Many different metaphors have been used in reference to the church; with the term “Body of Christ” being one of the most frequently used. During a morning devotional period not long ago, it occurred to me to consider all this term might include. It seems to me that it does a lot more than simply describe how all the individual parts of a body should work together to perform their tasks in the service of the whole body. I believe this metaphor can be useful for understanding more than just that one point.
In reference
to the church as “the body,” the following link provides a very good summary
from which many of the following points were taken:
http://www.gotquestions.org/body-of-Christ.html#ixzz3FSmtMxrD
“The phrase ‘the Body of Christ’ is a common New Testament metaphor for the Church (all those who are truly saved). The Church is called ‘one body in Christ’ in Romans 12:5, ‘one body’ in 1 Corinthians 10:17, ‘the body of Christ’ in 1 Corinthians 12:27 and Ephesians 4:12, and ‘the body’ in Hebrews 13:3. The Church is clearly equated with ‘the body’ of Christ in Ephesians 5:23 and Colossians 1:24.”
It then lists
several reasons why the Church may rightly be called the Body of Christ:
1. Members of the Body of Christ are joined to Christ in salvation (Ephesians 4:15–16).
2. Members of the Body of Christ follow Christ as their Head (Ephesians 1:22–23).
3. Members of the Body of Christ are the physical representation of Christ in the world. The Church is the organism through which Christ manifests His life today.
4. Members of the Body of Christ are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9).
5. Members of the Body of Christ possess a diversity of gifts suited to particular functions (1 Corinthians 12:4–31). “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts… so it is with Christ” (v. 12).
6. Members of the Body of Christ share a common bond with all other Christians, regardless of background, race, or ministry (1 Corinthians 12:25).
7. Members of the Body of Christ are secure in their salvation (John 10:28–30). For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to perform an “amputation” on the Body of Christ.
8. Members of the Body of Christ partake of Christ’s death and resurrection (Colossians 2:12).
9. Members of the Body of Christ share Christ’s inheritance (Romans 8:17).
10. Members of the Body of Christ receive the gift of Christ’s righteousness (Romans 5:17).
Keeping the body metaphor in mind, a compelling observation emerges: when a body is healthy and functioning as intended, it can accomplish all it was designed to do. Psalm 139:14 describes the human body in these words: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” The human body is indeed a complex and marvelous creation. Each component—down to the smallest microscopic cell—bears witness to this truth.
Yet we also know that human bodies sometimes fail. Systems break down, parts malfunction, and restoration or healing becomes necessary. The same, it seems, can be said of the church. When the body does not function as it should, dysfunction and disease result. Might there be parallels between physical illness and dysfunction within the church—the spiritual body of Christ?
Both the physical body and the church share the same Creator. When each functions properly, both reflect the One by whom we have been fearfully and wonderfully made. Yet we also know that when health fails, the body cannot function optimally—and sometimes cannot function at all.
One critical factor in physical health is communication. What happens when communication within the body is disrupted or ceases altogether? In researching this, I came across the following statement from the University of Utah Health Sciences Center:
“The cells in
our bodies are constantly sending out and receiving signals… These are just a
few ways in which cell communication can go wrong, resulting in disease. In
fact, most diseases involve at least one breakdown in cell communication.”
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/cells/badcom/
This is fascinating. If a breakdown in cellular communication contributes to most physical diseases, might the same be true of dysfunction within the church—the Body of Christ? Could breakdowns in communication lead to stagnation, dysfunction, or even atrophy within the spiritual body? These seem like questions worth serious consideration.
Although the church is composed of individuals and groups of individuals, Scripture affirms that we have been given everything necessary to function as one body. Consider points three and six above: the church is the organism through which Christ manifests His life to the world, and its members share a common bond regardless of background or ministry. “There should be no division in the body.” Unfortunately, it cannot be said that the church has consistently functioned this way. It is often here that divisions and dysfunction begin to emerge.
Today, Christianity is marked by numerous denominations and sects. Many divisions arise from differing interpretations of doctrine. Even within individual denominations, further differences in belief and practice exist. Given such diversity, how realistic is unity? How should legitimate interpretive differences be addressed? Perhaps greater effort must be made to understand both the scriptural basis and historical context behind differing views.
Complete freedom from disagreement would require perfect knowledge, perfect wisdom, and perfect discernment—qualities we simply do not possess. What we do have is God’s Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit, who guides believers into truth.
In the early church, when many came to Christ daily, it seems unlikely that new believers were immediately engaged in heated debates over obscure theological points. The message was simple: accept Jesus Christ—the risen Savior and King—and be saved. As the church grew, the need for sound doctrine became clear, and the apostles addressed errors as they arose. Paul’s letters, in particular, warn against teachings that threatened to distort the gospel. One such divisive issue was circumcision, addressed directly in Galatians.
I was raised in a tradition where doctrinal differences were viewed as critically important—important enough, at times, to jeopardize one’s salvation. Through conversations with others from different backgrounds, I have come to realize that this experience is not unique. Convinced that we were right and others mistaken, much energy was spent correcting the beliefs of other churches. Meanwhile, many who knew little about Jesus received far less attention. Too often, the focus was on refining the Christianity of others rather than sharing the gospel itself.
Rather than fostering unity within the Body of Christ, this emphasis on differences often reinforced division. I sometimes wonder whether this preoccupation with who is right, combined with resistance to fellowship and communication, might be one of the enemy’s most effective strategies for slowing the spread of the gospel. Could this mirror the way disease disrupts communication within the physical body? Scripture does warn that the devil is a deceiver who sows division wherever possible.
This line of thought brings to mind the parable in Matthew 13:24–30. The Message renders it as follows:
“God’s kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too.
“The farmhands came to the farmer and said, ‘Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn’t it? Where did these thistles come from?’
“He answered, ‘Some enemy did this.’
“The farmhands asked, ‘Should we weed out the thistles?’
“He said, ‘No, if you weed the thistles, you’ll pull up the wheat, too. Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I’ll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.’”
What strikes me about this parable is that the wheat is not defined by the field in which it grows. Different plants coexist in the same field, and separation comes only at the harvest, based on the fruit produced. Applied personally, this suggests that I am a Christian not because of the denomination I attend, but because of Christ. My final outcome will not be determined by choosing the “right” church. As Matthew 7:20 reminds us, “You will know them by their fruits.”
When I speak of differing views and divisions, I want to be clear: I am not opposed to healthy discussion. On the contrary, thoughtful dialogue is essential for growth and understanding. I also believe there are core beliefs that define what it means to be Christian and that unite us as members of one body. When believers come together to pray, study Scripture, and seek God with open hearts, the Holy Spirit guides each to the place and role where they are meant to serve.
While I naturally gravitate toward those with whom I share much in common, I learned long ago that waiting for complete agreement would result in isolation. None of us is perfect, and no group possesses a complete or flawless understanding. We are called not to arrive at perfection, but to seek God. In this sense, we might resemble the Bereans of Acts 17, who searched the Scriptures daily—not because they always agreed, but because they earnestly sought truth together.
Finally, I believe it is vital for Christians to gather regularly rather than withdrawing into isolation because of disagreement. To worship as a “church of one” would represent the ultimate separation from the Body. Hebrews 10:25 exhorts us not to forsake assembling together, but to encourage one another—especially as the day approaches.
May God bless us all as we continue to seek Him.
originally written October 2014 - revised December 2025
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