One Body, Many Part(ner)s

When you hear the words “member” and “membership,” what comes to mind? Of course, there are many different types of membership. For example, I am a member of a local fitness center. The local fitness center is a member of a chain of fitness centers. The national chain of fitness centers where I far too infrequently exercise is intentional about creating “judgement free zones” where everyone “belongs.” But that doesn’t mean anything goes. Members are forewarned that behaviors such as grunting, dropping weights on the floor, and judging others will be met with a “lunk alarm.” It is a creative and humorous way of distinguishing the kind of culture they desire to cultivate from the culture they are not seeking to create.

Does any of the above sound familiar? I didn’t mean for it to. When I began reflecting on membership this week, a fitness center was just an immediate example. That said, churches can occasionally take some cues from “secular” organizations. Which raises another question, does taking cues from secular organizations compromise the sacred trust we have been given? What is sacred and what is secular or profane? Who decides?

In this week’s reading (Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16), we will consider church membership/partnership in new and potentially life (world) changing ways. In preparation for our discussion, watch the below clips from Amistad. Then as now, the Bible was interpreted in radically different ways by those who had much to gain and those who had much to lose, by those who had relative autonomy over their lives and those who didn’t. Interpretation of scripture and how it applies to our personal and collective lives is largely determined by how we consciously or unconsciously answer the following interrelated questions:

(1) Who am I?

(2) To what community do I belong (of what community am I a “member”)?

I look forward to what promised to be a lively discussion!

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