“God-Given Gifts!”
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (12:12) – January 26, 2025
At this time of the year, many people get all excited about sports. Hockey, basketball, and especially football. The end of the football season is upon us! There are many different types of positions on a football team. I was wondering: how good would a team be if all of the players were big and bulky, like offensive linemen? Or, how about if all the players wiry and nimble, like wide receivers? How successful would a team like that be?
The Apostle Paul told the church in Corinth about another group, or team. Except, he called it a body—God’s Body. God put together all the different believers into a team, or body called the church. God’s team. When we consider our Bible reading for today, we can also see that God made different kinds of gifts. God’s plan is for human beings to live together in one body. That is, with one another, in a great big community, in all its colorful diversity.
What on earth is Paul talking about? A body? Why is he mentioning a metaphor like that? He was responding to a letter from the church in the city of Corinth. He had spent a number of months in the city, teaching and preaching. Then, he went on his way to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to other cities. He was an itinerant preacher and missionary, after all. I suspect Paul had a great number of people sending him letters, asking him questions, wanting his advice about continuing problems in the various churches he had founded. A number of big things were the matter with the church in Corinth. In his letter, Paul tried to correct several issues, including this important issue about spiritual gifts, and unity in the church.
What is the background of today’s reading? One chapter before, in chapter 11, Paul offers instruction on public worship. He deals with the believers in church acting inappropriately, and lets them know they ought to straighten up, and be unified – together! Then, in chapter 12, Paul continues the theme of unity – except he brings in the wonderful concept of spiritual gifts in the Church. Diversity of spiritual gifts, given to each member of the Church, of the Body of Christ.
That is not just a few members, or only some members of the Church. It is not even most members of the Church. God gives gifts to ALL members of the Church, of the Body of Christ. Each person in the Church, no matter who, no matter where they are from, is a beloved member of the Body of Christ. That is the Church Universal, and God gives gifts to all.
Not just the church on this side of Morton Grove, not just the church that holds their worship services in English, not just the church that has people who “look like us.” No, each individual person is beloved, and is given a share in the diverse gifts of the worldwide Body of Christ. Can you, can I possibly imagine the diversity in that worldwide body? And, can you, can I possibly begin to understand that God is so pleased when we all, worldwide, agree together and act and worship and live together in unity as a loving Body of Christ?
We all are probably familiar with a popular children’s toy. Put out by Hasbro, small children have played with it for decades. Made even more famous by an appearance in Toy Story movies from Pixar. Mr. Potato Head, accompanied by his partner, Mrs. Potato Head, of course. You remember how Mr. Potato Head works. A large potato. And, the separate parts of the body: eyes, ears, nose, mouth. Hands, feet.
Reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s metaphor of the Church, the body of Christ, doesn’t it? But what if our Potato Head had all eyes, and no hands? Or, all ears and no feet? What then? Lopsided? Wouldn’t work properly? Just imagine if our local church, St. Luke’s Church, was all lopsided like this? Wouldn’t work properly? Not only is the Church meant to have unity, and work well together, it is also made up of diverse or different parts, on purpose!
Looking back at Genesis, we can see that diversity is definitely in God’s plan for humanity from the very beginning. The sheer creativity of God in creation is so big and so varied. A countless variety of individuals made in every size, shape, color, ethnicity. Having endless variations of gifts and abilities that God gave to each of us.
This is a recurring problem in Corinth – the people were convinced that some people and some gifts were better than others. They completely missed Paul’s repeated statements that God gives a multitude of diverse gifts and abilities to all of God’s beloved, diverse church members! Not that some church members were better, or more popular, or had a greater gift than everyone else. No! Paul states plainly that every person counts! Every gift counts, and every single person in each of their lovely, multi-colored, multicultural diversity is beloved of God. What is more, has received God’s spiritual gifts for free use in the multi-colored, multicultural Body of Christ!
Yes, tension and division and racism and enmity exist – all within the Body of Christ. I cannot even imagine how that breaks God’s heart, knowing that churches on one side of town are arguing with churches on the other side of town. Or, that some churches are ignoring the plain words of the prophet Micah to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. Or, ignoring the plain words of Jesus to be merciful to the powerless and the least of these.
Yes, in today’s uncertain times, the Church has “tensions from within and without which are bringing doubt and confusion to the Body as we face the challenges of the near and distant future.” [1] Thank God we have a firm foundation on which we all stand. Thank God we have the words of Paul here in 1 Corinthians calling us to unity under God, rejoicing in our diversity with all the multi-colored, multicultural people of God, worldwide.
Yes, each of us is different from each other. And, yes, we are all one in Christ Jesus. We can celebrate that blessed both/and reality today! Just imagine what a marvelous job each Church could do, if each member used what God has freely given to each one, to the best of their ability! What an opportunity for ministry and outreach!
What possibilities lie before us as a church, as the Body of Christ in this place? May each of us prayerfully ask today what God would have us to do with the gifts and abilities God has given each of us. Amen, alleluia!
(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!
[1] https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly-worship/monthly/2025-january/sunday-26-january-2025-third-sunday-after-epiphany-year-c
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