1 Corinthians 12:11-14 (NASB) says, “11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14For the body is not one member, but many.”

With any type of entity, whether it be the church, public education arena, government or business, you need a system in place in order for it to function the right way and be successful. Systems can be looked down up because they oftentimes advocate for an hierarchy of leadership to where an individual is trying to climb up the ladder of success, notoriety and wealth, whereas in the kingdom of God it is not about how great you are, but how low you can go. This is why Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). Systems, when perverted, can also appear to be controlling and taking advantage of others instead of producing accountability and benefiting the community! When it comes to the church, its system is not to be Pharisaical, or a controlling, religious one, but birthed out of the Kingdom of God, who is none other than Jesus Christ!

 

The system of the church is not to function as an American incorporation, institution or organization, but as a body! The body of Christ, in context, refers to the gifts of the Spirit in people’s lives working together to function in the body in a specific role! We do not need to strive to fulfill a role in which we are not called, nor function in a gift we have not received. This usually comes out of a spirit of competition as a result of comparing ourselves with others. We cannot lose sight of the fact that Jesus is the standard, not anyone else!

 

With the church functioning as a body, this means no other man is to be the “head” of the body. This includes apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, deacons, elders or any other title a church member can have. For most churches, their pastor has replaced Jesus in their lives. They expect a man to be their Jesus, which includes their healer, intercessor, Savior and redeemer. When we do this, we idolize a position of leadership to the point we cause a man to fall or quit as a result of being something he is not called to be. The pressure so many pastors are under are completely unnecessary and unbiblical because they carry a burden God never intended for them to carry. Just as our brains communicate to the rest of our bodies what to do, Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and it is up to us to respond and move at His command and instruction. We are not here to please men, but to please God! 

 

In order for the church to function as a bodily system, which includes parts both seen and unseen, we have to have the Holy Spirit! Have we become so knowledgeable that we feel as though we do not need the Holy Spirit within the Body? While strategies, goals and plans are good, we cannot advance the message of the gospel without the voice and presence of God. We must work together under the leadership of Christ and the direction of the Holy Spirit so we can fulfill our role in this system. We do need another man’s blessing or approval. We just need to be obedient to God! It may be a role that other people do not see or recognize, and that is perfectly o.k. How would a natural body function without a lung, heart, liver or any other hidden organ or function? Every part is necessary, and you are necessary too! Don’t understand or undermine your identity in Christ, as well as your calling and passion in Him. Just follow Jesus Christ and be who He has called you to be. You will not go wrong!