It’s not my issue but it always seems to affect me. People in leadership who don’t know how to lead, who can’t accept others gifts and then because of their low self esteem do not allow anyone more gifted than themselves to be a part of “their church “. I love the illustration he uses about the body in chapter 12 but then again I know many who use only half their body or certain parts don’t work. I
like to think of a house. We have had issues with our roof for years. Jim tried many different ways to solve it including shingling. Finally it was tear it off and put a new one on. That solved the problem very well. In the meantime it ruined part of the floor, rotten the beams where the water made a trail through the insulation and worked its way out to drop in pails we set our. What we did to the roof was different what what we did to replace the floor. Each of the building materials met a need. The flooring will rot if left on top of the shingles. The shingles would be rough to walk on if we laid it on the floor. Sheet rock instead of windows? No go!
So why do leaders in the church put people in places they don’t fit or keep others from working in their areas of expertise? I think it’s because they have made an idol of themselves, or as one pastor told me “ you won’t serve in my church- you are too organized “. “ no women’s ministry allowed where I preach.” One church I was in the women’s ministry ran the church.”
That’s like saying I won’t put shingles on my house because the roof leaked and it must have been the shingles. 1 Cor 12 reminds us that there are diversities. There has to be. They can unite or they can divide. A knife can carve or a knife can cut. Carving is intentional and then cutting happens when we aren’t careful or have an accident and the knife slips. Does that mean we throw all knives away? Nope! Even with the many stitches I have had when the knife slipped, I need to use knives in life. “ that God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it.” Part of that honor, or recognition is knowing who has a need around you and helping them be honorable. I see someone who needs encouraging, I encourage- that’s my gift. Someone sees me struggling to lift something above my head, please help me out- my torn rotator cuff doesn’t work anymore. We honor those we walk along side and they honor us by their strengths which means Gods church is made to look good because of the unity in diversity. I am different than you and you add strength to my weakness WHEN we do it together. Sometimes that together is sitting around a campfire. Other times it’s delivering fun things to others. And then, there are times when you will give me greater honor by praying for me. So go about your day being you! If you are a nail, a 2×4, a beam a piece of flooring or a rug and be who you are. Don’t let someone tell you that you don’t belong in their building! You belong in Gods so be what God made you to be. And be the best nail or rug you are. And when you see someone being the best they can be, do it together!!! Be different together!
Special Touch Ministry 