An Organized Body by G. B. T.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 21, 1916

An Organized Body

By G. B. T.

THE apostle tells us that “Christ is the head of the church.” Eph. 5:23. He is “the head over all things to the church.” Chap. 1:22. He, and he alone, “is the head of the body, the church.” Col. 1:18.

Many more scriptures of similar import might be cited. The true church of God has a divine head. From him the church receives strength, light, nourishment, power, and instruction, to carry forward its work in the world.

The same scriptures which tell us that Christ is the head of the church, tell us that the church is his body. A head without a body is unthinkable. “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.” Col. 1:24.

The body can be directed by the head only in an organized capacity. Think of the strange idea of teaching that in order to meet the mind of God the body must be disorganized! It is almost impossible to think seriously of such a strange, incongruous condition of things. A divine head seeking to direct an unorganized body! This seems shocking.

It does not help the situation to say that the organization of the local church meets all the demands of organization. This is not enough. The body has “many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body.” 1 Cor. 12:12. The body is a unit, and not many disconnected members. God has set these members in the church, and all are to work together. Not a single member of the body works independently of other members. The eye does not work independently of other members of the body. The eye works together with the ears, the feet, the hands. None of these can say, “I have no need of thee.” They cannot perform their proper function independently, and separate from the organization of the body.

Can the hand work alone? Cut off an arm and lay it on the table. What can it do?—Nothing. Being separated from the body, and alone, it is dead. Suppose the eye thinks it is bound and hindered in its work by the organized body, and concludes to work alone. Separate it from the body. Now what can it do? It is useless; it is dead. Its light is gone.

Suppose the foot concludes its function is too humble. It feels too greatly the pressure of the body, and decides to separate from the body, and perform its work alone. It would not only be entirely useless separated from the body, but in its separation it would injure the body, and for a time at least hinder its progress.

No further illustrations are necessary to show the utter folly of concluding that the complete, perfect organization of the body is a dangerous thing. But these are sufficient to show that organization is necessary to each member of the body, and for the body as a whole. There is no quicker way to destroy the body than to disorganize it.

The Holy Spirit was present at creation, brooding over the world, bringing order out of chaos. Wherever the Spirit is permitted to have his way, he brings order and unity into the body of Christ. He never leads to division or separation, but tends to bring scattered parts together, heals and binds up broken joints, and strengthens and builds up the entire body. Let there be no divisions in the body, but let all the members press together, and push forward the work of God in unity and love. G. B. T.