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As a medical journalist, many years ago I wrote an article
on the healing properties of rain forest plants and trees. I interviewed a CDC
researcher in charge of sending teams to the Amazonian rain forest to collect
samples and bring them back to the lab, where they would be analyzed for their
potential role as pharmaceuticals.
One such expedition had the scientists truly excited, as
they discovered that a sample of bark from a particular tree was extremely
effective in neutralizing the HIV virus causing AIDS, without any apparent
toxicity to human cells. At that time, there were very few treatment options
for AIDS, so they sent a team back to collect more bark from that tree in hopes
of producing an anti-HIV medicine.
But to their dismay, upon arrival at their previous
collection site along the Amazon River, they found that the particular tree
from which they had sampled the bark had been cut down by a logger. The felled
tree had been hauled away, but the remains of the stump were surrounded by
trees of the same species. In hopes that the healing tree’s neighbors would
have similar properties, the team harvested bark from each of these, but to no
avail. None of these samples proved to be effective against AIDS, much to the
disappointment of not only the scientists, but to all the patients awaiting a
cure.
Thinking back on these events reminds me of how everything
God created is unique, and beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
No two snowflakes have the same design. No two organisms share identical DNA
sequences unless they arise from the same parent cell; and no two humans are the
same. Even identical twins, with similar genetic structure because of their
origin from a single fertilized egg, have different fingerprints. As the twins
grow, they become more divergent from one another in appearance, personality,
intelligence and abilities because of varying environmental and interpersonal
exposures.
As our Creator (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3)
and Intelligent Designer, God made everything and everyone to be unique. He
knew the details of His blueprint for each of us before we were even conceived
(Psalm 139:13-16), and He knew the plans He had for each of us
from before the beginning of time (Jeremiah 29:11). We are His
workmanship, individually created for His divine purpose (Ephesians 2:10).
In His omniscience (Psalm 139:1-6), He knew
which of us would be saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of
His Son (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John
14:6). He equips every believer with a unique combination of spiritual
gifts, natural abilities, talents and attributes, and He places each of us in a
unique sphere of influence to use these to bring souls to Him and to edify one
another (1 Corinthians 14:1,12; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans
12:4-8).
Under Holy Spirit inspiration, the apostle Paul compared
the church, or called-out assembly of believers, to the human body. Each member
is important and essential to the well-being of the body of Christ as a whole
and must be used as God intended. The eye is of no use for hearing, nor the ear
for seeing. Christ is the singular Head of the body, and each member serves a
needed function (1 Corinthians 12).
The human body cannot function without its individual
limbs, organs, bones, muscles and other parts visible to the naked eye. Its
specialized cells comprising each organ and system are also vital for human
life, as are the cellular components like the mitochondria needed for energy
production and the ribosomes that govern protein synthesis.
Just as the human body dies if the head is removed, the
church would not exist apart from Christ, the Head (Ephesians 5:23)
and Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). The church cannot function optimally
without pastors and preachers (undershepherds; 1 Timothy 3:1),
deacons, teachers, musicians, ushers, greeters, nor without those who are less
visible, such as administrators, hospitality planners, nursery workers, grounds
and building maintenance, and security.
But within each category of servers, each member is unique.
Every preacher brings to his sermon the benefit of his unique experiences,
perspective, training, and abilities, as does every teacher to their class.
Every pastor, deacon, counselor and mentor has gone through specific trials
that God allowed into their life to provide them with empathy and experience to
help others going through similar ordeals (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Every singer has a unique voice, the composite of their anatomy, vocal tract,
resonance spaces, and training, colored by their emotional and spiritual makeup,
enabling them to reach people responding to varying musical styles.
Provided each of these church members is saved and
doctrinally sound, and that God has equipped them for a particular role, and that
they are willing to commit to preparation and faithfulness with the motive of
glorifying Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:23), each is of great value
to the work of the church. This includes evangelism to save souls; edifying the
believer through preaching and teaching; music to prepare the heart for worship;
and fellowship with the brethren so that we can bear one another’s burdens (Galatians
6:2).
But a standard of excellence and suitability should be
required for every act of service. It would make no sense to allow a person
with Tourette’s syndrome to be a preacher or teacher, a person once convicted
of embezzlement to be treasurer, a tone-deaf person to sing special music, or
someone with hepatitis to serve food.
Service opportunities should be available for every member of the body
of Christ, but these should be tailored to their unique God-given abilities and
experience.
Even if a local church body is blessed to have many members
gifted for a specific area of service, it would be detrimental to those members
and to the church as a whole to restrict their opportunities to serve.
Corporate worship, teaching and fellowship time should not be dominated by a
single individual but should be apportioned among those God has placed there
for His specific purpose. Each member who is qualified based on their sincere
faith, sound doctrine, Christ-honoring motivation and Spirit-led gifts should
be encouraged to grow where God has planted them (Jeremiah 12:2),
for each can use their unique abilities to reach those souls that other members
could not.
If such individuals are denied service opportunities, the church
may discover too late that they are missing when needed the most. What a
tragedy it would be for souls to be lost because that unique believer who could
have spoken to their heart is no longer able to do so, whether through discouragement,
attrition, or even death. May our churches appreciate and utilize the unique position
God gave each believer, before they disappear like the unique Amazonian tree
that could have saved many lives!
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