Are You Part of the Body?

A once popular campaign slogan for the U.S. Army encouraged potential recruits to “Be all that you can be. Join the Army.” It focused on the idea that joining the Army would encourage the new recruit to become all he or she was created to be. I liked that slogan, and I applied it to the Church today. Hebrews 10:25 wisely encourages us not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together.” Several other New Testament books strongly recommend being part of the Body of Christ by being active in the Christian community via participation in a local church.

Some of us have friends or know people who have said, “Nature is my church. I don’t need to attend a church to grow in my faith.” Really? All my friends who have taken that stance have gradually lost their walk with the Lord without exception. It has been said that our individual faiths are like embers. If we embers stick close together, collectively, we burst into a mighty flame of faith. Whereas embers that are separated from each other eventually fizzle out. John Piper drove this point home regarding the importance of joining small groups within our various churches by saying, “The purpose of small groups is to keep us believing.” Being part of a local church strengthens our faith.

I have personally witnessed the power of the community growing my faith because I’ve been active in a local church for the last 8 years of my life. My connection with that body of believers has tangibly strengthened my connection with Christ. We are not perfect. Our vulnerability and willingness to be real with one another have caused me to be more transparent and trusting of others in a way that I never knew before. We need each other. Fellowship with other believers is a very important cog in the wheel of our individual walks with the Lord. If you are not currently attending a local church, may I encourage you to prayerfully find one and join today?

Let us Walk in His Way:

Dear Heavenly Father, You have made it clear in your Word that each of us has a role and a purpose in Your Church. I may only be a toe in the body, but without this toe the body would limp. Lord, show each of us where we could fit within the Body of a local Church. After all, Your spiritual gifts were given for one purpose: for the common good of Your Body, the Church. If we don’t use our gifts in the church community, we miss becoming all we can be. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

by Corinne “Kinney” deHamel

author of “Walk in His Way” for

Carry the Light Ministries