THE BODY OF CHRIST
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. —I Corinthians 12:12-13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqO4PZ9iaKA
My church is better than your church! What? Let’s think about that statement for a moment. Here is what that statement is saying— My Body of Christ is better than your Body of Christ! Really? We need to think about what we saying from a Biblical perspective and not some selfish mindset.
The Universal Church (every person who has trusted the Lord Jesus Christ world-wide) is part of His Body, His Church. The passage above says that “we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.” In the Epistles we read “to the church” in a particular location (Colossians 4:15-16; I Thessalonians 1:1; II Thessalonians 1:1; Philemon 1:2). Now let’s think about it like this— “to the Body of Christ” in a particular location.
Fellow follower of Jesus, if you have truly trusted Jesus then you were “baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.” Yes, everyone who has trusted the Lord Jesus Christ “share in the same Spirit.” When you meet another follower of Jesus just remember that the same Holy Spirit that resides in their temple/body (I Corinthians 6:19-20) is the same Holy Spirit that resides in your temple/body. The same “Christ in you the hope of glory” is the same “Christ in (them) the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27)! So, how do we treat others in the Body of Christ, regardless of what local church they are from? Something to think about and may we have a Biblical perspective.
Dear Father, help me to never forget that each person who has trusted Jesus is part of His Body, the church. May I not have a “better than thou attitude toward any follower of Yours regardless of what local church they belong to.