Authentic

Sorry, this isn’t a Buzzfeed quiz. But you still might learn something exciting about yourself if you stick around:

Our reading today included the richly encouraging Romans chapter 12. We’re going to focus on the middle section:

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Most of this passage is about the members and their different gifts and abilities, but how does it begin? With a call to humility and sober judgment. It is one thing to pay lip service to the fact that we are all different and all equally necessary in the living, active church. But functionally, do we own that humility when some members aren’t talented in the public areas of teaching or leading or singing? Do we scoff at those who are gifted differently? Do we complain about those in public positions like eldership or teaching or preaching when they don’t meet our standards? Do we show favoritism to those who are gifted similarly, or even worse, do we imagine that if only everyone was like us, then we’d have an impressive and working congregation?

The church is called a body for a reason. Consider your own body for a moment, and consider the intricate and complex differences and systems. Consider the big impressive ones like your brain, hands, eyes…the ones that get all the credit. But then consider the pinky toe, the liver, the sternum, the nose. Can any one, single body part boast? Could all parts be molded into just one of those obvious ones and still be efficient all by itself?

The truth is we are all different, and that difference is assigned by God which means it is both worthy of respect and also not of ourselves; we can’t boast about something which was given to us. The other truth is that we are all incomplete and God assigned us to each other to help each other grow, cultivate, and complement those differences for God.
So, what are your gifts? Maybe you’ve accurately concluded that you aren’t the type to lead singing, or teach adults or children, or hold a certain office, or preach.

Do we stop there and think that’s all there is to do? I hope not!

Our faith isn’t confined to Sundays, so our service doesn’t have to be defined by Sundays either- can you encourage those who are weak or struggling throughout the week? Can you open up your home for those on the outskirts? Can you develop friendships with the youth and lead them by your example? Can you help with communion, or cleaning? Are you particularly gifted in leading others from your workplace or neighborhood or family to Christ? Are you an older woman who can take the younger women under their wing and help them learn to guide and serve their family?

The first step is to appreciate the different roles. The next step is to find your own role. And the final step is to make sure your talent isn’t collecting dust while you pursue other things.

“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
” – 1 Corinthians 4:7

Participation: In what ways have you learned humility and grace as you’ve worked with the other members of this body?