We form one body
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Romans 12:4-5
Last summer I visited Los Angeles. Whilst I was there I saw what I thought was a rather incredible artwork in Pershing Square. From a distance, the piece clearly showed the face of Michael Jackson. The tag next to the work stated that it was called ‘King of Pop’. Closer inspection of the artwork revealed that it was made up of hundreds of fizzy drinks tins, or cans of soda pop as the Americans might refer to them. I was staggered; there was no denying that this was clearly Michael Jackson’s face, yet it was a mosaic of old tin cans. Truly remarkable.
Perhaps this kind of mosaic is another way at looking at today’s verses from Paul’s letter to the Romans. Each of the cans in the picture had their own individual identity, be it as a Sprite, Coke or Tango can, yet together they take on another distinct appearance, the face of Michael Jackson. A Coke can may have merit in its own right – it is, after all, a world famous design classic – but there is no denying that when it comes together with the other 1,679 cans that make up the ‘King of Pop‘ it becomes something far greater.
Within the church there are many thousands of people, each with our own unique identity, but together we take on another identity – the body of Christ on earth. We all have our own individual merits, but it’s when we come together as the Church that we have the potential to become something far greater than we could ever become as an individual. If we find our identity in Christ rather than in ourselves, we have the potential to change the world by serving God in partnership with millions of others. Within that, we each have our own unique part to play. More on that tomorrow, however!
Reflect today on whether you play your part in the bigger picture of the worldwide Church, the body of Christ. Do you find your identity in Christ, as part of something bigger than just yourself? Or do you identity solely as yourself, an individual? Perhaps it’s time we all made more effort to come together as the worldwide Church!
