The Body of Christ
* What do you think: Can true fellowship be found through the internet? If so, why do we still need the local church? Post your thoughts on the blog: http://talk.thelife.com/
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it??? (1 Corinthians 12:27).
Throughout the New Testament, the church – the gathering of believers, rather than the building where they met – is referred to as the body of Christ.
When Paul said, “for we are members of His body??? (Ephesians 5:30), he was indicating that every person who believed in Jesus for salvation was part of His body. Therefore, there is no such thing as an independent Christian.
I remember the shower schedules we posted on the bathroom door when I was a teenager, whenever we had overnight company. There would be a list of times, at ten-minute intervals, where you could fill in your name for a turn to use the bathroom.
Perhaps my life would have been easier if I had fewer siblings or more bathrooms, but I wouldn’t have learned to share, to respect others, or look beyond my own needs to the needs of others.
In the same way, we can’t live out our Christianity in isolation.
Interaction with other people is an essential element in learning to be Christ-like. It is through relationship that God teaches us love, patience, humility and grace. That is why God calls us to belong to a community of believers.
Although the internet can be a great place to meet other believers in Christ, it should never take the place of face to face interaction. We were meant to serve God, worship Him, and study His Word with other believers.
Challenge yourself.
Do I belong to a group of believers, meeting regularly with them; do I allow myself to be real among them and make myself accountable to them?
Only within a community of believers can we truly live out our calling to be the body of Christ.
~God, show me how to live as part of Your body.
About the Author
This devotional was written by Suzanne Benner. Read more about Suzanne: http://www.talk.thelife.com/suzanne-benner/
Questions
1. How has the body of believers ministered to you?
2. Do I belong to a group of believers, meeting regularly with them; do I allow myself to be real among them and make myself accountable to them?
3. How can we help create community?
Comment
Post your comments on the devotional blog: http://talk.thelife.com/
Chat about this devotional today at 10:30 am Eastern: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat/minidevos.html
Related Article
Experience the power of praying online
http://training.truthmedia.com/mentoring/prayer_mentor.html
Copyright
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We still need to fellowship in the local church. The Bible says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves (Heb 10:25). Not everyone on the internet who says they are a christian is truely a christian. Yes, you can say the same for the local church as well. The difference is that you can’t see who you are fellowshipping with. The purpose of fellowship is to help encourage one another.
Wow… online Christian community in action! Thanks for your posts today, and for your care and encouragement for Riann. For Riann and anyone else whose hearts are heavy today, if you are struggling with something in your life right now, have a question, or just need a listening ear, we invite you to share us. One of our e-mail mentors will respond to you personally. Visit: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat/askus.html
Also, I wanted to just affirm that here at TruthMedia (the ministry that publishes Christian Women Today), we uphold the value of the local church. While we create and encourage online community, we also point people to the local face-to-face, real-time connection that a church provides. If you are looking for a church, this resource may prove helpful: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/contact/findchurch.html
Laurie, one of our staff members, has an amazing story of how internet and church ministry worked in tandem in her own spiritual journey. Read or even watch it on video: http://www.truthmedia.com/aboutus/lauriem.html
May you experience God’s love through His body today!
Stacy
Dear Riann,
I do understand what you are going through. Please look outside your christian circle for help. Panic and anxiety attacks are serious mental health problems. Please talk to a doctor to help you find the help and support you need. I have found for myself, that a support group is very helpful, finding someone with a similiar situtation can help you feel that you are not alone.If you need someone to talk to, I am here. Ask your church to lift you up in their prayers. You do not have to tell them the exact prayer request, you can ask for an unspoken prayer request.
May God comfort you,
Schultz
I dont think the Internet could or should take over as the sole source of fellowship. I think God intended for us to fellowship in as many forms as possible.
If that had been his intention he wouldnt rely on ALL of us to spread the word and would expect ONLY one person or one book to do everything.
But the Internet certainly serves its purpose.
I receive the Devotions daily while I am at work and it is amazing but sometimes I will open that days message and it seems to be speaking to the heart of the issue that I am often dealing with on that day.
There are so many days that it keeps me going and keeps me inspired!! It reminds me to pray over the issue, be it large or small.
I am thankful for All of the sources, be it written, emailed or in person that I come in contact with daily.
Be blessed.
What a blessing to read all of your comments today! I just want to agree that online fellowship should never totally take the place of face to face fellowship with believers….I have the wonderful blessing of many online friends and coworkers, and when my father-in-law suffered a massive heart attack in the middle of the night, it was an online friend that first prayed for me and with me! I wouldn’t have dreamt of waking someone up with a phone call but she was online.
Having said that, I do want to say that when we are really hurting and aren’t getting the support in church, the online community can fill a void.Riann, try out our chat room and I know that the women would love to pray for you!Or come at 10:30 am eastern and discuss the questions in the devotional. We would love to see you there!
For Riann — my thoughts and prayers are with you. I pray that you will be able to find another church that is loving and supportive.
For everyone — as publisher and writer for an online magazine I’ve discovered the power and beauty of online fellowship. I’ve connected via email with people from all over the world. These people have shared their personal stories with me. I in turn have had the chance to reach out by giving encouragement and offering prayers. Without the Internet I would not have had such wonderful experiences.
I do believe that physically fellowshipping with other believers is important when we have the opportunity to do so. But it’s not so much the physical presence of two or more people that cause fellowship to happen. Rather, it’s the heart of those individuals reaching out to one another. I’ve had some deep moments with individuals via email but also physically as well.
We should appreciate both kinds of fellowship. They both have their place in the Christian community today. For Christians living in some parts of the world, Internet fellowship is all they have. However, physical fellowship is also beneficial in that it helps us to connect with people and help them (visit them in a hospital, hug them, etc.) in a way the Internet will not allow.
Just my two cents. God bless all of you.
First of all I want to say that online fellowship shouldn’t replace church worship. I do know that as I have stated before CWT has provided me with more intimate and life application messages on a daily basis, that center around womens issues, which has been a blessing to my life.
I think that they both work hand in hand.
Riann, I hope that you will come back here and blog, because having an outlet to express yourself, more openly and freely, will also help in your healing.
I am actually reading a book that I was directed to from this site called Letting God Meet your emotional Needs by Cindi Mcmenamin. IT is awesome!
Remember in times like this that your mind is the spiritual place of battle, so try to read your Bible. Get a new living translation if you dont have one and get some scripture in your mind. Memorize 2 Corinthians 10: 4-5 and repeat it aloud to your self. I have learned that nothing can stand against the word of GOD.
Hello Stacy,
I’ve been online for almost 5 years now and actually discovered cwt in the beginning of this experience with the world wide web.
The online Christian Community has helped me to step outside my comfort zone a bit. The studies have helped me dig deeper in the Word, as well as teaching me. The many ideas and thoughts of women from all over the world is awesome.
I have found ladies who have gone through some valleys with me as prayer partners and true friends.
I have a wonderful local church family and I believe it is very important to be established in a Bible Believing congregation. We do need fellowship with other believers. We need to sit at God’s table to be fed.
These are very good replies to Riann. I believe many people to not know what to say to someone who is gong through such trials. Perhaps the woman who has been un-Christian to you is also going through a bad time. It has been said that `we are all in this together’ and there is no one who does not have problems. They may not be the same as ours, but problems for them just as much.
Riann,
I would like to STRONGLY suggest that you see a medical doctor or a psychiatrist about your panic and anxiety. There is a physical reason you are suffering with this. A doctor can prescribe medications that will help. It is not a weakness or a lack of faith to take medications. If you had heart disease or diabetes, you wouldn’t consider it a lack of faith to see a doctor or take medications for that. Mental illnesses (panic, anxiety, depressions, etc.) are no different; they are a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Medication can make such a tremendous difference and I thank God that they are available to us today. Your pastor may be aware of some Christian counselors or therapists in your area that can help too.
Believe me, I can understand what you are going through. I too have suffered from depression and anxiety. As a result of my illness, my husband abandoned me and we are now about to be divorced. He asked me to find another church home after our separation and I agreed. For the most part, I felt abandoned by my church as well. Save one person, no one called or sent cards or even an e-mail to encourage me. It is so hard for me to even attend a church now. When I attend, I usually end up crying because I am painfully aware that I am not with my family and it just hurts so bad. But I miss that connection with the church family and I miss serving Christ by serving others.
In the three years since I was initially hospitalized for major depression, I’ve had a tough journey. Christ is the only way I’ve been able to make it. Hold on to Him and He will never leave or forsake you.
The daily devotionals from Christian Women Today mean so much to me. They do not replace the physical connection to the local church. But there have been many days when all I can manage to do spiritually is read these e-mails. Time after time, God has used them to speak directly to me. It’s been amazing how many times I received exactly what I needed on that very day through the devotional. I am very thankful for CWT for the work that they do. God bless and Riann, you’re in my prayers. Other people do care about you! Hang in there and hang onto God!
I feel that physical contact and face to face conversations are vital in everyone’s lives. Although technology is wonderful it really can’t replace the fellowship of others. With emails, words can take the wrong tone even if not intended to. At least with face to face communication you can read body language and understand a person’s message even if it doesn’t come out the right way.
For you, Riann, take comfort that God is with you. After my mother and father passed away those around me did not know what to say…I had someone tell me after a miscarriage that I had enough children at 3 and should be happy, this person had 2. I came from a family of 11 siblings. Sometimes people just don’t know how to react…some people think they shouldn’t intrude. Is this a Christian way to act? Of course not, we are all a family and should look out and care for one another. Praying is only one method. I can’t reach you from where I am but prayers will go up for you..God will give you comfort and peace as he has promised. “Call unto me and I will give you rest.”
Riann, hold your head up high and know that this is just a rough spot and there will be better days and the Lord’s love will be abundant. Today may be tough but God’s plan for you is not to suffer but to make you stronger. He will get you through this. Love, Peace and Joy will radiate from you and you will become someone else’s shining example of how to deal with tough times.
God bless you all.
Lorna
Canada
We all need that “human contact” in our lives, but sometimes it is nice to get the opinion of a complete stranger on a spiritual struggle that we are facing. Often times we tend to give answers that the person wants to hear because we are so close to them and do not want to hurt them, but in reality what they need is the truth. God gives us special friends in our churches and we need that “coming together as a body”, but He also works in mysterious ways….the internet. I have been truly blessed every since I subscribed to this sight. Psalm 91:1 God speed all.
Oh Riann, I’m sorry to hear that you’ve hit such a rough spot. I hear you. You’re struggling mightily! Perspective is important also within the body of Christ. There is a very real possibility that many of those around you just plain don’t know what to say or do. That’s no excust for not offering a hug and a prayer. It’s just … where do we go from there. There ARE those who just don’t think that “hug and a prayer” is worth much. Those of us who have been on the receiving end, however, KNOW it can change everything. As in the rest of life, sometimes you’re the hammer and sometimes you’re the nail (according to popular music;-) so SOMEtimes you are in need of a hug and sometimes you need to GIVE a hug. I know your problems are real but next week, just for that one day, see if you can find out who else needs a hug and a word of encouragement.
I agree that tht electric community cannot – indeed MUST not replace the physical gathering together community. They are as different as Sunday School and Church. Or breakfast and dinner. When I was raising my kids in the church, they were always amazed to find out that other Christian mothers had pretty much the same rules and regulations I did. If you want to build community there’s no getting around small groups and doing a project together.
Well, since this is one of my favorite subjects I COULD go on but I’m also interested in what some of you have to say on this subject so I’ll quit mouthing off and pray that each of you have a great day. He never promised it would be an easy walk but he DID promise that it would be worth it and that He would be with us for fellowship and assistance.
To all~
I don’t feel like I’ve been ministered to by my church at all. I have gone through a VERY difficult couple of months. I am now having problems with panic and anxiety attacks. Our church is small (30 people) and everyone knows my situation. Still, I’ve had only one pat on the back and offer of prayer. There is a woman in our church that glares at me terrifyingly every Sunday. It has made me miss church more than once. My daily life is falling to pieces. I find that I often go to bed without having made super for my family or even taking a shower.
Will anyone reply to this? I don’t know, but I’m used to it if they don’t.
All I have is Jesus……….
On-line fellowship is not the same as a local body of believers. I appreciate being able to send a prayer request and know I will get back a thoughtful, prayerful response to my concern. On-line fellowship is a connection to the truly world-wide body of Christ. God’s word is true and good, any activity that builds faith in Him is worthwhile.
The local body of believers has ministered to me by being there each week when I attend church. We chat, catch up on what is going on in each other’s lives, work together in ministry to the community inside and outside our church group.
I especially enjoy weekly bible study with a small group of people from our church and in our community. I have also had the joy of being part of a new AWANA children’s club that started at our church this past year. There were 7 families represented all from different churches. It provided an opportunity for families who did not know each other prior to the AWANA program to come together, their children to meet new friends, and God gave us a new circle of Christian fellowship we did not know existed in our small town. God truly is building his church. Many of us thought we were lone Christians in this town and then God brought us together. I do allow myself to be accountable to the Christians in my circle as we share what is going on in each other’s lives and pray for one another.
I believe we can help to create Christian community by seeking to know God’s will for our life, being obedient to Him each day, and then being available as God brings opportunities for community building into our lives. Another way to create community is to jump on board to support other people who are initiating an activity in the community.
I agree with Suzanne online fellowship cannot replace being part of a local church. However, it certainly has it’s place. There are times when, due to your position in your local church, you are unable to share concerns or prayer needs with anyone around you. It’s good to know there are others out there who will agree in prayer with you or will be able to shine God’s light on your situation. And … it gives you an opportunity to minister to others in a way you may not be able to in your current situation.
Dear all
PRaise the Lord I have a comment to make in regrads to the topic of unity of purpose I just feel I cant buy ideas of people who pretend to be christians yet they deceive in everyhting they do I feel pained in a way I find myself not agreeing with them in how they do things as in a place of work there is unity of purpose but when one is in pretence like in time we are to report at 8.00 in the morining the person comes late as past 9.00 then signs 8.30.
All in all we need to be faithful to the level of our inner convictions.
Thanks and God Bless the team involved in this.
Jackie
Uganda
I’m curious: what has your experience been with online Christian community? Has it been real? Have you had any surprises? Concerns?
We’d love to hear your thoughts today.