Function the Dysfunctional

I don't think I would know what a family is without the word dysfunctional in front of it. I've had my fair share of family issues and and I would say most people would say the same. The funny thing is we can easily dismiss the "dys' and have a functional family if we make the effort. But that's easier said than done, because we're all human and we all make mistakes and we all have opinions that differ from one another that results in disagreements.

But what about the church family? Is the church made up of perfect saints that always get along and wear a shiny halo? I think not. I would even say there is more propensity for dysfunction and disagreement within the church. The devil knows where to hit us. The devil knows if he can make us disagree over simple things that doesn't matter then he has us where he wants us. God's word warns us in 1 Peter 5:8 to, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

The church is made up of people, the church represents the body of Christ. How can we properly function as the body of Christ if each member is not working together? "Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." Romans 12:4-5.

If we're not functioning together, then we are dysfunctional!

We all have a part to play to keep this body of CHRIST fully functional as Ephesians 4:11-13 says, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

We need to function together to reach the full measure of Christ.

How do we do this with each member of this body thinking and acting independently with their own thoughts, ideas and desires? When we disagree, when we have matters that concern us, when we want things to go our way? The answer comes from divine inspiration through God's words penned by Paul in Colossians 3:13-14. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

All of these virtues are great and necessary... bear with each other, forgive each , let peace rule in your heart, but what binds these all together in perfect unity?

LOVE.

Martin Luther King, Jr. had this figured out when he said, "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

For a body to function properly, mentally, physically, emotionally, it needs love. For the body of Christ it needs the same. It needs love to allow for faults and mistakes. The body of Christ needs to love like Christ. It needs to show compassion, mercy, forgiveness just like Christ. Christ loved the church so much that he gave his life for her (Ephesians 5:25). Who do we think we are to think that we should offer any less than Jesus Christ himself? Maybe we are not sacrificing our physical bodies, but we can sacrifice our will and our selfish desires for the love of the church.

Why can't we just all get along? As much as I want to live in a perfect world and have everyone get along all the time, it will not happen in a sinful, fallen world. The church will never be perfect while on this earth and in these fleshly bodies.

The good news, though because of the sacrifice Jesus made for the church that he loves that, I mentioned earlier, God sees a perfect church, despite all of the discord, arguments, selfishness, and misunderstandings. You see, His broken body made one whole, complete, body that makes up the church, of which he is head (Colossians 1:18).

So Christ's love compels me to strive for perfect unity and no longer live for myself, but for HIM who died for me (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Jesus completely dismissed the dysfunction by his sacrifice and made one, whole functioning body of which every member in Christ is a part of.

Christ knows how to function the dysfunctional.