The Church/Body of Christ many members

[LittleLambofJesus]

I remember seeing a link [shown below] to a thread concerning a member/organ of the human body being used as an analogy of the Church/Body of Christ and thought I would make a seperate thread on it
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks

http://www.christianforums.com/t7524423-11/#post56470072

Can the eye say to the ear "I can hear"?....or the ear say to the nose "I can smell"?
Many members, one body


All denominations are merely body parts .

What is the body of Christ?? If it is referred to as a BODY would it not have many parts??If so, do those parts have different functions??

What does the lung do??

What does the liver do??

Is there someone going to heaven in every denomination??If so who and what are they?? I believe they are the results of the function of the Body part or denomination that brought them to Christ.

Does anyone else have an idea or input on this analogy??

 

[Harry3142]

This is one of the Scriptures identifying Christianity as an organism, rather than an organization. We have the allusion to the true Christian being 'the seed that fell on good ground' (Matthew 13:1-23). We have Christ's comparing himself to the vine whose branches are us believers (John 15:1-8). Jesus identifies himself as 'the shepherd' and us as 'his sheep" (John 10:11-18).

Even in 'The Christians Code of Conduct' (Galatians 5:16-26), we are told to view the Spirit as a person (which he is) who is actively battling our sinful nature, and replacing it with a nature more in conformity with God's plans for us. It's not rules and regulations; it's a battle formation, with the Spirit ahead of us fighting on our behalf, and us dutifully following in his steps as he advances.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

This is one of the Scriptures identifying Christianity as an organism, rather than an organization. We have the allusion to the true Christian being 'the seed that fell on good ground' (Matthew 13:1-23). We have Christ's comparing himself to the vine whose branches are us believers (John 15:1-8). Jesus identifies himself as 'the shepherd' and us as 'his sheep" (John 10:11-18).

Even in 'The Christians Code of Conduct' (Galatians 5:16-26), we are told to view the Spirit as a person (which he is) who is actively battling our sinful nature, and replacing it with a nature more in conformity with God's plans for us. It's not rules and regulations; it's a battle formation, with the Spirit ahead of us fighting on our behalf, and us dutifully following in his steps as he advances.

Interesting post and thanks
Onward Christians soldiers............

Matthew 24:6 "Ye shall be being about yet to be hearing battles and hearings/tidings of battles.
Be seeing no be being alarmed, for it is binding to be becoming, but not as yet is the finish

Reve 16:14 For they are spirits of demons doing signs which is going out upon the kings [*of the land and] of the whole homed-one, to be together-leading them into the battle of the day, that the great, of the God the Almighty.

Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon
Strong's Number G4171 matches the Greek πόλεμος (polemos), which occurs 18 times in 16 verses in the Greek concordance of the KJV

 

[Optimax]

I remember seeing a link [shown below] to a thread concerning a member/organ of the human body being used as an analogy of the Church/Body of Christ and thought I would make a seperate thread on it
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks

http://www.christianforums.com/t7524423-11/#post56470072

Can the eye say to the ear "I can hear"?....or the ear say to the nose "I can smell"?
Many members, one body


All denominations are merely body parts .

Denominations are not "parts". Individual born again Christians are the parts.All denominations probably have born again Christians in them.

A person sitting in a church building for 50 yrs., no matter how splendid the building may or may not be does not make them a Christian, anymore that a person setting in a garage for 50 years will make them a car.

What is the body of Christ?? If it is referred to as a BODY would it not have many parts??If so, do those parts have different functions??

The Body of Christ is made up of every born again Christian that is living on the planet at any given time. Each individual is a part and has their own particular function. Some of those functions are listed in places like Rom 12, Eph 4.

What does the lung do??

There is not an actual "lung" in the Body of Christ. The use of human body parts such as a lung was used to describe and give us understanding that the Body of Christ on the earth was also made up of "parts'. Those parts being born again Christians.


What does the liver do??

Same answer as for the lung.

Is there someone going to heaven in every denomination??If so who and what are they?? I believe they are the results of the function of the Body part or denomination that brought them to Christ.

Does anyone else have an idea or input on this analogy??

The only people that go to heaven, those who are saved, are those who are born again according to Rom 10:9-10. One must understand what the issues are that require that in order for some to accept it, some won't accept it anyway.

I believe there are people in every denomination who will be in heaven, they are those who are born again Christians.

 

[sunlover1]

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks

sounds like a very good thread LLOJ!

All denominations are merely body parts .

I have to disagree with this part because God's made it very clear
that divisions are not His idea.
We, the 'body' of christ are the different 'parts' making up the whole.
And each one is needed just as much as the next.

The only people that go to heaven, those who are saved, are those who are born again according to Rom 10:9-10. One must understand what the issues are that require that in order for some to accept it, some won't accept it anyway.

I believe there are people in every denomination who will be in heaven, they are those who are born again Christians.

Amen. I believe we can recognize each other too in fact.
There are those who , even though they go to church,
do not manifest the 'fruit' and since we do know that a
tree is known BY it's fruit........well, we should pray for
them to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus our Lord.

So ... you can't really go by which 'sect' someone belongs
to lol. Because it's a matter of the heart.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

The only people that go to heaven, those who are saved, are those who are born again according to Rom 10:9-10. One must understand what the issues are that require that in order for some to accept it, some won't accept it anyway.

I believe there are people in every denomination who will be in heaven, they are those who are born again Christians.

Thank you

 

[Chesterton]

Members separated from each other are no good. My heart and my brain and my hands are of no use unless they are attached to each other in one living body.

 

[DamianWarS]

I remember seeing a link [shown below] to a thread concerning a member/organ of the human body being used as an analogy of the Church/Body of Christ and thought I would make a seperate thread on it
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks

http://www.christianforums.com/t7524423-11/#post56470072

Can the eye say to the ear "I can hear"?....or the ear say to the nose "I can smell"?
Many members, one body


All denominations are merely body parts .

What is the body of Christ?? If it is referred to as a BODY would it not have many parts??If so, do those parts have different functions??

What does the lung do??

What does the liver do??

Is there someone going to heaven in every denomination??If so who and what are they?? I believe they are the results of the function of the Body part or denomination that brought them to Christ.

Does anyone else have an idea or input on this analogy??

During the early church, as identified in the bible, there was no concept of denominations. When Paul is talking about that we are all one body but different parts (1 Cor 12) He is referring to our spiritual gifts not our concept of doctrine.

If you keep on reading the next chapter, all in the same context, Paul then tells us that "when completeness comes, what is in part disappears." I'm sure people will argue this but what Paul is saying is that when Jesus Christ comes again (Jesus is the completeness) the imperfect will disappear (our spiritual gifts) because we will no longer need them. If Paul meant for his analogy to refer to denominations (which he didn't) than at the very least we can conclude when the second coming of Jesus Christ happens denominations will be no more which is true but not what this passage really is meaning when it talks about "what is in part disappears"

Remember heaven is a temporary place until the rapture of the church happens and we then receive incorruptible bodies. After that (and the battle of Armageddon) we live on earth not in heaven for the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Then there is a new heaven and new earth where "God’s dwelling place [will be] among the people". So don't get to caught up in this idea of trying to define how heaven is going to be. Our permanent dwelling place will be with God where there is no separation between heaven and earth and the first heaven and first earth will be no more.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Remember heaven is a temporary place until the rapture of the church happens and we then receive incorruptible bodies.

After that (and the battle of Armageddon) we live on earth not in heaven for the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Then there is a new heaven and new earth where "God’s dwelling place [will be] among the people"......

Don't forget the battle of "Gog-Magog"

http://www.christianforums.com/t7523941/#post56496229
Armegeddon/Gog-Magog same event?

 

[DamianWarS]

Don't forget the battle of "Gog-Magog"

http://www.christianforums.com/t7523941/#post56496229
Armegeddon/Gog-Magog same event?

yes there is another battle at the end of the millennial reign where Satan is release for a season from his 1000 year prison to gather an army. This is mentioned in Rev. 20

"When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

As mentioned in Revelations and taken naturally it is clear that this is a separate event from the battle of Armageddon. The result of the battle of Armageddon puts Satan in this 1000 year prison and the battle of Gog and Magog takes place after this 1000 year prison where Satan is released and the result is final judgment upon Satan. I don't know how someone can blur the two together even if there is another thread with 60 posts on the subject.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Some people are part of an actual member, some are part of the nervous system, some are in the blood . this affects where they appear to operate in the giftings .

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Some people are part of an actual member, some are part of the nervous system, some are in the blood . this affects where they appear to operate in the giftings .

Which part are you of

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Which part are you of

i really don't know, i go all over the place and where i am i seem to have a different function .

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by LittleLambofJesus Which part are you of

i really don't know, i go all over the place and where i am i seem to have a different function .

I can relate to that myself

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

I remember seeing a link [shown below] to a thread concerning a member/organ of the human body being used as an analogy of the Church/Body of Christ and thought I would make a seperate thread on it
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks

http://www.christianforums.com/t7524423-11/#post56470072

Can the eye say to the ear "I can hear"?....or the ear say to the nose "I can smell"?
Many members, one body


All denominations are merely body parts .

What is the body of Christ?? If it is referred to as a BODY would it not have many parts??If so, do those parts have different functions??

What does the lung do??

What does the liver do??

Is there someone going to heaven in every denomination??If so who and what are they?? I believe they are the results of the function of the Body part or denomination that brought them to Christ.

Does anyone else have an idea or input on this analogy??

In MY opinion, IF I may....



While I agree that the TEACHINGS and MINISTRIES of various denominations may express strengths and weaknesses within Christianity, I think that Paul was speaking of PEOPLE, not denominations.


IMO, all Christians are people. Ergo, the community/communion/fellowship/assembly/body of Christians is also people. The church that is one, holy, catholic, communion of saints consists of PEOPLE. The church is not an institutional, denominational, entity. The church is us. All of us. Across all the continents and centuries....


I'm not IN ANY SENSE opposed to congregations or denominations or any other institutional entities that Christians may form for whatever reasons. In fact, since I strongly embrace community, cooperation and accountability, I'm typially quite supportive of such. It's just that I don't confuse the institutional entities we create with the church God creates.


That said, I have mixed feelings about the reality of millions of congregations and thousands of denominations. In SOME sense, there would be benefits from having one denomination (and perhaps one world bank, one store that sells food, one oil company, one country, one culture), but I think there is also some advantage to the diversity we see. ONE of the things I like about living in Southern California is that it's one of the places with MUCH diversity, there is no "majority" here - just a plethora of minorities living side-by-side. I like all the cultures, foods, arts, etc. I think the diversity is enriching. I see SOME similarity with the diversity in denominations. AND (because of sin, perhaps) I see how Christianity seems more vibrant in nations with diversity (say the USA) than in those with one dominate denomination (say France or Sweden). When Catholicism was the only thing in town, we have a Pope Alexander VI. Since it lost that monopoly, we find a much (MUCH!) higher standard. There's something to be said for the accountability that choice affords?


Thank you!


Pax


- Josiah




.

 

[patience7]

I remember seeing a link [shown below] to a thread concerning a member/organ of the human body being used as an analogy of the Church/Body of Christ and thought I would make a seperate thread on it
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks

http://www.christianforums.com/t7524423-11/#post56470072

Can the eye say to the ear "I can hear"?....or the ear say to the nose "I can smell"?
Many members, one body

All denominations are merely body parts .

What is the body of Christ?? If it is referred to as a BODY would it not have many parts??If so, do those parts have different functions??

What does the lung do??

What does the liver do??

Is there someone going to heaven in every denomination??If so who and what are they?? I believe they are the results of the function of the Body part or denomination that brought them to Christ.

Does anyone else have an idea or input on this analogy??

Just as our physical body has different parts - it takes all the parts for the body to function properly.

"For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member where were the body?"

Each part of our physical body has a particular function as in the church the body of Christ each member has a particular function within the body of Christ. You can't say that an eye is a complete body, nor a foot, nor an ear, etc. - it's many members making up a complete body.

"Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular"

Are we all apostles, are we all prophets, teachers . . . .no - we each have a particular function just as the eye is for seeing, the ear for hearing, the foot/leg for walking - each member in the body needs the other member to function. Verse 25 in this same chapter - "That there should be no schism in the body but that all members should have the same care one for another. . . ". I don't see where denominations would be the separate members in the body - too much schism!! This is not actually how God planned how things should be (denominations) - He planned that we would all be of one mind - one body.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Just as our physical body has different parts - it takes all the parts for the body to function properly.

"For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member where were the body?"

Each part of our physical body has a particular function as in the church the body of Christ each member has a particular function within the body of Christ. You can't say that an eye is a complete body, nor a foot, nor an ear, etc. - it's many members making up a complete body.

"Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular"

Are we all apostles, are we all prophets, teachers . . . .no - we each have a particular function just as the eye is for seeing, the ear for hearing, the foot/leg for walking - each member in the body needs the other member to function. Verse 25 in this same chapter - "That there should be no schism in the body but that all members should have the same care one for another. . . ". I don't see where denominations would be the separate members in the body - too much schism!! This is not actually how God planned how things should be (denominations) - He planned that we would all be of one mind - one body.

According to what I see here on GT, His plan isn't working out too well

 

[patience7]

According to what I see here on GT, His plan isn't working out too well

lol and not just here on GT but everywhere - it seemed to have started with the Corinthian church:

Now I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions (schisms) among you but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

I can't help but think how things would be so different if the body of Christ could come together in unity. I honestly think that if we all stood together and worked together in unity and purpose we would see more in the way of miracles and healings.