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How the Body of Believers Becomes Sick

How the Body of Believers Becomes Sick

We experience overall physical health when the various parts of our body are each healthy and are working together in harmony. Our health and ability to function are diminished if any part of our body is damaged or otherwise unhealthy.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul uses the metaphor of a human body for the church:

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it (12:12–27 NIV84).

The head of the church is Jesus (Ephesians 4:15; 5:23), so the most serious assault on the body of believers would be to sever our (the body) connection to Jesus (the head). Just as in the beheading of a physical body, if the body of believers become detached from Jesus, it will die.

In this blog, I won’t go into the multiple ways through which Satan works to undermine our living faith connection to Jesus and install himself (masquerading as Christ) as the head of the church—but he has done this throughout history—see our blog The Blindfolds and Veils Satan Uses to Blind the World. Instead, I want to focus on how Satan tricks the body of Christ into attacking itself, into a spiritual autoimmune disease in which various members work against each other.

Spiritual Autoimmunity

Our physical bodies can experience an injury or wound to a specific member—a broken arm, a cut finger, a sprained ankle. The injury/wound’s impact on the overall functioning of the body largely depends on its location and severity, but the rest of the body will attempt to rally to compensate, protect, and heal the wounded member, seeking to restore health and full function.

Likewise, if any individual member of the body of Christ is unhealthy—physically, emotionally, or spiritually—then their ability to fulfill God’s calling is diminished and the body of believers suffers and is less efficient in carrying out the Lord’s purposes. In a highly functional Christian community, the healthier members will rally appropriate supports and interventions to help compensate for, protect, and restore the struggling member to the highest level of health and functioning possible.

It would be destructive to our physical bodies if, with every injury we experienced, we simply cut off that body part. Likewise, it is injurious to the body of Christ to cut out from our fellowship every member who becomes spiritually wounded or sick. We amputate physical body parts only when they are beyond healing; we sever our fellowship with other people only when they have passed the point of being restored to godly fellowship.

Sadly, there will be times when an individual member’s heart becomes gangrenous with selfishness and they are bent in inciting division, conflict, and undermining Christian love and unity, resisting all efforts to restore them to healthy love and trust. In those rare instances, amputation is required—a tragic severing of the connection from the body is necessary (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Sometimes our physical bodies, rather than having an injury to a single part, can suffer systemic illness—a body-wide sickness that negatively impacts all the various parts.

In much the same way, the body of believers can become sick as a group with a systemic spiritual ailment. For instance, a congregation of good-hearted believers can fall into a group hysteria in which they all become terrified of some perceived external threat, often one they cannot themselves see or identify, but the threat causes everyone to become afraid. The fear itself then becomes a contagion that causes the church members to see fellow members as threats, and this causes them to isolate from one another rather than fellowship—to stop visiting the sick, stop evangelism, and even close the doors to their facility and cancel worship services. Such a body is no longer functioning as Jesus designed.

And worse yet, sometimes our physical bodies can suffer with an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks itself. When this happens spiritually to the body of Christ, church groups will devolve into factions who bicker among themselves, in which members become “orthodoxy and behavior police” of other members, gossips, and even bring accusations and slander against their own members.

Applying the Cure

The treatment for autoimmune disease of the physical body is some form of anti-inflammatory intervention that calms down the immune system and gets the body to stop seeing its own members as enemies to be attacked and destroyed.

Likewise, the only cure for a body of believers that has turned on itself is the presence of the Holy Spirit, who will bring the needed truth and love to bear in each individual heart so that members stop seeing other members as enemies and, instead, start working to heal and restore each other to health. This can only be done when Christ lives in the heart.

We can protect the body of believers from becoming sick in the first place by embracing and living out God’s wisdom for ourselves and our organization. God’s wisdom is lived out when we recognize that we are all different, just like the parts of the body are different. We have different talents, different gifts from God, and different life experiences, interests, personalities, abilities, education, and qualifications. This means we are not all equally fit to fulfill every position in a thriving church community. Some of us, even with the purest of heart, would drive out people from our meetings if we were to perform special music. Others would cause confusion if they were to teach. The body functions best when all individual members fulfill the function for which God has prepared them and for which they are called.

When we are converted to Jesus Christ and humbly submit ourselves to His service, we surrender our ego, our pride, our demands, and, instead of seeking to advance ourselves, we joyfully accept the role, job, position, calling that God knows we are best equipped to fulfill. In that place, fulfilling God’s calling for our life, we experience our greatest success, joy, and contentment; it is in carrying out God’s will for our lives that we thrive and find our true happiness. And when we see each member as being part of the same team, rather than as competitors, we rejoice when those who are gifted by God fulfill the duties for which they are best suited—because we know the team (body) is more likely to succeed at being a light to the world.

When the body of believers functions like this, every person values every other person and recognizes every individual as part of the family of God. We don’t become envious but rejoice in the successes of others, and we celebrate the fact that we are fulfilling God’s calling for our lives.

Satan tries to trick us by getting us to compare ourselves with others and, thereby, introduce division. Jesus had to remind the apostle Peter of this very truth. On the beach, after Peter was reconciled to Jesus, and Jesus tells him of his future sacrifice, Peter asks about John:

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” (John 21:20–23 NIV84).

Jesus was saying, “What difference does it make to you what I have called John to accomplish for me? The question for you is: Will you be faithful; will you be loyal; will you do your duty for my kingdom?”

This message was not just for Peter; it is also for you and me today. We each have a calling, a duty, a purpose in God’s kingdom. All the converted are part of the body of Christ, and our responsibility is to remain engaged in what God has called us to do in His cause—not to be distracted with what He has called others to do!

One of Satan’s traps is to get people to compare themselves to others and become dissatisfied with their own station, to become jealous, envious, discontented. This is the philosophy of the world, what the Bible calls foolishness. It stirs up division, conflict, hatred, backstabbing, gossiping, and evil surmising.

We become sick as a body of believers when we replace trust in God with self-promotion, when we exchange the methods of God for the methods this world, when we replace the design laws of God with the imposed rules of this world, when we exchange the principles of God for the principles of this world, when we replace objective reality with declarations, claims, and assertions.

If we want to be healthy as a body of believers, we must return to worshiping God as the Creator and living out His methods and principles in governance of ourselves. That means we must reject the philosophies of this sin-sick, self-centered world and live out the design-law truth as it is in Jesus. Each individual, if we want to thrive and experience the greatest fulfillment in this life, must surrender self to Jesus and seek His calling and purpose in our lives. We must fix our eyes on Him and not compare ourselves to others. We must carry out the duties God has given us to do to the best of our abilities and trust Him with how things turn out.

I encourage you to reject the self-exaltation, divisive methods of this world and to fix your eyes on Jesus, committing yourself to fulfilling to the fullest God’s calling for your life.

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Testimony 50

After coming into contact with Come And Reason Ministries, I can finally say that many of my unanswered questions have fallen into place. I discovered that my view of God’s Law was “imposed laws and rules” with “imposed punishments” and that this was the major culprit of my many unanswered questions. Thanks be to God for using you and those around you to help us who have struggled with this “infection” of thought. I have now rejected the “imposed law” concept to fully embrace “Design Law”… to look thru “Design Law,” instead of “imposed law,” is a relief.

Viliami L., Australia

 

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA

 

Testimony 65

I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

Jeff D., Reading, MA, USA

 

Testimony 60

Just watched watched lesson 10 in the 1st quarter 2021 bible study classs on Isaiah. I want to thank you for your intellectual spirituality; it’s not an oxymoron! From the point of view of a teacher I also enjoy seeing how much personal pleasure you clearly take in not just tasting, but feasting on God’s word – it reminds me of Jeremiah not being able to hold it in! It makes me smile that your cup is so full and overflowing that you make it to Tuesday’s lesson (on a good day). It just goes to show the richness of God’s Word.

God bless the Come and Reason Team from our church here in Great Britain.

Andrew H., Great Britain

 

Testimony 59

I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

God bless you so much and your ministry.

Michael A., Ghana

 

Testimony 64

I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA

 

Testimony 66

I am incredibly grateful for the transformative impact you’ve had on my life, and words cannot fully express my appreciation. Over the years, I have been an avid listener and follower of C&R and extend my heartfelt thanks for creating the C&R mobile app. It has allowed me to immerse myself in your lessons repeatedly, enabling me to grasp the profound significance about the Character of God, Design Law, the protocols for life, the reasons behind the current chaos, and Christ’s mission to restore everything. They have deeply touched me. Having studied with various churches, I came away with the perception that God is no different from the deities of ancient Greek or Roman mythology—demanding sacrifices and taking pleasure in bloodshed. Thanks to your transformative teachings, I have experienced a profound awakening to the true nature of God and the immense power of His love. It is truly a remarkable and liberating sensation to finally grasp the truth and embrace the empowering nature of God’s laws. My self-perception has become brighter and more infused with love. My journey of growth continues on a daily basis.

Chris P., Lake Mary, FL, USA

 

Testimony 22

I have found your Bible study class lectures to be very inspiring and useful as I prepare to teach class every other week. I subscribe to the podcast and download your notes on the weeks I teach. The audio and notes are such a great help in preparing. My own understanding of God’s character has grown as I teach the class. Commendations on the thought-provoking and well-prepared material Come and Reason provides. Personally, I get excited by the tie you make between the spiritual and mental/physical domains.

A.A. Corrales, NM, USA

 

Testimony 58

I have been watching your videos in The Power of Love seminar and I must say these have liberated me and have improved my relationship with the Lord. I am no longer terrified of him as I was before following your teachings.

Thando N., South Africa

 

Testimony 73

I have been truly blessed by your blogs and other resources. They have helped me to see things in a much brighter light and to reason things out better. Thank you so much for your ministry. Whenever I have the opportunity I pass along your material to my friends.

R. Noseworthy, Newfoundland, Canada

Testimony 33

I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

Paul C.,  Springfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 63

I’ve been very blessed by “The God Shaped Brain” and this ministry, through video and podcast, over the last few years. It’s truly opened up my eyes more to the truth about God and the importance of that truth in the present world. The message is so inviting, freeing and enlightening and MORE people need to know about it. I believe it is the last message that can truly, not only prepare a people for salvation and translation, but vindicate the character of God.

Michael V., Yonkers, NY, USA

 

Testimony 20

I just wanted to personally thank you for your teachings and insight into scripture. I came across your website via my cousin who suggested I look into “Healing the Mind” information. My youngest daughter has been struggling over the last couple of years and it all came to a head this spring. When I started listening to the “Healing the Mind” lectures my own life began to be transformed. I began sharing with all my daughters the concepts you laid out so clearly. I ordered your book and soaked it up. I just want to say “Thank You!” My walk with the Lord has been refreshed and renewed. Your obedience to the Lord is a blessing to so many.

R. K., Anderson, SC, USA

 

Testimony 61

I grew up in a prominent protestant church and had what I like to call religious anxiety. I’ve always had questions about God and Salvation that no one could seem to answer.  I didn’t know how to find resolution. During 2020, at the height of my anxiety, I fell to my knees and begged God to show me truth and light and to give me the hope that I’ve been longing for. Days later, I stumbled upon your online videos and it was like a veil was lifted and EVERYTHING made sense! For the first time in my almost 39 years of life, my religious/spiritual anxiety has lessened. I feel a sense of freedom and peace I’ve NEVER had before… and it’s all because my view of God has changed. Thank you!

Ashleighn C.

 

Testimony 13

I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA