EXPRESSION OF THE BODY LOCALLY
A. B. Parker
I have been thinking of how we need to have the complete idea of the body before us and, in principle, to work it out locally. The mystery relates to the Head in heaven and the body upon earth. There is one body, of which each one who has the Spirit is a member, but we have the privilege, as we have brethren with whom to work things out, to provide an expression of the body locally. The mystery involves that the Head is in heaven and the body here, but it is not that the expression of the body here is a headless body. Paul would adjust any such thought as that by saying, “We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2: 16), indicating that the complete idea of the body can be worked out in every locality. Reference is made here to the head; the head should not say to the feet, “I have not need of you”. Therefore, we are not speaking of a headless body. Whilst Christ is the Head in heaven, the blessed Spirit brings the value of His headship to be worked out in persons here.
In the face of the tremendous changes that have taken place amongst us in recent years we need to think of the need for reconstruction of the local representation of the body. When we met together with large numbers we were often reminded that we were only a fraction of those who form the body in any locality. How much more so when numbers have been reduced so severely. We feel for our brethren in places where there are only two or three brothers, but even in such cases it is the mind of God that there should be an expression of the body locally.
The body is an interesting consideration, because when man was formed out of the dust of the ground, divine skill and wisdom entered into the formation of his body. Doctors and scientists are continually finding something new in the intricacies of the mystery of the human body—it is God’s handiwork. But this is to be seen representatively, spiritually, in our localities.
Man said of the woman, “Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh”, Genesis 2: 23. The bones give the basis for man being upright; there is what is structural; being upright requires balance. Balance is one of the greatest needs amongst us. The seat of balance is the inner ear, indicating to us so strikingly how balance and regulation come by way of the word of God.
The necessity for meetings like this, therefore, would impress itself upon us. If we are to be preserved in balance we must be attentive to God’s word. We stand on the principle of balance, but we do more than stand on the principle of balance; we have two ears, which indicates the need for balanced hearing. With two ears we have the facility to detect quickly the source from which a voice, or sound, comes. It is a matter of focus. Whilst hearing is one thought, mutuality of hearing in the local company is essential if we are to detect, corporately, the source from which the sound emanates. These are days when this mutual function of hearing is most necessary because there are many voices abroad. Much is being said; the enemy is using all kinds of speaking to throw the dear brethren off balance. To hear rightly we should be often together, speaking one to another. It is thus that we will be held, mutually, in balance.
The body has two eyes. To see things in proper perspective requires focus. The third dimension in our seeing is arrived at through mutual and focused sight, thus providing a balanced view of things. We want to be preserved from narrowness or limitation; we want to have keen sight like the eagle, but it is a mutual matter. Let us share together what we see.
Mr. Taylor Sen. said very wisely that if we get an impression, get it into the assembly as soon as possible so that it will be put into proper balance and kept within the banks of the river; thus the truth will not be distorted.
The body has one mouth—which does not mean that only one brother does the speaking, but rather that there is unity. Paul told the Corinthians that the Son of God was preached by himself and Silvanus and Timotheus (2 Corinthians 1: 19); three servants, but one mouth. Paul says, “that ye may with one accord, with one mouth, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 15: 6. It is a wonderful thing when all the brethren are saying the same thing. So Paul exhorts the Corinthians to think the same thing and to say the same thing. It does not mean that there is not variety, but it is all one piece. The preaching of Timotheus would be different from the preaching of Paul, but he was preaching the Son of God. It was one mouth.
The body has two hands. There is what is mutual, and what is unified. The arms would represent a wider function than the hands, relating more to power; the hands relate more to detail. Holy hands are to be lifted in prayer. We find that power comes in through the lifting up of holy hands. We often come before God in prayer. What is the result of our prayers? Do we have power in prayer? Power in prayer will result from the right use of our hands in ordinary matters as well as in relation to the things of God.
We could go on and delineate in detail, because not only is there the bony structure, but there is also the flesh, which suggests the working of things organically. This could be spoken of for profit. We are to have concern as to the right functioning of the organs, some of which are automatic, but all should contribute to the life and activity in the locality. But my concern at the moment is that through reduction of numbers there should be no loss of body function.
Previously I may have had some little service to fill out, but now I may find that there are others things I must engage in to fill out body function—otherwise there will be a lack in the locality. If we all feel like that it may be possible so to develop local body feelings and function that there is a true representation of the body in our localities. It will mean that we will have to take on additional responsibilities and exercises to make up for what has been lost.
The Lord said of the woman of Luke 7, “She from the time I came in has not ceased kissing my feet”. She was kissing His feet because of love for Him, but that love felt what Simon did not do, and she was filling the need that was there through the neglect of Simon. So, as we find our numbers reduced, there is more for us to do, but let us be contributors to an increased yield to the Lord and in maintaining a brighter testimony in our localities. We can understand what an exercise this must be to those in places where there are very few brethren—just two or three, but, at the same time, the Spirit of God will help because the body is one, and any representation of it should be complete.
In these things, dear brethren, we need the Spirit’s help, not only to be able to apprehend what there should be in the locality testimonially and functionally, but that these things are held in the heart of each of the saints in a fuller way on account of the fewness of numbers.
Thus we will be concerned that there may be no part missing, and no lack.
Word in meeting for ministry, Redbridge
14 May 1974