Read I Corinthians 12:12-20, 27.
Southern Baptists have been talking about changing our name over the past few years. Some leaders say that we need to become Great Commission Baptists. At this point, I haven’t reached a decision on the wisdom of a name change. It may be the creeping in of political correctness to take the “Southern” out of “Southern Baptists.” But, it would remind us what the main thing is in our church life.
The Great Commission is supposed to be the driving force behind the church. Calling ourselves Great Commission Baptist might gauge how well we are participating in that mission. We all have a part in fulfilling that mission. With the Corinthians, Paul uses the metaphor of the body to illustrate how well we should be working together. First, we are all parts of the body of Christ. One important thing that we must note is that we are not the head of the body. That position belongs to Jesus Christ. Second, He has positioned us in just the right place with the right gifts to help the church accomplish the work God has called us to do. This means that, thirdly, that the church exists to accomplish the will of its Head, Jesus Christ. That will, as we’ve seen in the Great Commission, is to make disciples and teach them Jesus’s commands.
There are things on which we disagree, such as the color of the church carpets or the music used in the services. But, we should be finding unity in our common call to make disciples. Have you found your place in the church’s common cause?
Mark Riser - Apologist 