous views within any organization, and the views and information undoubtedly becomes distorted the more it is shared.
Christ gave multiple gifts to his church in order for the various parts to build one another up in love. When held together, the local church, as a concrete expression of Christ’s body, is able to grow in love as they share their gifts and their lives with one another.
Loving God,
We praise you and ask that you guide our congregation through the stormy waters of transition. Help us to remember that we cannot navigate those waters if we stay mired in the past, and we cannot grow if we do not build one another up in love. Amen.
