Self-amputation from the Body of Christ

1-19-2007

Last week, I officiated at a funeral for a man who was married here at Emmanuel 8 years ago, but who had not been attending Emmanuel for at least 5 years. He and his wife had (and have) a deep faith which was very important to them, and yet they were not a part of a Christian community. When I spoke with the man’s widow about her husband’s funeral, she sounded like she was in an emotional free fall, having little family support of her faith (even outright ridicule), and not knowing what to do to have a funeral for her husband.
The realization occurred to me that this couple had separated themselves from the Body of Christ and had suffered greatly because of it. She did not have support from a love community of Christians who shared her faith and supported her in it. For years, she had not had the benefits of being a part of a community of believers like her. I felt very sad for her and have begun and will continue to follow up with her. She is moving soon, but I pray and will encourage her to become an active part of a Christian community wherever she ends up going.
Remaining a part of a Christian community (a healthy one, at that) is vital to our lives. When we remove ourselves from a Christian community, from the Body of Christ, part of us dies, just as surely as a finger will die if it is removed from a person’s body. Sometimes it seems we do not die when we remove ourselves from the Body of Christ, but at the least, we remain frozen, waiting to be re-attached. We need one another. Our spirits, our souls, our lives need to be a part of a community of faith, an active part of the Body of Christ to share with others who believe as we do the joys and the pains of life, and to be sent in mission to the world, to share with others the joys and pains of the Gospel and to share our ultimate joy, unity with God through Jesus Christ.