Editorial – Every Member Different

No two people are alike. That’s certainly an obvious point. We are often amazed at the differences between chil­dren in the same family.

In the ecclesial family, where the common element is belief in the Truth, there is a great variety of cultural backgrounds, economic circumstances and spiritual maturity. Representing different stages of spiritual growth, some are little children in Christ, some are young men and some are fathers (1 John 2:13). There is a variety of abilities: some are musically inclined, some can do platform work and some are excellent at pastoral ministration. There is a broad range of personalities. Fortunately, everybody isn’t talkative or aggressive and, thankfully, everybody isn’t quiet or retiring.

The figure of our own bodies dramatically illustrates the situation: “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?…if they were all one member, where were the body?” (1 Cor. 12:17­-19). The fact is further highlighted by the distribution of various gifts of the Holy Spirit to different people.

Every member is different; we must learn to live with many different types of people. That’s not easy but we know what Christ wants and try to comply. But there’s more to it than just getting along with people.

Saving others

We must be working to help save the other person. That was the objective of the apostle Paul: “…I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” (1 Cor. 10:33).

We may say, “Well, of course, that was the apostle Paul. He was commissioned to preach the gospel in new areas. Saving others was his absorbing concern.” But consider what he goes on to write, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (11:1). Each of us is called to imitate Jesus; there was no one more devoted to saving others than the Lord. Every Sunday we meditate on that fact anew: “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me” (v. 24).

Our burden is clear; we are not only to get along with the wide spectrum of people in the ecclesia, we are also to work for their salvation. Given the diversity of personalities in the ecclesia, that is difficult.

I’m incidental

Seeking to avoid responsibility, we may claim we are so insignificant that we have no impact on others. That is absolutely not true! “Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (12:27).

We will affect others negatively or positively, but we will affect them. If we are spiritually sick, we can drag others down with us. If we are healthy and vigorous, we can impart life and enthusiasm to them.

Sensitivity needed

Being different, we are not all troubled by the same things. Paul faced this situation in the New Testament ecclesia and to some extent accommodated it. As long as the only cost was personal inconvenience, he would forsake meat or drink lest he put a stumbling block in the other’s path. The salvation of other people took priority even though their ideas reflected spiritual immaturity (Rom. 14:14-19).

Considering others ahead of ourselves is annoying to the natural man. The human tendency is to raise issues which annoy us so that we can avoid acceding to the other person. The apostle did not do that. Unless the saving power of the Gospel was at stake, he adjusted to the needs of others, “that he might save some.”

“Make a difference”

“Of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear…” (Jude 22,23). Because everybody is different, the same approach cannot be used for all. That creates a problem.

Our natural inclination is to simplify the challenge of ecclesial life by translating divine principles into rules. The problem with rules is their rigidity; what may be appropriate for one circumstance may not be for another. In the long run, we are better off struggling through the more difficult task of applying prin­ciples to specific cases.

There is another problem with rules. They create a comfortable feeling of uprightness in those who keep them. It is an interesting phenomenon of human nature that sometimes we compensate for our own sins by being very rigid regarding the letter of the law. One would think that an awareness of our own weakness would make us more understanding. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

Dealing with the wide variety of personalities in the ecclesia argues against rigidity and for flexibility that we might make a difference. In being flexible, we are emulating the Lord God.

The Lord is flexible

The principles and objectives of God do not change, but He is remarkably flexible as He seeks to save people.

Gideon was a timorous, self-effacing man. Having spoken with an angel and receiving direct instruction from God, he still “feared his father’s household, and the men of the city” (Jud. 6:27). Though the Spirit of the Lord was upon him and all the northern tribes gathered at his call, he wanted more reassurance that God had truly selected him. “If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou has said, behold, I will put a fleece of wool…” (vs.36-40). And God gave him the signs he wanted.

From that point on, Gideon was a giant of faith. He never would have been, however, if God had rigidly denied him the additional signs. Dealing with a given personality, God was flexible, He was longsuffering.

And what of Samson? How many times would this man be entrapped by his love for a beautiful woman? He seems blind to the danger, until he was blinded. The man was a most unusual case, but God saw the potential for great faith and exercised forbearance until it was fully developed.

The angels with us

Each one of us can look at our own lives and marvel at the trials that have not come. We can be equally thankful that the angels have relieved the trials we have faced.

No two people respond the same way. Some can handle loneliness for decades, others must be provided relief. While some can endure a continuing level of pain, others would be overcome with depression. Some of us need restricted incomes or we would be carried away with the things of this world. Others of us are able to handle resources for the benefit of the Truth.

We are different and the heavenly host obviously takes that into account in guiding us to the kingdom. The challenge to us is to exercise a like forbearance, sensitivity and flexibility in seeking to save each other.