Application Sermon

For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ Romans 12:4-5

Function – Even in Greek it’s hard to miss the implication here.  The Greek word is praxis.  The implication is that each member of our physical body – and consequently, each member of the body of the congregation – has a practical use.  Paul is getting ready to outline the gifts given by God, but the first thing he wants us to understand is that these gifts have no value if they are not used.  They are not like nicely wrapped presents sitting on the shelf.  You can’t store them away for another time.  These gifts are just like the parts of the body.  Use them or lose them.

Praxis implies something else that is vitally important for our understanding of the congregational body.  A gift is not a position in the hierarchy.  Men and women are not gifted to be pastors or budget directors or choir leaders or deacons.  They may play those roles, but those roles are not the kind of gifts Paul has in mind.  The gifts are far more elemental and therefore, far more versatile.  Our culture has a tendency to think of professional clergy as “gifted” for the task, but this is not what Paul is talking about, as we will see.  What Paul is talking about is the practical outcome that the gift exhibits as it is used for the benefit of others.  If an arm doesn’t do any lifting, it’s not of much use.  The same is true with these gifts.  Until they are used according to God’s purposes, they don’t really amount to much.

Here’s the practical application.  Since everyone has a gift given by God, no one should be a passive member of the body.  Can you imagine your own body where most of the organs just sit around waiting for a few to do all the work?  You would die.  So, by the way, does the church when most of the congregation turns over the full functioning of the “body” to a few of the more visible members or the paid professional staff.  That is not what God planned.  A church with a lot of pew-sitters is boring and ready for the grave.  And a church staff that does not actively encourage the gift exercise of all of the members is responsible for the boredom and the tombstone.  In a healthy body, every cell gets in the action.  In a healthy church, every member is operating his or her gift for the benefit of all.

Now a word of caution.  Don’t run off to do a “spiritual gifts assessment” and think that you have captured Paul’s intent.  Paul is not talking about “spiritual” gifts (again, as we will see).  He is talking about the way each human being is wired from birth to be an active participant in God’s full picture.  Paul is also not talking about particular roles in the church (like deacon or elder).  Paul’s argument here is not about hierarchy.  It’s about a flat community where everyone is edifying everyone and all are dependent on all.  Paul is being immanently practical.  He is talking about praxis, what each person contributes according to the gift given.

A woman I know said something outstanding.  It’s a wake up call to all of us.  “God is not boring.  So, why is my church?”  Paul is about to give us the answer.  It starts with realizing that boredom comes from body parts that are asleep.

What about you?  Are you alive with your gift, or is your gift sleeping in the back row?

Topical Index:  Transformation