The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honourable we bestow the greater honour, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honour to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

1 Corinthians 12:21-25 (ESV)

 

No church is perfect, but it can be healthy.

A healthy church community flows from embracing each member's strengths and weaknesses and coming alongside to offer the help that we can. Instead of judging the weakest among us, the Apostle Paul believes that we should encourage them in taking the next steps in their spiritual path. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.

We must learn to love each other even when it is difficult. This is the difference between "doing church" and "being church". Attending church is like putting salt in a container. There is no active engagement or impact. Being church is getting out of the saltshaker. It is salt in action, serving its actual goal of infusing taste and flavour into everything it touches.

Doing church does not entail being inconvenient or taking risks. This makes it simple to disengage and disconnect when church life becomes something to which you consume rather than contribute. Being church means making a positive influence in the community and doing anything you can to help it grow and become healthy.

Christ is the one who gives us a sense of belonging and identity, not others. To become a healthy community, we must first learn together about who we are, to who we belong to, and how we fit together. Then we shall be a community of possibilities, not one of problems.