Being the Body of Christ

on December 01, 2011 by Walt Dilg

WORDS FROM WALT: Being the Body of Christ

January finds us welcoming guests onto our property for two weeks of meals and shelter as they pursue new opportunities for employment and housing.  It’s the Interfaith Shelter Network and we participate in this CCSA effort with a good number of other local congregations.   This is a way we live out our faith and seek to be the body of Christ for the world – trying to be and do what Christ would be and do, in our time and place.

I find it valuable to meditate upon that “body of Christ” imagery for the church, and to explore what it might mean to really live into it.  In Change the World, Mike Slaughter is helpful and writes:  “What does it mean to be Christ’s body in the world?  We as the church are the only hands that Jesus has to rebuild in broken places.  Our feet are his only feet to march in the war against poverty and injustice.  Our voices are his voice to share the good news of eternal life and offer hope to the hopeless.  Our bank accounts are the only fiscal resources he has to carry out the Father’s mission.” (41) 

I like what Slaughter has said because it is clear and to the point.  We are the Lord’s representatives to the world; we re-present the Lord in our time and place.  Our Lord’s mission counts on our hands, feet, voices, and wallets to get done.   Couldn’t be said more simply.  Thankfully, we not only called into this service, but we are empowered by the Spirit to do it.  So we don’t go it alone, but the Spirit is there with us to help us on our way. 

Let us be emboldened in our missional goals and our efforts to reach them, knowing this spiritual truth – when you work for God purposes, God works with you!  Amen.