The Biology of Christ

I was listening to a song by Casting Crowns this morning and something struck me.  The song is called "If we are the body" and the lyrics of the song simply say this:

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way

It's a powerful message in the song and it made me think of a body in a biological sense.  The body of Christ, according to the apostle Paul is made up of many members but each member has a different function (1 Cor 12:20; 1 Cor 12:12; Romans 12:4).  So the hands of the body are there to touch the world and heal the sick.  The arms of the body are there to be the compassion of Christ, to hug those that are in need of love and compassion and the embrace all who come to Christ out of a dying world.  The feet are there to take the gospel to remote nations and to the lost in the world.  The feet are shod with the gospel of peace and the bible says in Isaiah 52:7 "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!""  Then the biological impulse kicks in- there are some that are the enzymes in the stomach.  Let us follow this analogy to its logical conclusion- when food enters the stomach, enzymes and acids begin to break the food down into something that the body can actually use.  Those enzymes and acids convert the food and transform it into energy, etc.  In the same way, there are those within the body of Christ that are used by the Holy Spirit to assist with the transformation of new believers and to bring them to a point of spiritual maturity.  Many of us have been placed as stewards over other believers to watch over their transformation from babes in Christ into spiritually mature Christians that are not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.  Many of us have also benefitted from spiritual mentors that have sown seeds of righteousness into our lives as we follow Christ. 

All of these processes are overseen by the head which is Christ.  He gives the hands the ability to touch and heal.  He gives the arms the compassion for world.  He is the gospel for the feet to carry to wherever His Spirit might lead.  His Spirit catalyzes, facilitates and brings about the transformation which is wrought in the believer.  Christians that have been entrusted with the task of discipling others are there throughout this transformation and they assist by being planters and waterers while God gives the increase.  His eyes see and direct us to bring the gospel to those that need the gospel- including preaching the gospel to oursleves.  His mouth speaks words that give eternal life (John 12:49-50) and as we repeat those words to others, we also speak eternal life to them, if they are willing to accept the gospel. 

While there are many members and many functions, all of us have been called to love one another.  We've been called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  We've been called to be light in darkness and salt in a world that has been deadened by sin.  I thank God for the diversity of the members of the body of Christ and although a biological/anatomical analogy makes things easy to understand- the Holy Ghost is responsible for all revelation.  God bless!