Many Parts, One Body
A poem on spiritual gifts and how they may not look like we think
I’m in a woman’s Bible study that is actually studying the Bible, not a “topic” but a book, the book of Romans, no less. We have some guidance from N.T. Wright1 and we share different commentaries to help us make sense of this densely theological book. This commentary has been especially helpful to me. It’s so refreshing to be in a woman’s Bible study that isn’t focused on being a better wife or better mother, but on being a better Christian and knowing God for Who He truly is.
This week we began exploring Romans 12, which famously exhorts believers to “therefore” live a life of genuine love and faith, mind and body, in response to the great grace God has shown us, whether Jewish believers or Gentile believers. All are part of the one body of believers, the Church, but each one has her own special gifts God has given to share with one another in love, enriching that one body as we dwell in unity. At least, that’s the goal!
There is an application of this principle in all relationships, including families. In psychology, families can be viewed as “systems” that find ways to function that can be helpful or harmful. Some families are enmeshed, like The Blob, where one member is usually dominant, expecting conformity and compliance, or else. Sometimes the “or else” is subtle, but in this system, everyone cooperates to keep things “stable” by playing their part to avoid further disruption. The parallels to some unhealthy church cultures are obvious. Other family systems are disengaged, where people may live under the same roof but live very separate lives, with little emotional connection, avoiding the discomfort of life together, rugged individualists, self-contained. This could describe a church environment heavy on verbal assent to certain standards with pew warmers listening to LONG lectures every week and calling that “worship.” The healthiest system, family or church, is differentiated, in which individuals are able to flourish by being their true selves with their gifts and foibles and eccentricities welcomed warmly into the community, where the Golden Rule and fruits of the Spirit help maintain a healthy balance of unity and diversity.2
Whenever I see lists of “spiritual gifts” (Romans 12:6-8; I Cor. 12:8-10), I remember being in churches where it’s emphasized that these lists give us all the choices of gifts God might confer on people, and it is our job to peruse those lists to find the one (or more) that fits us best so we can get plugged into some kind of ministry within that church. I’m all for volunteering in the church and even making a vocation out of full-time ministry. But I think it’s very limiting of people and of God to woodenly wrestle our personalities and interests into a category of ministry work taken from Paul’s examples of many ways people might serve in the church. We are much more complicated than that.
I just won first place in the chili cook-off at my church. That does NOT mean I am therefore gifted to head up the kitchen crew or that I should quit my job and start a soup kitchen. 36 years of cooking meals for a big family made me thankful for simple meals and my air fryer. I am happy to sometimes help with kitchen duties at church, but I have many interests and gifts which change depending on my season of life, energy levels, and other contexts. I am concerned that those who are beautifully but quietly gifted with tender hearts and consciences might get shoehorned into rigid roles or left out and feeling like they have no use in God’s kingdom if they don’t see obvious opportunities for service.
God says ALL believers are welcome and necessary in His kingdom work, and it may not– in fact, it WILL not–look like we expect it to look. When has it ever? Isn’t that the topsy-turvy we see over and over in God’s Word? He transforms the humble things into sacred things, surprising us with His creativity in our lives and in the life of the church. How happy it makes me that God does this!
With all that in mind, I wrote this poem. I’m hesitant to say it because I know I will probably not be able to do it every single day, but I’m participating in a poetry challenge to write a poem a day this month. Here is my first attempt:
On reading Romans 12: One body, many parts, each with a unique gift
What is your gift? they demand.
It’s in your Bible as God planned.
Pick one, use it! Here’s the list…
Parsing Paul, his message missed.
Guilt, confusion–feel dejected;
Nothing fits. Is she rejected?
She’s read the lists, many times,
Wondering, pondering, nothing chimes.
Does God have use for a sense of awe
That marvels at each sunset she ever saw?
What about eyes that gather tears
Weeping over the sad stories she hears?
Can quiet prayers uttered be a part
Of serving God from a tender heart?
If the prophet, Anna, in the Temple waited
Years to see the Messiah, faith unabated,
Then maybe the gift of a quiet existence
In sacrifice to God, in daily persistence,
Is her place in the body, faithful transforming
Body and mind–no need for conforming.
https://a.co/d/g62mdev
Here is a good article explaining the concept of differentiation and how it can be helpful in church conflict.