Guest Columnist: Dr. Adam Dooley
Christian Action League
August 9, 2024
Ours is an age of rugged individualism. Be true to yourself. Live your truth. Just follow your heart. Balancing such notions, however, with Jesus’ commands to deny ourselves and take up our crosses in order to follow Him is logically fallacious (Luke 9:23). Sentiments like these not only run contrary to the basic premises of Christianity, but also jettison the church for a more self-centered faith. Recent chatter about deconstructing faith is really nothing more than egotistical effort to justify aberrant views and behavior that run contrary to historical orthodoxy.
The older I get, though, the more I realize how profoundly essential the church is to my walk with Christ. The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is by grace through faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9), yet dismissing the bride of Christ as nothing more than an institutional entanglement is a grave mistake. Our ambitions to see God do far more abundantly than we could ever ask or think (Eph. 3:20) are often so personalized that we miss the context of “to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Eph. 3:21).”
God prizes the church so much that He compares it to a human body, which remains one despite its many parts (Rom. 12:4-5). Though all Christians have differing roles to play, God calls each of us to serve the body according to the unique gifts He bestows upon His people. These charismata are not talents, but supernatural empowerments meant to strengthen the family of God as well as we reach new people for Christ (1 Cor. 4:7). Each gift manifests itself “according to the grace given to us (Rom. 12:6).”
Though numerous passages of Scripture list various spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-11; 12:28; Eph. 4:11), none are meant to be comprehensive. Instead, each provides a framework as an example of how God equips His children to fulfill differing assignments within the church. Without exception, every member of every congregation receives what the Bible calls “a special gift” for the purpose of “serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10).”
Apart from the congregational gathering and the role God wants us to play within, we would never be able to recognize nor utilize these sacred gifts. Our purpose as believers is tied directly to the needs of the body, as well as God’s tasking and enabling us to serve. Without the church, we forfeit the joy of God’s divine enablement and the thrill of making a difference in the kingdom.
Furthermore, these assignments help us avoid the vanity and conceit that dominates our culture. Pride leaves us far too impressed with ourselves and far too bored with God. Thus, in the context of his discussion on spiritual gifts, the Apostle Paul reminds us not to think too highly of ourselves, but to use sound judgment instead (Rom. 12:3). How can Christians heed this counsel? Refuse to get drunk on yourself is the idea. Avoid being an arrogant braggart on the one hand, but resist the humble brag on the other. Admit your weaknesses and faults while also utilizing your strengths, knowing of God’s goodness toward you.
Because each of us receives a measure of grace, we should realize that WHO we are is not tied to WHAT we do. None of us can claim to be deserving of our role in the family of God, no matter how visible it might be. Recognizing our skills as a gift from God is the dose of humility that most of us regularly need.
Likewise, Scripture insists that we equally care for all who know Jesus, realizing God places each of us in the body according to His desires (1 Cor. 12:18), thus leaving no room for division (1 Cor. 12:25). Again, these directives run counter to the self-actualization myths that deceive the masses. By God’s grace, the local church teaches us to prioritize the needs of others and esteem them as more important than ourselves (Phil. 2:3-4).
Separating from church is like a single part of a human body attempting to function apart from the whole. No matter your role or your gift, you need the local church, and the church needs you. Hebrews 10:23-25 is the admonition we need: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
Dr. Adam B. Dooley is pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, TN, and author of Hope When Life Unravels. Contact him at adooley@ebcjackson.org. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBDooley.
