Musick-al Note # 165
No sane individual hates one part of his body and gives all his concern to another part. We cleanse all the body when we bathe; we protect all the body when in danger; we medicate any or all the body when it is hurt or sick; we do all we can to keep the body intact for we know that we cannot do without a limb or another part without great stress upon the whole body.
Well might we follow the admonition of Paul to “have the same care for one another” in the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:24). In the Lord’s body, we often fail to have this care for one another or even any concern for others. Do we not see that such an attitude actually destroys the body of believers in Christ and we in turn are greatly affected? Just as a body will die if not cared for, so will the body of Christians be destroyed if such unconcern is gendered and allowed to continue. How much love and concern do you as an individual Christian show to your follow members in the body of Christ? Aren’t we doing the opposite of the admonition of Paul when we think we can “go it alone” or allow our fellow Christians to drift into oblivion without striving to keep them close the Christ? Isn’t this the same as saying, “I have no need of you and that the body is as well off without them as they are with them?” There should be only one time when the body of Christ is better without a particular member than with him. That is when that person walks in sin willfully and obstinately refuses to repent of sin..
When our attitudes are such that we alienate fellow Christians, we are guilty of dividing and destroying the body of Christ (Matthew 12:25). We should be friends in Christ Jesus and anyone guilty of causing persons not to be such will have to face the Judge of all men because of their works. Do we have so much of the spirit of the world that love for each other is not in our hearts? Our fellowship must not depend on the whims and fancies of the moment. We are all bought with the same blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7)? There be no divisions among us. It would be so much better if all Christians work their best, knowing that their fellow Christians’ love is constant and sure.
Gordon Musick
Musick-al Notes 