More Than a Bucket of Parts

Remember Mr. Potato Head and his bucket of parts? You could create a seemingly normal spud, or you could mix up his parts and give him six ears and four feet (along with a mustache, of course). You could give the potato the correct body parts but put them all in the wrong places. He could glide along on his eyeballs and talk out of the top of his head, if you chose. The child had free reign over his design.

I’ve been guilty of wanting to do the same with the church. I’ve been passionate about adoption or missions, women’s ministry, or any number of good things, and felt the church might be better if everyone in the church was as zealous for those things as I was. I’ve served with the gifts God gave me while frustrated that not everyone was as organized as I was. I have been hurt when others didn’t come alongside of me when I led in ministry. There have even been times where I have damaged relationships because of my pride related to these things. Lord, forgive me! Church, forgive me!

“But 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.” 

1 Corinthians 12:18-20

The body of Christ is no potato head. The design of the body is not ours to choose. The function of each part has already been chosen, each one of us fashioned by God Himself for the good works He has planned for each of us individually, and for the Body corporately.

“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.”

1 Corinthians 12:24b-26

Sometimes division in the body manifests itself blatantly and leads to broken fellowship within the church body. Other times, division is more subtle and happens in my own body as my heart is hardened and I won’t rejoice with another, nor will I be grieved by their suffering. When the Spirit shows me my sin, the proper response is always repentance and if possible, reconciliation.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

1 Corinthians 12:27

Is Christ your Savior? If so, you are a part of the body of Christ. Your gifts are needed, and the place God has ordained for your gifts to be used is in and through the context of a local church. Just as God designed the body and all its parts to function together, He has also gifted each of His children to fill a certain role in His own body, working together in unity, for His glory and renown. May it be so at The Bridge.