For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Christians though many are joined together as one body in Christ, and not every part has the same office or work to do. The perfection of the whole depends not on all being made alike, but on each taking a proper place and fulfilling a distinct part in cooperation with the others. God Himself gives gifts differing according to grace and measure of faith, such as prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and showing mercy. Each is therefore to serve with a sober and humble estimate of self, honoring every gift as essential, keeping individuality and freedom of conscience, and refusing dominating rule that would control another's distinct place. Those varied talents are to blend in sincere love, mutual help, and active labor, so the church can do its work as a light to the world and prepare a people for Christ's coming.
Words and Context
Romans 12:4 means that Christians, though many, are joined together as one body in Christ and do not all have the same office, laying down principles for their conduct toward one another. Believers united as one body have different roles within a shared fellowship in which they are members of one another. As members of the heavenly family they are to help and strengthen one another as they press on to win heaven by overcoming as Christ overcame. The health and care of the body belong to this same meaning, as part of presenting oneself to God and serving as a Christian.
The verse likens the church to the human and physical body, where many different parts unite to form the whole body and each does its own work in obedience to the intelligence that governs the whole, in one symmetrical body. The perfection of the whole depends on the perfection of the individual members and organs. Each member is to think soberly and not think of himself more highly than he ought to think, to wear Christ's yoke and draw under His leading, and to unite and cooperate with brethren under sanctified judgment instead of striving to be a distinct whole carrying out his own plans and ideas.
The one body is united under Christ as Head, with all members joined through Him and their distinct gifts working together like threads in a pattern. Those laboring with varied gifts, as in ministry and medical missionary work, are many members united in one body under Christ. They must wear Christ's yoke in humility before God, be controlled and guided by the wisdom God gives, use their gifts to bless humanity, live in harmony in every action without jealousy or friction, draw in even cords, give room to fellow laborers instead of measuring them by personal ideas, not quarrel, not fasten to any human leader, and stand together under Christ as Leader to follow His directions, strengthen His work in every line, restore the moral image of God in humanity, and act in His name for the glory of God.
The verse belongs to the teaching of Romans 12 that is very instructive and stands as a history for all churches, carrying high value for carrying the work of God on to a higher plane of action. The whole chapter is for the church to study, laying down the religious duty of every church member and holding lessons for all. Its principles require careful study and obedience in small matters as well as large in order to be sustained, and its practical instruction must be brought into daily life. Living it makes true believers, who show genuine Christian character and by putting on Christ are transformed by the renewing of the mind and prove by personal experience what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, while spurious faith is revealed by daily conduct. Every member has a work to do, but all do not have the capability to do the same work to the best advantage, for one is fitted for one class of work and another for another, all blending in a complete whole, calling believers to increase in faith and righteousness and to grow up into Christ the living Head. God uses men as His instruments only as long as they work humbly seeking wisdom from Him, in humble service as instruments of God rather than self-exaltation, because becoming exalted in their own opinion weakens them and gives Satan power over them. All who hold position in the church to act as shepherds must represent the great Shepherd and must not exercise dominating, masterly ruling power over the Lord's people by charging them what they shall do and shall not do, for such domination is a strange and dangerous element in Christian experience, is not of God, is another gospel and not the righteousness of Christ, is a spoil to the church of God, and must no longer be allowed.
Through faith and obedience, Jews and Gentiles live in harmony as members of Christ's body and become one in Christ with Jesus as its Head.
Unity in One Body
All believers together are one body in Christ and members one of another, belonging to one another in shared fellowship. Those brought together in church capacity are to strive to be one as Christ is one with the Father, united understandingly and intelligently in right relation to one another. The differing gifts are given by grace to fit the church to do its work and be the light of the world, including prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and showing mercy, and these different roles are to be carried out faithfully and with love. This calls for serving in a God-given place with a sober, humble estimate of self, not thinking more highly than is right and not using influence to promote evil, but working by the same Spirit in peace rather than confusion, with sincere love, hatred of evil, cleaving to good, brotherly kindness, and preferring one another in honor. Publishing-house workers, physicians, nurses, and ministers alike need converted intellects and daily conversion to work together without cherishing inherited and cultivated tendencies to wrong and domination.
Unity does not mean everyone has the same function; the perfection of the whole depends not on members being fashioned exactly alike but on each taking a proper place and fulfilling a distinct part in cooperation with the others. Each is to take the place and do the work appointed according to the ability given, to stand in his lot and do his appointed work, without self-exaltation or insisting on working independently. Each person's distinct place in serving God, who owns the body and its members, is to be respected rather than controlled through harsh or dictatorial treatment.
Unity in diversity is God's plan, where different ways of laboring and speaking complement one another so that diversity produces harmony, natural adaptability, and mutual benefit. To every man, woman, and child is given a work to do in the moral vineyard, one fitted to do a certain work, another adapted to a different work, another to a still different line, and each is to be the complement of the others. No one mind alone is sufficient or capable of being a complete whole, sufficient to devise plans and direct the work or to exert a healthful, well-balanced influence. In providence people of different temperaments are brought together that they might unite in the work, with diverse elements blended, one adapted to the other, each doing its special work for God. Those united in the work must blend together in union with the Holy Spirit, taking time to understand each other, finding points of resemblance, accepting and crediting keener perceptions and ability in another, helping each other and supplying the lack of another, instead of standing apart to watch and criticize and judge each other. Every individual has his place in the filling up of one great plan bearing the stamp of Christ's image, for God is one.
Though they do not all have the same office or talents, members must draw together and live in harmony in church capacity, doing their part under sanctified judgment rather than tying up in separate parties. The church is like a human body whose members are joined as one though they have different roles, and each member should do his part in harmony with the whole, under sanctified judgment, so the church can work in unity. Christ gives different people different abilities to be exercised in different lines of work, with some strong to carry on one line of work while others are especially fitted to carry on another line or to labor in a different way to accomplish the same result. Therefore no worker should feel that his fellow workers should labor in exactly the same way that he does, and none should place themselves on the side of the one man who brought them light and truth and tie up in separate bundles cemented to him. Those who refuse harmony with their brethren are not being sanctified through the truth and need reconversion, or their claimed conversion is a stumbling block to sinners.
Diversity of Gifts and Offices
God gives gifts differing according to the grace given and the measure of faith, as He pleases, and these include prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and showing mercy, together with capabilities in speech, thought, and action. There is a special work for individual members, and each is to fill an appointed place, with no one supposing a special gift to be above all other gifts, but all gifts appreciated as essential for advancing the cause and made helpful by connecting them with the gifts of others. By this united service of distinct members the sons of God represent Him and His cause in the midst of rebels and enemies by whom the will of God is neglected and His honor despised, and the different roles are to be carried out faithfully and with love. All serve in different lines under the same Spirit for the good of the whole body, and knowing this order guards against rivalry, pride, envy, contempt, and looking down on others, while building unity and mutual love. Each is to think soberly and reasonably of self, not more highly than ought and not swayed to extremes, one day on the mount and the next in the valley of despondency.
Every member has a work to do, but all do not have capability to do the same work to the best advantage, for one is fitted for one class of work and another for another class, all blending in a complete whole. Each member is to take the place and do the work appointed according to ability given, in a particular sphere and vocation, acting humbly in the part given and cooperating rather than remaining passive or inactive or insisting on working independently with self-exaltation. The service expected is proportionate to the abilities and gifts entrusted, so no one should refuse a small task because it is not great, since even little work can glorify God. The perfection of the church does not require its members to be alike but depends on each fulfilling a distinct part in cooperation with the others, unto increasing in faith and righteousness and growing up in Christ the living Head. Their distinct work serves the one purpose of drawing people to Christ, with every member cooperating and depending on the others while remaining distinct in action.
No single member has every function or every qualification needed for the work, and no teacher, physician, or minister can be a complete whole alone or act independently in all matters. This calls servants to work thoughtfully in distinct ministries and to cooperate rather than demand identical methods, developing the abilities given, respecting the gifts and work of others, and valuing gifts in their proper places. God intends different minds and abilities to contribute together so their talents complement one another, the deficiency of one laborer made up by the special gift of another, which strengthens service and training and helps prepare a people for Christ's soon coming. As bodily organs cannot be interchanged, one member cannot do exactly the work of another, for the eyes are made for seeing and cannot do the hearing that belongs to the ears, nor can ears, mouth, nose, hands, and feet take each other's places. This unlikeness is good, giving more harmony and natural adaptability than if all were exactly similar, for all are necessary to the perfect whole and work in beautiful harmony and should be alike respected, with none saying another is inferior or not needed, because each does specific work for the comfort and usefulness of the whole, where one lacks another supplies what is requisite and differently organized minds balance deficiencies of character and natural bias.
The diversity spans different lines of united work, including publishing-house workers, physicians, nurses, and ministers, as well as teachers, schools, sanitariums, medical missionary work, the gospel, institutions, and missionary work, whose varied talents are to be blended and connected rather than controlled by a few. Each is to serve in a God-given place with a sober, humble estimate of self, not trying to bear rule over fellow workers, with converted intellects and daily conversion working together without cherishing tendencies to wrong and domination. God's service calls for wise division of labor in which each performs faithfully the work assigned according to ability while workers in different lines unite and help one another in harmony, each honored as God's servant, which binds hearts together and advances the work. Contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases capability, so that when physicians and teachers unite in imparting knowledge youth receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service, a union calling for Christian courtesy, growing refinement, overlooking small differences on questions of no vital consequence, denying self, yielding personal opinions on minor matters, speaking plainly and firmly when needed yet with Christlike kindness that gives no offense, and laboring unselfishly and untiringly for the upbuilding of one another's work, with far-reaching results for good, as God works through the church to share the light He gives to one with others, as when Peter's message was to reach Cornelius and his family. God does not expect each person to have the abilities or stature of another, for even those with limited religious and intellectual training have work to do when they labor humbly and trust in Him, especially in seeking to save souls.
Humble Cooperation Without Domination
Romans 12:4 teaches that as many members form one body with different offices, so believers being many are one body in Christ with different work to do, and each is to think soberly and reasonably about self, not thinking more highly than ought, not swayed to the right hand or to the left, one day on the mount and the next in the valley of despondency. Each has individuality and character to work out after the divine similitude, with gifts and capabilities in speech, thought and action given as the measure of faith, laying responsibility to realize accountability to God, to cut off whatever causes stumbling though dear as right eye or right arm, to cooperate with Him in the husbandry and building of character, and to educate every power of mind, soul and body to highest perfection and present self as an offering for Him to work by His Holy Spirit. The perfection of the whole depends on the perfection of the individual members and organs, so each must wear Christ's yoke and draw under His leading, and unite and cooperate with brethren instead of striving to be a distinct whole carrying out his own plans and ideas.
No one is to suppose his special gift or judgment is above all other gifts or the only one that matters, for the Lord has given gifts differing according to the grace given and each is to fill his own appointed place. All gifts are essential for advancing the cause, to be appreciated, respected, developed, and made helpful by connecting them with the gifts of others, with none saying to another that it is inferior or not needed. As in the body the eyes are made for seeing and cannot do the hearing that belongs to the ears, nor can ears, mouth, nose, hands and feet take each other's places, so one member cannot do exactly the work of another and no one person has every qualification needed or can act independently in all matters. This unlikeness is good, giving more harmony and natural adaptability than if all were exactly similar, so that all necessary to the perfect whole work in beautiful harmony, each doing its specific work for the comfort and usefulness of the whole, where one lacks another supplies what is requisite and differently organized minds balance deficiencies of character and natural bias. By this united service of distinct members in humility, love and regard for others as members belonging to one another, the sons of God represent Him and His cause in the midst of rebels and enemies by whom the will of God is neglected and His honor despised.
The teaching stands as a history for all churches of high value for carrying the work on a higher plane, showing that all who hold position to act as shepherds must represent the great Shepherd. They must not exercise dominating, masterly, harsh or dictatorial ruling power over the people by charging them what they shall do and shall not do or by controlling each person's distinct place in serving God, for the body and its members belong to God. Such domination is a strange and dangerous element in Christian experience, not of God, another gospel and not the righteousness of Christ, a spoil to the church that must no longer be allowed. Unity does not mean everyone has the same function, so distinct place is to be respected rather than controlled through harsh treatment.
Each person keeps an individuality and identity given by God that cannot be surrendered to any other human being, with God-given rights and freedom to think and to follow conviction of duty in God's service, belonging to God by creation and redemption as His workmanship bought with a price. Therefore no man has jurisdiction over another's conscience to control his mind, judge for him, prescribe his duty, or exercise harsh dictatorial authority over him. Each is to keep his own individuality while uniting with others in labor, loving as brethren, esteeming fellow workers, and crushing all feeling of superiority that refuses to link up with those not in his line, putting forth his measure of power in that branch where he can labor most intelligently and effectively, like-minded with God, pure, holy and sincere, not shut up to himself living for himself. Different minds, talents and methods are essential because one man's train of thought will not reach all hearts, and often a man of humblest ability will reach hearts sealed against another's labors with supposed greater ability, while it is delusion to feel annoyed for lack of honor and praise, to claim superior judgment and fitness for larger responsibilities while failing smaller ones, and to disconnect from agencies God has appointed to work on an independent line in supposed wisdom.
No single member has every function, and ministers ordained of God have different parts in the same work, as one plants and another waters, but God gives the increase, so neither he that plants nor he that waters is anything to be exalted or made the center of a party. Believers must not tie themselves to the one man who brought them truth and light, draw apart from brethren over misconceived opinions, tie up in separate bundles cemented to him, or build on the foundation which is Jesus Christ with their own plans and suppositions apart from others, but must be one as laborers together with God in harmony and unity. Christ gives different people different abilities to be exercised in different lines, with some strong to carry on one line while others are especially fitted to carry on another line or to labor in a different way to accomplish the same result, and different minds supply what another mind lacks, so no worker should feel that fellow workers should labor in exactly the same way he does and no one should gather a party that merely agrees with him. Those who refuse harmony with brethren are not being sanctified through the truth and need reconversion, or their claimed conversion is a stumbling block to sinners. This diversity calls servants to work thoughtfully in distinct ministries and to cooperate rather than demand identical methods.
God assigns different kinds of service to different people even as He joins them together through Christ, giving each man his own task and lot and place, and each should guard the work entrusted rather than interfere with or take over a fellow worker's distinct work. Each is to put whole attention on faithfully performing his own appointed work in humility, simplicity of true faith and earnest prayer, guided by the Lord. One man may not understand the nature of the next man's work, and must not tear to pieces, unravel, question, complain about, criticize or condemn what his brother is doing, nor place himself where God has not placed him. Christ as Master-worker and Leader brings the varied parts together, and when each does his appointed work they fit perfectly and the work moves rapidly forward. Those laboring with varied gifts united in one body under Christ must wear His yoke in humility, be controlled and guided by wisdom He gives, use gifts to bless humanity, live in harmony in every action without jealousy or friction, draw in even cords, give room to fellow laborers instead of measuring them by personal ideas, not quarrel, not fasten to any human leader, and stand together under Christ to follow His directions, strengthen His work in every line, restore the moral image of God in humanity, and act in His name for the glory of God.
Love and Mission in Practice
As members of the heavenly family, believers joined as many members in one body are to help and strengthen one another as they press on to win heaven by overcoming as Christ overcame. Their life in this world is to be a help and a blessing to one another, uniting with Christ in restoring the moral image of God in man by learning meekness and lowliness from Him and wearing His yoke of restraint and obedience to find perfect peace and rest. God's workers though many are one body where not all have the same office, and they are called to be cheerful and to look on the bright side by maintaining unity, sympathy, kindness, and unselfish love among themselves.
The different offices call for working by the same Spirit in peace rather than confusion, with sincere love, hatred of evil, cleaving to good, brotherly kindness, courtesy, and preferring one another in honor. Each member belongs to the others, so no one is to think too highly of self or use influence to promote evil, but all are to live in unity with sincere love, kindness, and mutual honor. A variety of gifts is to be brought into the building of the temple of the Lord, with all finding proper place and growing together into a holy temple, which means believers are not to shut themselves within themselves but to love one another as brethren, being kind and courteous.
Varied talents are to blend together in union with the Holy Spirit, with workers taking time to understand each other, finding points of resemblance, accepting and crediting keener perceptions and ability in another, helping each other and supplying what another lacks, instead of standing apart to watch and criticize and judge. No one mind alone is sufficient to devise plans and direct the work or to exert a healthful, well-balanced influence, but in God's providence people of different temperaments are brought together to unite, diverse elements blended one adapted to the other, each doing its special work in the filling up of one great plan bearing the stamp of Christ's image. Contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases capabilities, and the deficiencies of one laborer are made up by the special gifts of another, so that when physicians and teachers thus associated unite in imparting knowledge the youth receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service. Different minds, talents, and methods are essential because one train of thought will not reach all hearts, and often one of humblest ability will reach hearts sealed against another's labors of supposed greater ability, so blending of talents with devotion, prayer, communion with God, and self hidden in Christ brings free hearty unity of action and sustaining power with success in winning souls.
There is a special work for individual members, for gifts differing according to grace are given and each is to fill an appointed place, with no gift esteemed above all others but all appreciated as essential and made helpful by connection with the gifts of others. By this united service of distinct members the sons of God represent Him and His cause in the midst of rebels and enemies by whom the will of God is neglected and His honor despised. The differing gifts are given by grace to fit the church to do its work and be a light to the world, calling publishing-house workers, physicians, nurses, and ministers to work together with converted intellects and daily conversion without cherishing tendencies to wrong and domination. God in infinite wisdom employs varied human agencies to cooperate with Him in saving people, all cooperating harmoniously each in a special God-given sphere, which means working for salvation not by judging but by showing forth what the Lord has done in transformation of character.
Every member has work to do and must serve actively and humbly in the part given, cooperating with God rather than remaining passive or idle. Each person is accountable to serve actively in the part given, and when some remain idle faithful workers carry a heavier burden. Different tasks are entrusted according to abilities to serve the one purpose of drawing people to Christ, with every member cooperating and depending on the others while remaining distinct in action. Different minds and abilities are intended to contribute together with gifts valuable in proper places, and each person can help prepare a people for Christ's soon coming. A living church is a working church, and the do-nothing position of professed converts robs the church of vitality, for souls are to be saved and those who make no effort to win sinners will be revealed as spiritual dwarfs, while His people must show missionary courtesy, missionary hospitality, and missionary zeal with grace for every worker.
Living the verse makes true believers, for those who live it show genuine Christian character while spurious faith is revealed by daily conduct, and putting on Christ means being transformed by the renewing of the mind and proving by experience what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Each person has an individuality and character to work out after the divine similitude, with gifts and capabilities in speech, thought, and action given as the measure of faith, so none is to think more highly than ought but to think soberly and reasonably, not swayed to extremes from mount to valley of despondency. The verse lays responsibility to realize accountability to God, to cut off whatever causes stumbling though dear as right eye or right arm, to cooperate with God in the husbandry and building of character, and to educate every power of mind, soul, and body to highest perfection and present self as an offering for Him to work by His Holy Spirit, so that Christ's righteousness shines into the soul and blessings are imparted in helping all around. Practicing the instruction requires changing attitude and keeping self under control in order to continue in usefulness, and it shows it is possible to reach the standard of perfection, with past success not lost when its warning is heeded through intelligent, pure, cordial belief in the grace of Christ which brings salvation to all.
Heaven forms people to depend on one another and binds them closely by ties of human brotherhood, so that one person's weakness grows the strength of all. For children of God as missionaries this means contact with all classes of minds — the refined and the coarse, the humble and the proud, the religious and the skeptical, the educated and the ignorant, the rich and the poor — who cannot be treated alike yet all need kindness and sympathy, and by mutual contact minds receive polish and refinement.
The instruction is vital and must be practiced, for neglecting it contributes to discord and strife, dishonors God, and keeps the church from doing its work. Christians being many members in one body with different work must live in harmony and unity instead of placing themselves on the side of the one who brought them light and tying up in separate bundles cemented to him, and those who refuse harmony with brethren are not being sanctified through the truth and need reconversion, or their claimed conversion is a stumbling block to sinners.
Christians though many are joined together as one body in Christ, and not every part has the same office or work to do. The perfection of the whole depends not on all being made alike, but on each taking a proper place and fulfilling a distinct part in cooperation with the others. God Himself gives gifts differing according to grace and measure of faith, such as prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and showing mercy. Each is therefore to serve with a sober and humble estimate of self, honoring every gift as essential, keeping individuality and freedom of conscience, and refusing dominating rule that would control another's distinct place. Those varied talents are to blend in sincere love, mutual help, and active labor, so the church can do its work as a light to the world and prepare a people for Christ's coming.
Words and Context
Romans 12:4 means that Christians, though many, are joined together as one body in Christ and do not all have the same office, laying down principles for their conduct toward one another. Believers united as one body have different roles within a shared fellowship in which they are members of one another. As members of the heavenly family they are to help and strengthen one another as they press on to win heaven by overcoming as Christ overcame. The health and care of the body belong to this same meaning, as part of presenting oneself to God and serving as a Christian.
The verse likens the church to the human and physical body, where many different parts unite to form the whole body and each does its own work in obedience to the intelligence that governs the whole, in one symmetrical body. The perfection of the whole depends on the perfection of the individual members and organs. Each member is to think soberly and not think of himself more highly than he ought to think, to wear Christ's yoke and draw under His leading, and to unite and cooperate with brethren under sanctified judgment instead of striving to be a distinct whole carrying out his own plans and ideas.
The one body is united under Christ as Head, with all members joined through Him and their distinct gifts working together like threads in a pattern. Those laboring with varied gifts, as in ministry and medical missionary work, are many members united in one body under Christ. They must wear Christ's yoke in humility before God, be controlled and guided by the wisdom God gives, use their gifts to bless humanity, live in harmony in every action without jealousy or friction, draw in even cords, give room to fellow laborers instead of measuring them by personal ideas, not quarrel, not fasten to any human leader, and stand together under Christ as Leader to follow His directions, strengthen His work in every line, restore the moral image of God in humanity, and act in His name for the glory of God.
The verse belongs to the teaching of Romans 12 that is very instructive and stands as a history for all churches, carrying high value for carrying the work of God on to a higher plane of action. The whole chapter is for the church to study, laying down the religious duty of every church member and holding lessons for all. Its principles require careful study and obedience in small matters as well as large in order to be sustained, and its practical instruction must be brought into daily life. Living it makes true believers, who show genuine Christian character and by putting on Christ are transformed by the renewing of the mind and prove by personal experience what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, while spurious faith is revealed by daily conduct. Every member has a work to do, but all do not have the capability to do the same work to the best advantage, for one is fitted for one class of work and another for another, all blending in a complete whole, calling believers to increase in faith and righteousness and to grow up into Christ the living Head. God uses men as His instruments only as long as they work humbly seeking wisdom from Him, in humble service as instruments of God rather than self-exaltation, because becoming exalted in their own opinion weakens them and gives Satan power over them. All who hold position in the church to act as shepherds must represent the great Shepherd and must not exercise dominating, masterly ruling power over the Lord's people by charging them what they shall do and shall not do, for such domination is a strange and dangerous element in Christian experience, is not of God, is another gospel and not the righteousness of Christ, is a spoil to the church of God, and must no longer be allowed.
Through faith and obedience, Jews and Gentiles live in harmony as members of Christ's body and become one in Christ with Jesus as its Head.
Unity in One Body
All believers together are one body in Christ and members one of another, belonging to one another in shared fellowship. Those brought together in church capacity are to strive to be one as Christ is one with the Father, united understandingly and intelligently in right relation to one another. The differing gifts are given by grace to fit the church to do its work and be the light of the world, including prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and showing mercy, and these different roles are to be carried out faithfully and with love. This calls for serving in a God-given place with a sober, humble estimate of self, not thinking more highly than is right and not using influence to promote evil, but working by the same Spirit in peace rather than confusion, with sincere love, hatred of evil, cleaving to good, brotherly kindness, and preferring one another in honor. Publishing-house workers, physicians, nurses, and ministers alike need converted intellects and daily conversion to work together without cherishing inherited and cultivated tendencies to wrong and domination.
Unity does not mean everyone has the same function; the perfection of the whole depends not on members being fashioned exactly alike but on each taking a proper place and fulfilling a distinct part in cooperation with the others. Each is to take the place and do the work appointed according to the ability given, to stand in his lot and do his appointed work, without self-exaltation or insisting on working independently. Each person's distinct place in serving God, who owns the body and its members, is to be respected rather than controlled through harsh or dictatorial treatment.
Unity in diversity is God's plan, where different ways of laboring and speaking complement one another so that diversity produces harmony, natural adaptability, and mutual benefit. To every man, woman, and child is given a work to do in the moral vineyard, one fitted to do a certain work, another adapted to a different work, another to a still different line, and each is to be the complement of the others. No one mind alone is sufficient or capable of being a complete whole, sufficient to devise plans and direct the work or to exert a healthful, well-balanced influence. In providence people of different temperaments are brought together that they might unite in the work, with diverse elements blended, one adapted to the other, each doing its special work for God. Those united in the work must blend together in union with the Holy Spirit, taking time to understand each other, finding points of resemblance, accepting and crediting keener perceptions and ability in another, helping each other and supplying the lack of another, instead of standing apart to watch and criticize and judge each other. Every individual has his place in the filling up of one great plan bearing the stamp of Christ's image, for God is one.
Though they do not all have the same office or talents, members must draw together and live in harmony in church capacity, doing their part under sanctified judgment rather than tying up in separate parties. The church is like a human body whose members are joined as one though they have different roles, and each member should do his part in harmony with the whole, under sanctified judgment, so the church can work in unity. Christ gives different people different abilities to be exercised in different lines of work, with some strong to carry on one line of work while others are especially fitted to carry on another line or to labor in a different way to accomplish the same result. Therefore no worker should feel that his fellow workers should labor in exactly the same way that he does, and none should place themselves on the side of the one man who brought them light and truth and tie up in separate bundles cemented to him. Those who refuse harmony with their brethren are not being sanctified through the truth and need reconversion, or their claimed conversion is a stumbling block to sinners.
Diversity of Gifts and Offices
God gives gifts differing according to the grace given and the measure of faith, as He pleases, and these include prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and showing mercy, together with capabilities in speech, thought, and action. There is a special work for individual members, and each is to fill an appointed place, with no one supposing a special gift to be above all other gifts, but all gifts appreciated as essential for advancing the cause and made helpful by connecting them with the gifts of others. By this united service of distinct members the sons of God represent Him and His cause in the midst of rebels and enemies by whom the will of God is neglected and His honor despised, and the different roles are to be carried out faithfully and with love. All serve in different lines under the same Spirit for the good of the whole body, and knowing this order guards against rivalry, pride, envy, contempt, and looking down on others, while building unity and mutual love. Each is to think soberly and reasonably of self, not more highly than ought and not swayed to extremes, one day on the mount and the next in the valley of despondency.
Every member has a work to do, but all do not have capability to do the same work to the best advantage, for one is fitted for one class of work and another for another class, all blending in a complete whole. Each member is to take the place and do the work appointed according to ability given, in a particular sphere and vocation, acting humbly in the part given and cooperating rather than remaining passive or inactive or insisting on working independently with self-exaltation. The service expected is proportionate to the abilities and gifts entrusted, so no one should refuse a small task because it is not great, since even little work can glorify God. The perfection of the church does not require its members to be alike but depends on each fulfilling a distinct part in cooperation with the others, unto increasing in faith and righteousness and growing up in Christ the living Head. Their distinct work serves the one purpose of drawing people to Christ, with every member cooperating and depending on the others while remaining distinct in action.
No single member has every function or every qualification needed for the work, and no teacher, physician, or minister can be a complete whole alone or act independently in all matters. This calls servants to work thoughtfully in distinct ministries and to cooperate rather than demand identical methods, developing the abilities given, respecting the gifts and work of others, and valuing gifts in their proper places. God intends different minds and abilities to contribute together so their talents complement one another, the deficiency of one laborer made up by the special gift of another, which strengthens service and training and helps prepare a people for Christ's soon coming. As bodily organs cannot be interchanged, one member cannot do exactly the work of another, for the eyes are made for seeing and cannot do the hearing that belongs to the ears, nor can ears, mouth, nose, hands, and feet take each other's places. This unlikeness is good, giving more harmony and natural adaptability than if all were exactly similar, for all are necessary to the perfect whole and work in beautiful harmony and should be alike respected, with none saying another is inferior or not needed, because each does specific work for the comfort and usefulness of the whole, where one lacks another supplies what is requisite and differently organized minds balance deficiencies of character and natural bias.
The diversity spans different lines of united work, including publishing-house workers, physicians, nurses, and ministers, as well as teachers, schools, sanitariums, medical missionary work, the gospel, institutions, and missionary work, whose varied talents are to be blended and connected rather than controlled by a few. Each is to serve in a God-given place with a sober, humble estimate of self, not trying to bear rule over fellow workers, with converted intellects and daily conversion working together without cherishing tendencies to wrong and domination. God's service calls for wise division of labor in which each performs faithfully the work assigned according to ability while workers in different lines unite and help one another in harmony, each honored as God's servant, which binds hearts together and advances the work. Contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases capability, so that when physicians and teachers unite in imparting knowledge youth receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service, a union calling for Christian courtesy, growing refinement, overlooking small differences on questions of no vital consequence, denying self, yielding personal opinions on minor matters, speaking plainly and firmly when needed yet with Christlike kindness that gives no offense, and laboring unselfishly and untiringly for the upbuilding of one another's work, with far-reaching results for good, as God works through the church to share the light He gives to one with others, as when Peter's message was to reach Cornelius and his family. God does not expect each person to have the abilities or stature of another, for even those with limited religious and intellectual training have work to do when they labor humbly and trust in Him, especially in seeking to save souls.
Humble Cooperation Without Domination
Romans 12:4 teaches that as many members form one body with different offices, so believers being many are one body in Christ with different work to do, and each is to think soberly and reasonably about self, not thinking more highly than ought, not swayed to the right hand or to the left, one day on the mount and the next in the valley of despondency. Each has individuality and character to work out after the divine similitude, with gifts and capabilities in speech, thought and action given as the measure of faith, laying responsibility to realize accountability to God, to cut off whatever causes stumbling though dear as right eye or right arm, to cooperate with Him in the husbandry and building of character, and to educate every power of mind, soul and body to highest perfection and present self as an offering for Him to work by His Holy Spirit. The perfection of the whole depends on the perfection of the individual members and organs, so each must wear Christ's yoke and draw under His leading, and unite and cooperate with brethren instead of striving to be a distinct whole carrying out his own plans and ideas.
No one is to suppose his special gift or judgment is above all other gifts or the only one that matters, for the Lord has given gifts differing according to the grace given and each is to fill his own appointed place. All gifts are essential for advancing the cause, to be appreciated, respected, developed, and made helpful by connecting them with the gifts of others, with none saying to another that it is inferior or not needed. As in the body the eyes are made for seeing and cannot do the hearing that belongs to the ears, nor can ears, mouth, nose, hands and feet take each other's places, so one member cannot do exactly the work of another and no one person has every qualification needed or can act independently in all matters. This unlikeness is good, giving more harmony and natural adaptability than if all were exactly similar, so that all necessary to the perfect whole work in beautiful harmony, each doing its specific work for the comfort and usefulness of the whole, where one lacks another supplies what is requisite and differently organized minds balance deficiencies of character and natural bias. By this united service of distinct members in humility, love and regard for others as members belonging to one another, the sons of God represent Him and His cause in the midst of rebels and enemies by whom the will of God is neglected and His honor despised.
The teaching stands as a history for all churches of high value for carrying the work on a higher plane, showing that all who hold position to act as shepherds must represent the great Shepherd. They must not exercise dominating, masterly, harsh or dictatorial ruling power over the people by charging them what they shall do and shall not do or by controlling each person's distinct place in serving God, for the body and its members belong to God. Such domination is a strange and dangerous element in Christian experience, not of God, another gospel and not the righteousness of Christ, a spoil to the church that must no longer be allowed. Unity does not mean everyone has the same function, so distinct place is to be respected rather than controlled through harsh treatment.
Each person keeps an individuality and identity given by God that cannot be surrendered to any other human being, with God-given rights and freedom to think and to follow conviction of duty in God's service, belonging to God by creation and redemption as His workmanship bought with a price. Therefore no man has jurisdiction over another's conscience to control his mind, judge for him, prescribe his duty, or exercise harsh dictatorial authority over him. Each is to keep his own individuality while uniting with others in labor, loving as brethren, esteeming fellow workers, and crushing all feeling of superiority that refuses to link up with those not in his line, putting forth his measure of power in that branch where he can labor most intelligently and effectively, like-minded with God, pure, holy and sincere, not shut up to himself living for himself. Different minds, talents and methods are essential because one man's train of thought will not reach all hearts, and often a man of humblest ability will reach hearts sealed against another's labors with supposed greater ability, while it is delusion to feel annoyed for lack of honor and praise, to claim superior judgment and fitness for larger responsibilities while failing smaller ones, and to disconnect from agencies God has appointed to work on an independent line in supposed wisdom.
No single member has every function, and ministers ordained of God have different parts in the same work, as one plants and another waters, but God gives the increase, so neither he that plants nor he that waters is anything to be exalted or made the center of a party. Believers must not tie themselves to the one man who brought them truth and light, draw apart from brethren over misconceived opinions, tie up in separate bundles cemented to him, or build on the foundation which is Jesus Christ with their own plans and suppositions apart from others, but must be one as laborers together with God in harmony and unity. Christ gives different people different abilities to be exercised in different lines, with some strong to carry on one line while others are especially fitted to carry on another line or to labor in a different way to accomplish the same result, and different minds supply what another mind lacks, so no worker should feel that fellow workers should labor in exactly the same way he does and no one should gather a party that merely agrees with him. Those who refuse harmony with brethren are not being sanctified through the truth and need reconversion, or their claimed conversion is a stumbling block to sinners. This diversity calls servants to work thoughtfully in distinct ministries and to cooperate rather than demand identical methods.
God assigns different kinds of service to different people even as He joins them together through Christ, giving each man his own task and lot and place, and each should guard the work entrusted rather than interfere with or take over a fellow worker's distinct work. Each is to put whole attention on faithfully performing his own appointed work in humility, simplicity of true faith and earnest prayer, guided by the Lord. One man may not understand the nature of the next man's work, and must not tear to pieces, unravel, question, complain about, criticize or condemn what his brother is doing, nor place himself where God has not placed him. Christ as Master-worker and Leader brings the varied parts together, and when each does his appointed work they fit perfectly and the work moves rapidly forward. Those laboring with varied gifts united in one body under Christ must wear His yoke in humility, be controlled and guided by wisdom He gives, use gifts to bless humanity, live in harmony in every action without jealousy or friction, draw in even cords, give room to fellow laborers instead of measuring them by personal ideas, not quarrel, not fasten to any human leader, and stand together under Christ to follow His directions, strengthen His work in every line, restore the moral image of God in humanity, and act in His name for the glory of God.
Love and Mission in Practice
As members of the heavenly family, believers joined as many members in one body are to help and strengthen one another as they press on to win heaven by overcoming as Christ overcame. Their life in this world is to be a help and a blessing to one another, uniting with Christ in restoring the moral image of God in man by learning meekness and lowliness from Him and wearing His yoke of restraint and obedience to find perfect peace and rest. God's workers though many are one body where not all have the same office, and they are called to be cheerful and to look on the bright side by maintaining unity, sympathy, kindness, and unselfish love among themselves.
The different offices call for working by the same Spirit in peace rather than confusion, with sincere love, hatred of evil, cleaving to good, brotherly kindness, courtesy, and preferring one another in honor. Each member belongs to the others, so no one is to think too highly of self or use influence to promote evil, but all are to live in unity with sincere love, kindness, and mutual honor. A variety of gifts is to be brought into the building of the temple of the Lord, with all finding proper place and growing together into a holy temple, which means believers are not to shut themselves within themselves but to love one another as brethren, being kind and courteous.
Varied talents are to blend together in union with the Holy Spirit, with workers taking time to understand each other, finding points of resemblance, accepting and crediting keener perceptions and ability in another, helping each other and supplying what another lacks, instead of standing apart to watch and criticize and judge. No one mind alone is sufficient to devise plans and direct the work or to exert a healthful, well-balanced influence, but in God's providence people of different temperaments are brought together to unite, diverse elements blended one adapted to the other, each doing its special work in the filling up of one great plan bearing the stamp of Christ's image. Contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases capabilities, and the deficiencies of one laborer are made up by the special gifts of another, so that when physicians and teachers thus associated unite in imparting knowledge the youth receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service. Different minds, talents, and methods are essential because one train of thought will not reach all hearts, and often one of humblest ability will reach hearts sealed against another's labors of supposed greater ability, so blending of talents with devotion, prayer, communion with God, and self hidden in Christ brings free hearty unity of action and sustaining power with success in winning souls.
There is a special work for individual members, for gifts differing according to grace are given and each is to fill an appointed place, with no gift esteemed above all others but all appreciated as essential and made helpful by connection with the gifts of others. By this united service of distinct members the sons of God represent Him and His cause in the midst of rebels and enemies by whom the will of God is neglected and His honor despised. The differing gifts are given by grace to fit the church to do its work and be a light to the world, calling publishing-house workers, physicians, nurses, and ministers to work together with converted intellects and daily conversion without cherishing tendencies to wrong and domination. God in infinite wisdom employs varied human agencies to cooperate with Him in saving people, all cooperating harmoniously each in a special God-given sphere, which means working for salvation not by judging but by showing forth what the Lord has done in transformation of character.
Every member has work to do and must serve actively and humbly in the part given, cooperating with God rather than remaining passive or idle. Each person is accountable to serve actively in the part given, and when some remain idle faithful workers carry a heavier burden. Different tasks are entrusted according to abilities to serve the one purpose of drawing people to Christ, with every member cooperating and depending on the others while remaining distinct in action. Different minds and abilities are intended to contribute together with gifts valuable in proper places, and each person can help prepare a people for Christ's soon coming. A living church is a working church, and the do-nothing position of professed converts robs the church of vitality, for souls are to be saved and those who make no effort to win sinners will be revealed as spiritual dwarfs, while His people must show missionary courtesy, missionary hospitality, and missionary zeal with grace for every worker.
Living the verse makes true believers, for those who live it show genuine Christian character while spurious faith is revealed by daily conduct, and putting on Christ means being transformed by the renewing of the mind and proving by experience what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Each person has an individuality and character to work out after the divine similitude, with gifts and capabilities in speech, thought, and action given as the measure of faith, so none is to think more highly than ought but to think soberly and reasonably, not swayed to extremes from mount to valley of despondency. The verse lays responsibility to realize accountability to God, to cut off whatever causes stumbling though dear as right eye or right arm, to cooperate with God in the husbandry and building of character, and to educate every power of mind, soul, and body to highest perfection and present self as an offering for Him to work by His Holy Spirit, so that Christ's righteousness shines into the soul and blessings are imparted in helping all around. Practicing the instruction requires changing attitude and keeping self under control in order to continue in usefulness, and it shows it is possible to reach the standard of perfection, with past success not lost when its warning is heeded through intelligent, pure, cordial belief in the grace of Christ which brings salvation to all.
Heaven forms people to depend on one another and binds them closely by ties of human brotherhood, so that one person's weakness grows the strength of all. For children of God as missionaries this means contact with all classes of minds — the refined and the coarse, the humble and the proud, the religious and the skeptical, the educated and the ignorant, the rich and the poor — who cannot be treated alike yet all need kindness and sympathy, and by mutual contact minds receive polish and refinement.
The instruction is vital and must be practiced, for neglecting it contributes to discord and strife, dishonors God, and keeps the church from doing its work. Christians being many members in one body with different work must live in harmony and unity instead of placing themselves on the side of the one who brought them light and tying up in separate bundles cemented to him, and those who refuse harmony with brethren are not being sanctified through the truth and need reconversion, or their claimed conversion is a stumbling block to sinners.