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For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others (Romans 12:4-5).

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Today, we begin to talk body image. No, not as it is usually understood within our cultural context. Rather, this is body imagery as the Bible relates it to the church. To understand it, we need to recall how we got here. Romans 12 began with a view of God\u2019s mercy. This, of course, refers to the great work of redemption in Christ. All who believe in him become recipients. To receive God\u2019s salvation, nothing more is needed then to believe that God redeems us in Christ. In response, we are called to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God and be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

The renewed mind, that is, the Christian mind, can discern and commit itself to accomplishing the will of God. The first act of the renewed mind is to view oneself with sober judgement, not too highly and not too lowly. Rather, we are to see ourselves as the adopted children of God and as his instruments of mercy. We have reflected on all this in previous editions of Wilderness Wonderings. Now we come to the second task of the renewed mind: to view the church properly. The Bible offers us a very strong image for the church: the church is compared to a human body. And like the human body has many parts which all have different functions, so the church consists of people who all have their own function.

In these verses there is a key phrase: \u2018in Christ\u2019. The church is not just a lose connection of people, rather it is a people joined together in Christ. This establishes something significant about the redemption God has brought into the world through Christ. Christ\u2019s death and resurrection did not just redeem individual people who are now heading towards heaven. Rather, Jesus\u2019 own sacrifice brought about a new humanity, which is the church. Paul does not mince words: \u201ceach member belongs to all the others\u201d. Let me not mince words either, \u2018You cannot do this Christian thing on your own. You need other Christians.\u2019

To be \u201cin Christ\u201d is to be joined to \u201chis body.\u201d In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul also makes use of this imagery. In chapter 11 he writes at length about Christ\u2019s body. But there the phrase refers to two things: Christ\u2019s physical body and the church. Sometimes, one just doesn\u2019t know which he means. Of course, he is writing about the Lord\u2019s Supper, other wise known as Communion or the Eucharist. But his point is exceedingly clear: when we participate in the Lord\u2019s Supper, we are being joined both to Christ\u2019s body (physical) and to Christ\u2019s body (church), and we better have a high regard for both.

The Bible calls us to live out our Christian faith along with other Christians. The gathering of these Christians is called a church. As followers of Jesus, we need to identify and participate with a church. Nobody in living memory remembers a time in Canada when the local church was not able to meet together for worship, fellowship and outreach. As such, the church in Canada does live in unprecedented times. Which raises an important question: how do we participate in a local church in this context?

We will continue reflecting on this body image next week. Until then, take some time to consider these questions: have you been connected to a local church during these days of physical distancing? What can you do to forge a deeper connection with the church, the body of Christ Jesus?

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