1Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant. 2You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led. 3Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit.
4Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. 6There are various kinds of workings, but the same God who works all things in all. 7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. 8For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10and to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages. 11But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
12For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
14For the body is not one member, but many. 15If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body. 16If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 18But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. 19If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20But now they are many members, but one body. 21The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” 22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant modesty, 24while our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, 25that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? 30Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret? 31But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
One in the Spirit
12 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
In the prior chapter, Paul reminded us that men and women aren’t independent of one another in the Lord. What Paul is driving at here is that the Church is made up of many members, and they are all interdependent on one another. In God’s eyes, no member is of greater importance than another. The Jew and the Gentile, the man and the woman, and all other classes of people within the Church “drink” from the same cup. Perhaps a better way to phrase that is that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. Regardless of our ethnicity, our race, our social status, our wealth, or anything else, we are all equal in our value and worth before the Lord.
We will indeed have our differences by design. God made those differences. There is considerable discussion about diversity, equity, and inclusion in today’s society. The perfect model for that concept is found in the Church, in the Body of Christ. Each believer is equal in importance and is included in the family of God. The world’s attempt to live up to that ideal is a forced “equality” in the vein of the philosophies of Marxism and Egalitarianism.
These godless philosophies separate classes of people into segments and then arbitrarily designate some as the oppressors and others as the oppressed. These separations are based on envy, strife, and hate. These ideas operate independently of value and worth being attributed to all because of God’s mercy and grace, which are extended and available to all. Yes, the ground is level at the foot of the cross. Understanding this model is crucial to achieving human coexistence in love and harmony. It is not based on hate for one group or another; instead, it is based on loving God with all of one’s heart, soul, and mind, and truly loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. Strive for that to be your overall directive in your life, and you’ll be doing it God’s way. Choose love. Choose Him above all else.