The Purpose of the Body

Have you ever wondered how your body works? The body is an amazing machine that is extraordinarily complex. Even though scientists have ample opportunity to investigate the body there remains so many things that are unsolved and unanswered. Why does cancer happen? How do we think? Why do we sleep? (That unanswerable question leaves the sleep technologist up at night). How do you cure Alzheimer's? We don't know. Yet, for all the unknowns we retain a great number of answers. We know the basics of how we function. Some aspects are obvious and evident. The complexities may be unanswered, but body basics are easily understood.

One truth upon which most everyone agrees is that the body is meant to be used. Through all the biological wonder and inquiry- when we get back to the fundamentals- we still appreciate that the body should be used. That view, as far as I have heard, remains completely unanimous (apart from the severely deluded). Christians understand that life is something to be used. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments...” That speaks to purpose. That speaks to duty. That speaks to the fact that my body is something I should use. The irreligious and atheistic even agree. Across the spectrum, people see life in a physical body as opportunity, potential. People often ask, “What are you doing with your life?” People often say, “He is just wasting his life.” Both phrases speak to that fundamental understanding about a body. It is meant to be used. After all, you can only waste things which hold value. The body has a purpose. It is opportunity to make, accomplish and succeed in certain endeavors. Existence is not the goal. The fact that I live and breathe is not some great accomplishment. We do not honor people for merely living. We honor them for how they live. We bestow the Nobel prize on those who have done something with their existence. Existence is not the goal.

I doubt anyone reading this bulletin experienced any misgivings concerning that truth. Your presence in this building proves that to some degree you agree. Existence is not the goal. Though, I'd like to challenge you to take that idea one step further. In Ephesians 4, Paul refers to the church as the body of Christ. In so doing, he draws a parallel between the church and our physical bodies. Whether flesh and blood or the church of Christ a body has a purpose, a body should be used to accomplish a goal. Mere existence is not the goal of the Southside church of Christ.

What is our goal? Paul told us clearly in Ephesians 4. “...for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:12-13).” The Southside church of Christ exists to equip Christians with the tools they need to become more like Christ. We are here to push forward to that goal. We are here to help people be more like Jesus. We exist to help the world know Him, be cleansed by Him, act like Him. We exist to steer people away from “every wind of doctrine,” “the trickery of men” and “craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14). We exist to speak the truth about Jesus “in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Mere existence is not the goal.

I have a part to play in accomplishing this goal. All of us do. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:16 that each individual member has a part to play. The Southside church of Christ is not a club, it is a body. That means when I became a part I took on a responsibility. When I walk through the doors on Sunday morning I have not come to be entertained, I have not come to hang out. The Lord desires more from me than a full pew. I have come for a purpose; to play my part in helping others become more like Christ. Mere existence is not my goal as a member of this church. My goal is to do something to help other people know Christ, be cleansed by Christ and act like Christ.

Am I doing my part or do I merely exist?

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