One Body, Many Gifts

In a presentation by Craig Keener, we were reminded to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) and by being living sacrifices. Is that an oxymoron or what? Can we really love God so much that nothing else matters?

Without God our spiritual efforts will not succeed. Do not assume that that culture is going our way. Culture waxes and wanes, as does the church. Where equality may succeed in one culture for a time, it wanes in another, and perhaps the one that succeeds for awhile, will wane later.

Giving ourselves to God is a rational service. The mind of the Spirit tells us how to yield our bodies to Him in profitable ways. Don’t be pressed into the world’s mold; don’t respond in kind. We use our bodies for His body, the Church. We each bring a different gift set. Let’s free our Christian brothers and sisters to use them. This is an egalitarian approach of participation and it is Paul’s approach (Romans 12:4-6). Ancient philosophers like Menenius Agrippa used the body image for a community of people, but used it heirarchically (Plebeians create the food; patricians eat the food). Paul flipped this on its head.