Bonus Day 52
Grace Anatomy
Read Romans 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12:12–20
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:6a
Way back in my youth pastor days there was an edgy (for those days) Christian rock musician named Steve Taylor who wrote a song called “I Want To Be A Clone”! It actually has some great insights:
I asked the Lord into my heart
They said that that’s the way to start,
But now you’ve got to play the part
I want to be a clone.They told me that I’d fall away
Unless I followed what they say;
Who needs the Bible anyway?
I want to be a clone.
Their language, it was new to me,
But “Christianese” got through to me;
Now I can speak it fluently.
I want to be a clone.So now I see the whole design:
My church is an assembly line.
The parts are there, I’m feeling fine.
I want to be a clone.
I’ve learned enough to stay afloat,
But not so much I rock the boat.
I’m glad they shoved it down my throat —
I want to be a clone.
Everybody must get cloned!
Legalism almost requires that we look alike, act alike, share the exact same convictions, pursue our spiritual growth in precisely the same way… but that’s not grace. In today’s verses Paul is addressing this tendency. He’s saying, don’t glorify certain gifts to the point where you think everyone must look and act as if we all have that gift. It’s true that we’re all one body, but it’s also true that there are many parts! God needs the varied parts of the body to work together, not to try to be alike and discount their uniqueness.
As Charles Swindoll says, “Grace finds pleasure in differences, encourages individuality, smiles on variety, and leaves plenty of room for disagreement.” Sounds like a church most people would love!
What lessons about grace are there in seeing the church like a body?
What happens when churches over-emphasize the “one Body” truth to the point where it becomes not unity but uniformity? What are some common ways this can happen?
Ask God to help you see yourself as an important part of the Body! Thank Him that He has given you certain gifts and abilities that are needed in the church. Ask Him to help you discover and use them!
