Just how important is it for Christian believers to recognize and accept
each other?

I remember sitting in a pew one Sunday evening about 10 years ago, reading
through a passage written by Paul to the believers in Corinth. I came
across a familiar verse: "For all who eat and drink without discerning the
body, eat and drink judgment against themselves." (1 Corinthians 11:29 -
NRSV)

Now the context makes it very clear what Paul means by "body." In fact
other manuscripts and English translations go on to say "the Lord's body."
A couple of verses earlier, Paul had said: "Whoever, therefore, eats the
bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be

for the body and blood of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 11:27 - NRSV) Nothing
could be clearer. Paul is talking about the very body of Jesus that was
broken for our sakes when He suffered for sin.

But is that all that Paul means? And, more important, is that all that

Spirit of God is saying to us in that passage? After all, throughout the
passage and much of the letter, Paul addresses the problem of schisms and
divisions in the church -- which is also the Lord's body.

"Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1
Corinthians 12:27 - NRSV)

Could we be condemning ourselves by partaking of "Holy Communion" or the
Lord's Supper when we refuse to truly and simply acknowledge the "body of
Christ" which is the church? When we set ourselves apart from other
believers, writing them off because of some differences in doctrine or
practice, are we sinning against Christ Himself?

The Scripture says: "For all who eat and drink without discerning the

eat and drink judgment against themselves." (1 Corinthians 11:29 - NRSV)
And there are many of us who refuse to "discern" or recognize blood-bought
brothers and sisters in Christ as part of the church, the body of Christ.
We divide the body up into many organizations, and then we tend to look

on Christian brothers and sisters who are not part of our particular

I believe that we sin when we attempt to bring our gift to the altar (see
Romans 12:1; Matthew 5:23,24) without first making peace with our brothers
and sisters in Christ. And I believe that when we try to claim and
celebrate a "holy communion" with Christ while rejecting the very members

His body (those for whom he died) that we bring trouble on ourselves, as
Paul wrote and as the Spirit of God teaches us in Scripture.

There is one church. In all the world, there is only one church which is
the body of Christ. Granted, each local assembly of believers (wherever

or three are gathered in Jesus' name - Matthew 18:20) is a tiny picture or
model of that world-wide church. But the body of Christ is one, and all

have had their sins washed away by faith in Jesus Christ belong to that

church, that great body of believers. We are members of Christ and of

other. We are each a spiritual part of the working of God's grace on this
earth.

Now there are many denominations, associations and conferences and
confessions. But only one thing matters: Do you know and love the Lord
Jesus? Are you washed in His blood? Does He know you as one of His own?

I know there are religious organizations that have gone bad. I believe

all man-made religious efforts are doomed to fail. As soon as we set up

association, a new division, another denomination or class of believers,

thing is doomed to sour with time and rot from within. Whatever is flesh
will die and rot. But what is of God will live forever. And I have often
found true and healthy believers still working and living in the midst of
decaying organizations. Many of them exist as a witness among the ashes

corrupt religion, just as street preachers exist and testify in the hearts
of inner cities.

We are to recognize, acknowledge, and love all genuine Christian

We may not count others as inferior or lesser Christians simply because

are not exactly like us. They may worship and pray and speak in ways

our own. But that does not make our way better. And it does not mean

anyone even has to be wrong. It simply means we are not all alike.

And that is what Paul wanted the believers in Corinth to understand (see,
especially, chapters 12 through 14 of 1 Corinthians). God may work in our
lives in different ways, even giving each believer gifts and expressions

faith that differ. But the purpose of those differences is not to weaken

destroy or divide the church. In fact, the opposite is true. Even the
human body is balanced when half the body functions as a mirror reflection
of the other. Not only are there hands that function differently than

but there is a right foot and a left foot. Each hand and foot, eye and

(even to the halves of the brain itself) is designed as an opposite of the
other. Yet they must work in perfect harmony, not in chaotic opposition.
Walking requires both feet, while opposites, to work together.

So also, what can seem like opposite extremes within the body of Christ,

church, may very well be required to maintain balance and the forward

of the whole church. We must not try to separate ourselves utterly from

believers who see things differently than we do. Like Paul and Barnabas,

may go our separate ways on some things, unable to agree. But we must not
close our hearts and minds to the fact that we are still brothers and
sisters in Jesus Christ.

"For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink
judgment against themselves." (1 Corinthians 11:29 - NRSV)

The Bible is clear. God's Spirit has made it so. And that same Holy

bears witness with our own hearts that we are God's children. We ought
also, then, to be able to discern the whole body of Christ. We should be
able to recognize fellow believers as fellow heirs of God in Christ. I
believe that God not only makes it possible, but that He also expects it

us.

Jim
www.goodwordusa.org