We have just come through a major award season – Oscars,
Grammy, Razzies, SAG awards and Golden Globes. Many of the “reality shows”
involve competition to determine the best singer, best dancer, survivor, best
model, best chef, etc.
Our culture has shifted to a global economy, a national
media, 24-hour news programs, international markets, mega-churches and a world
wide web. We are no longer in competition with just the guy down the street; we
are now in competition with the best person in the world. I was thinking
recently about how many choices we have in so many areas. As a kid, I basically
chose between Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and Cheerios for breakfast. Years ago,
I my daughters asked me, “Dad, what was on TV Land and Nickelodeon when you
were a kid?” I replied, “We had it rough when I was a kid. We only had three
channels and we had to walk to the TV to change channels.”
We now compare ourselves regarding everything. We feel
insecure or prideful regarding how we match up. We are in debt so we can match
up financially and have the same stuff as everyone. We are crazed about body
image to make this bigger, that smaller, this smoother, that a different color
or that a better shape to match up physically. Our movies our usually judged by
opening weekend box office rather than cultural significance. Our culture
teaches us to be discontent with who we are and what we have, so that we will
buy what they are selling.
Is all comparison and competition bad? Of course not. It can
show us where we need to grow, build good team work, and help us to set and
meet appropriate goals that God has called us to fulfill (1 Cor 9:24-27; Heb
12:1-2; Phil 3:12-14). But, it can also make us self-centered, short-cited,
divisive, insecure and arrogant.
In the scriptures, one of the major issues that Paul deals
with in the church in Corinth
is divisiveness and comparison. They were divided about many things: their
leaders, moral rules, lawsuits, religious freedom, communion, spiritual gifts,
the role of women in the church, and styles of worship to name a few.
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some
who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare
themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12)
In 1 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul stresses the need for both
unity and diversity by comparing the church to a human body. In every church,
small group and organization there will be many different kinds of people with
different gifts, callings, abilities, passions and strengths. We must encourage
unity and not uniformity, diversity and not chaos, acceptance and not exclusion.
In verses 15 to 16, one type of person looks at others and
says, “Because I am not like you, I do not belong.” In verses 21, another type
of person looks at others and says, “Because you are not like me, I don’t need
you.” Neither of these are correct responses to the body of Christ. We need
each other and should honor the diversity in one another. Verse 25 of the same
chapter says that there should be no division in the body and that we should
have equal concern for each other. “Unity
plus diversity equals University and that is a place where we learn.”
- When I look at myself, I am depressed
- When I look at others, I am oppressed
- When I look at who I am in Christ, I am at rest
Earlier in the chapter (verses 22 through 24), Paul says
that the seemingly weaker parts of the body are indispensable and they should
be treated with special honor. As I think of the human body, the indispensable
parts are the ones we usually think of less like the internal organs. We tend
to think of the outward parts of the body more and give them special honor. Who
are the internal parts of the local church, people who serve behind the scenes?
Let’s honor and encourage them, rather than always honoring those who get much
of the outward attention.
I love 1 Peter 2:5 - It says that we are living stones,
being built into a spiritual house. Notice that it says stones and not bricks.
Bricks tend to be the same – the same shape, size, color, texture, age and
makeup. We in the body of Christ are not all the same – we are different from
each other. God uses us all in different ways to reach different kinds of
people. Ephesians 3:10 speaks about the church making known the manifold
(many-sided) wisdom of God. We together glorify God. Individually, you and I
are called to speak the gospel of God to different age groups, genders, ethnic
groups, language groups, work places, neighborhoods, and cultures. Be where God has called you to be.
Speaking on the same subject in Ephesians 4:16, Paul says,
“From him (Christ) the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting
ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
- You are healthy when your nose smells and your feet run
- You are unhealthy when you nose runs and your feet smell
Many years ago, there was a cartoon called Tooter Turtle.
There have been some recent references to it. In the movie, The Matrix, Neo cries out, “Help me, Mr.
Wizard.” That is a quote from Tooter Turtle. Mr. Wizard would send Tooter back
in time to learn a lesson. Tooter would get in trouble and call out for help.
Mr. Wizard would say, “Drizzle, drazzle, druzzle, drome; time for this one to
come home.” Mr. Wizard would then say, “Be what you is and not what you is not!
Folks that that do this are the happiest lot.” Be who God has called you to be.
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