A Body w/Out a Head

This past weekend I went to an event called CHRISTeens, which is a youth rally in Russellville, AR hosted by the Westside church. It was fun to be together with about a thousand other crazy teens and adults who love Jesus. The theme for CHRISTeens was "The Body" from 1 Cor. 12:27 and the speaker was Ike Graul from Portland, OR. His message made me think a lot about church and whether or not we are being the body, Jesus intended us to be.In the song, "If we are the body" by Casting Crowns, the question is asked, "If we are the body, why aren't his arms reaching, why aren't His hands healing, why aren't His words teaching? And if we are the body, why aren't His feet going, why is His love not showing them there is a way?" Considering the message this past weekend and the lyrics to this song, the question that comes to mind is are we being the body Jesus intended us to be? And if not, then why? Perhaps the reason is because as Ike said, we are not connected to the head. In Ephesians 4: 15-16 Paul wrote, "we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds iteself up in love, as each part does its work." Paul makes it clear that Christ is the head of the body and it is our work to support, grow, build up, and love one another. But how can we do this if we are not connected to the head? In considering this analogy about the body, we realize that if a body doesn't have a head, then it can't see or hear, it will starve, and it willl die. If the church isn't connected with "the Head, that is, Christ" it can't see, hear, it will starve, and it will die. So are we connected to the head? I am not asking if we pray, read the Bible, or go to church every time the doors are open. I am asking if we are connected to Jesus. You see sometimes, while all of these things are good to do, they can become stale or dull, which would cause us to be complacent, bored, and disconnected because sometimes these things become more of a ritual than a lifestyle. And maybe that's part of the problem too. When we center our Christian walk around what we do when we meet on Sunday and don't take it with us on Monday through Saturday, church does seem to be ritualistic. We can't be a body that comes together to sing, pray, and hear about Jesus one day a week. That's like eating one meal per week and if we did that we would starve to death. We must be the body that is feasting on Jesus, "the bread of life" (John 6) and the "living water" (John 4) every day of the week and live faithful, obedient lives that support, grow, build up and love people. That's our work. Thats our call. That is the body. So maybe you've become disconnected from the head because church has become more of a ritual and not a lifestyle. Or maybe you are wondering how to become connected to the Head. My challenge for both is that we re-read the gospels. And don't read them like you've read them before but read them like it is the first time, like you did when you wanted to know everything about Jesus. Notice how he touched people, notice who he kept company with, and notice how he showed his love. May we be reconnected to "the Head, that is Christ" and rediscover a love for a our God who "furiously" loves us and longs to be connected with us.

BW