From Favoritism to Flourishing- Part 5 of 9: Indispensable: 1 Corinthians 12:21-25

Over the first four parts of this series, we have looked at how we escape the trappings of Favoritism by throwing off the world's perspective for God's perspective, learning to value everyone equally by the gospel, and appreciating our own weakness. Now, we will look at how our new worldview changes the way we treat the weakest persons among us. Although we have talked about how we are all equally weak in God's eyes, it is necessary to admit that we will always view some people as the weakest and deal with that fact in practical ways. How do we treat those who can't take care of themselves or are hopeless social wrecks? What do we do with the outcasts of our community? The Bible speaks to this issue in 1 Corinthians 12: 21-25:

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

          Let's break down this passage into little bites so we can understand it better. In verse 21, we can see that we will naturally choose members of the Body of Christ to be the least necessary. There will always be an odd man out. You would expect the Bible to say that these weaker members are of equal value as those who are not viewed as weak. However, in verse 22, it goes beyond that to say that the weak members of our body are indispensable! Not just equal, but indispensable, as in we NEED those people. I am not going to lie: I still find this statement hard to swallow. As for me, I have seen members of the Body that I felt we would be better without. However, we need every piece. One of my greatest fears is actually becoming a vegetable in some hospital for the rest of my life. I could not think of an existence where I could not assist other people or have some task to work towards. However, this passage assures us that all hands are needed on deck. In verse 23, we see that the parts that would normally be less honorable or presentable (like the cowards and social wrecks) should receive special honor or treatment. They should be uplifted and valued while the people that are normally given that treatment should receive less of it (v. 24). This is very against our natures and can only be done through the power of Christ and the baptism of our minds into a new perspective. The entire journey we have been on so far in this series has allowed us to reach this place. Since we are able to see that we are all equally weak and dependent on God, we learn to give up the lie that some of us are better or more lovable than others. Verse 24 tells us that this combination of weaker and stronger members of the Body was intentional on God's part. Finally, verse 25 tells us that this kind of mindset will eliminate division from the body of Christ and teach its members to have equal concern for each other. In answer to my fear of being a vegetable or mentally handicapped, I think I can see how receiving grace from others would be a blessing to them instead of a curse. When members of the body see Grace being given out free of charge, several great things take place. Firstly, members start to confess their sin to each other since they are no longer afraid of being looked down upon. Secondly, they stop spending their time trying to climb the social ladder and push others down it. This is because it is no longer a death sentence to be the lowest person on the social ladder. Thirdly, it helps us to show Grace to each other in daily matters where we would normally lash out at each other about the smallest things. Fourthly, it helps develop character towards being selfless and servant-hearted. I don't believe that the vegetables or mentally handicapped are limited to this, but I am also saying that their place of being cared for is actually an INDISPENSABLE blessing to the Church.
           These revelations should also inform our moral decisions about euthanasia and abortion, amongst other issues. In closing, look at Proverbs 31: 8-9:

8 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

           In the next part, we will look at how we are to carry each others' and our own burdens on a daily basis before the last three parts that will take us from a place of Weakness to a Flourishing life.
In Christ,
Simeon Snow