Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:27

The mission of Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church in Harlem, New York is shared often, at least weekly by way of the bulletin. This local church accepts the biblical image of the Church as a "body of Christ." Individual members join collectively to form unity in the midst of diversity.

Adopting a Pauline theology, members of MCUMC are challenged to pool their individual gifts into a practical love of all. Centering on Jesus Christ in worship, prayers are lifted for spiritual growth, and the development of ministries (in-reach and outreach) that address the needs of persons, society, and faith communities. Focusing of God as Creator and Redeemer, worshippers gather for praise in thanksgiving with supplication for continued compassion.

The essential task is to spread divine love. Divine love is expressed through acts of compassion. Members are taught that the desirable outcome of all actions has to do with the well-being of people of God. Therefore, on every age-level and through all areas of the local church the following acts should be manifested:

1. Acts of kindness. In the tradition of the Methodist Movement, we teach persons to "do no harm." This is the first step of three in the heritage of the teaching of John Wesley regarding principles of Christian living. Persons of faith place their unwavering trust in the grace of God. Non-violence is an auto discipline, not a conceived thought of ideal living. Acts of kindness involves following Jesus Christ into the lives of people. Trusting in God the giving of life for the mission of Jesus in the world is the faithful privilege of the disciple. Learning from Jesus as acts are done with intentional avoidance of harm or evil of any kind to self and others. The violence and complexity acknowledged in the world poses a challenge to the walk of disciples. The cost of discipleship has been paid by Jesus, and His disciples step in the world free to follow the ways of Jesus. The price of living in accord with Jesus has been paid in full. Therefore, disciples of Jesus are challenge by the world, yet by faith (radical to the ways of world) can live without doing harm. Christian living is leaping in the acts of kindness toward all. May the lives we live speak, even in silence, the ways of Jesus.
2. Acts of generosity. The second of the traditional Methodist way of following Jesus has an intentional means of doing good. A universal application of gentleness and respect of anyone and anything challenges the child of God to practice positive regard for people of God. Throughout the world disciples of Christ are to love all, even enemies. Acts of generosity carries positive means of doing good and goodness toward people. Hospitality and good is expectations of persons in membership, who follow the path of Jesus and the directives of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist way. This is a challenging way to live in servant hood. The rendering of Christian service can even be an expression of thanksgiving. Witnessing to faith in Jesus, disciples share their generous actions in response to the Word of God found in Holy Scripture. Living to the ways of God in life, followers of Jesus are instrumental in spreading the love of God through acts of generosity. Within and beyond the facilities of the church, disciples of Jesus live for the healing, guiding, transforming, and loving of humanity into ways of holiness.
3. Acts of love. The third step in the Methodist rules of discipleship is to always love God. Loving God is giving all to the will of God. The mind, heart, body, and soul are returned to the ways of Jesus in the world as a means of fulfillment. Life at its best is lived respecting, listening, caring, and empathizing into the lives of people of God. Loving God with all of being is to also love neighbors as God has loved all. Jesus taught His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. The disciples of Christ are known by the love they have for one another. It is impossible to love God, and not love the creation of God. Staying in love with God is the best thing disciples could ever do. Loving God is more than faith in the beyond earthly life experience or belief in the existence of the Source of life beyond life as known on earth. Loving God is attending to the ordinances of God, as Wesley stated. A Wesleyan way of living is a daily walk in the way of Jesus through spiritual disciplines. These three rules are made plan in the writings of Rueben P. Job's book on "Three Simple Rules." Most encouraging is the power of prayer. Prayer as a means of grace and daily discipline is life transforming.

The Body of Christ is challenged to transform the world by transforming the lives of people of God in the world. Body Builders for Christ (BB4C) are committed to living and loving as followers of Jesus. Join us in our mission. Digest the fruit of Spirit. Step into the Methodist way. Its kind, good, and filled with the love of God.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy and lead us into radical discipleship. Amen.