Theological Underpinnings

Renewing the Body of Christ
Built on Ephesians 4:1-16

1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
The members in the Body of Christ are called to a purpose.
We in the Body of Christ are the community of God's people and are drawn together in the name of Jesus Christ. Living in the Body of Christ begins with an awareness that God is moving in our life and calling us into the brokenness of the world. This awareness and calling challenges the cultural assumptions of individuality that keep us separated from one another. While it is not easy to lead a life "worthy of this calling", together we help each other discern the calling and presence of God in our lives.

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Living in the body of Christ is the call of building relationships of love
The Church, which is the body of Christ, is called to live together in such a way that Christ's way is lifted up. Paul describes this way as the "way of love" (I Cor 12:31- 13:13). This love that draws people together into small groups, teams of ministry, and mission opportunities demands a love that is patient, gentle, and bearing of one another.

The community of God's people is also diverse because we know our God lives in the world through many different kinds of people. Love that moves beyond tolerance to one of living in deep relationship with others is one that necessarily requires humility. Only in the discipline of humility can hospitality of welcoming the other be born. It is because of this diversity that the love of the body of Christ must seek to maintain a unity that can only come in and through the Spirit of God.

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. 7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.
The goal of the body of Christ is to find unity while respecting diversity.
The Spirit of God that lives above, through, and in all of humanity is the same one that desires that all people, with their differences, come together in harmony. It was in Jesus' prayer that all in the community of God's people came to see the unity that connects and unites us all (John 17:20-21). Allowing diversity to exist in the body of Christ, and yet finding that in all diversity is the same Spirit of God, shakes the foundations of a church that believes only certain people embody the Spirit of God. Through the Holy Spirit we are able to embrace the body of Christ as one diverse, but united and whole body.

8 Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people." 9 (When it says, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.)
Ascending and Descending in the Body of Christ The body of Christ holds together both internal spiritual transformation and external works of service and justice. To ascend high into the love of God where we are transformed by love means that we will descend out into all parts of the world that God has calls us to heal and love. Jesus shows us this in his life. What enabled Jesus to go out into the broken world and give himself away was his deep love and closeness he felt with God. Jesus ascended into the heart of God and descended out into the hearts of the world. 11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, God gives to all members in the body of Christ different spiritual gifts

Spiritual gifts are different from talents. A talent is something that we develop based on upon personal preference. Spiritual gifts are abilities given to us by God that speak to the very identity of who we are, as one of God's children. Our spiritual gifts speak to where we are helping to build the body of Christ with our own uniqueness. To live in the Body of Christ the church helps one another become aware of God's presence and calling, and also gives them tools to act on those callings. Collectively we have a responsibility within the Body of Christ to help everyone discover his or her spiritual gifts.

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.
The work of the body of Christ is to build community.
The community of God's people is a place where healing, compassion, peace, and justice are valued. There can be no community when brokenness, prejudice, or division occurs. The spiritual gifts that the Spirit gives to us helps to build community where healing, forgiveness, peace, and justice can occur. This is the vocation of all members in the body of Christ and the vocation of the body of Christ as it works collectively in the world. To come to know Jesus means desiring this type of community. To use your spiritual gifts to grow into maturity in this vision of Jesus is to deepen our awareness of God's purpose for our life and the world.

14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.
The Body of Christ must confront false truth
The world would have us believe that ideas such as individualization, privatization, and consumerism can lead us to the salvation we seek. However, these ideas leave humanity broken, isolated, and living in fear, doubt, and dismay. The body of Christ speaks the truth of love in the face of these false doctrines and provides a vision of life that holds up love and community. Choosing to live into the central vocation of love in Body of Christ means choosing not to live by the doctrine of other choices around us. In doing so, those that following the Spirit of Jesus end up shaking the foundations of people's fear of love, compassion, and justice.

15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.
The body of Christ requires transformation
To grow up and mature in the vision of Christ requires an internal transformation of our values and worldview. This transformation leads to a justice where by people choose to live in a different way in life. The justice of the Body of Christ comes in the body's willingness to live by the path of love. To live in love means overcoming our fears that separate humanity, and passing over into a new world where we intentionally and willfully give ourselves for the sake of others. To live in love means choosing a path of humility, gentleness, compassion, and peace. The good news is that this transformation of our selves, of the church, and of our world is never done alone, but always with others.