For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

1 Corinthians 12:14-19

The Corinthian Church was a problematic bunch of believers because they focused on their differences and kept fighting with one another. In doing so they placed unity amongst them at stake. There were some believers who felt they didn't belong because they are not the same as the rest of the church. The Apostle Paul, however, tells them that the reason they didn't feel they belong is because they are not seeing themselves as God sees them. In other words, they are not obeying the gospel truth of who they are and what they have in Christ.

By using a satirical illustration of various human body parts feeling they don’t belong, Paul was reminding the believers that they had forgotten that it was God who brought them together in the first place. This means if we really want to fit in, we can. After all, we are all connected to Christ. But more often than not, we act like the foot or the ear, thinking we are so different that there is no possibility of unity and affinity.

Sometimes people use this excuse of not fitting in to change to another church or drop out altogether. They have the wrong idea of what a church ought to be. Such a wrong idea will only lead to more disappointment and pain because their feelings and actions have been built on a false premise.

While the Corinthians were not exemplary believers in both words and conduct, the Apostle Paul did not pressurise them to fit into his expectations. He took considerable time to write them two letters to reveal the truth of who they are united with and what power is at work within them. He urged them to take hold of all they have in Christ and to live their lives in the light of these new creation realities. When we can encourage each other to do the same, our church community life will become more and more authentic and always striving to promote unity in faith, hope and love.