Equipped and Fit Together

Would you like status, be someone important? If you look at Ephesians 4:11-12 and quickly assign levels of value to the servants listed, maybe even try to fit yourself into a ‘higher’ position, you likely are missing the point God is communicating.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…¹

The subject addresses is the means God uses to begin the process of us growing up in being disciples of Jesus as LORD, to begin the maturing process. ‘Equipping’ and ‘building up’ are processes and not gifts although those who are servants ministering in these means are gifted and gifts to the Body. But, those being equipped and the Body being built up are also equally gifted and gifts in the Body. Being ‘somebody’ and having importance in the Body is not at issue for the purpose of those currently serving as these gifts to the Body is that the whole Body—including these being equipped—are intended to be matured in Christ and part of ‘all’ measuring up to the fullness of Christ,

…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…²

Distinctions are not the goal but rather maturity and aligning with the fullness that is in Christ Jesus. God gives gifts that ALL may mature, not just ‘special’ ones who are more highly esteemed. Paul writes that ‘growing up’ in Christ is similar to a child growing up, being nurtured, learning, becoming like those who model the Way before them, being able to understand, make decisions and judgments appropriately to those identifying as ‘in the image of Jesus.’

…so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. ³

As we learn to identify with the character of God, we are becoming more steadfast, enabled to withstand error, to recognize what is not in agreement with the nature of the LORD. And we move on, maturing, speaking Truth but in love, we ourselves participating in the equipping and building up of the Body in Christ. If we are disciples in Jesus, we all have that which God has placed within us that the Body, His Church, needs from us. That doesn’t make us ‘special’ or ‘elevate’ us but all parts of the Body are needful for the Body to be whole. And holy.

Paul writes more fully on this theme of the Body in 1 Corinthians 12 contrasting the parts of the Body but with the conclusion that all are necessary,

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ⁴

These are rhetorical questions with the obvious, intended answer being, “No, not all are” but each is still a vital part of the Body.