12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And 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." 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
These words of Saint Paul cause me to dwell upon those who decide they have no need for the Church, or as many say it, “I believe in God but not organized religion!” For many who profess this belief the root cause rests in some disagreement over theology of moral behavior or theological teaching that the Church “holds over its membership” or at least that is how it is often characterized. But I wonder what Saint Paul, arguably one of, if not the, greatest missionaries of Christian history, would have said as a response to this claim.
In my personal ministry experience, I often encounter this mentality when people differ over biblical interpretation with the Orthodox Church on many of the ancient Holy Traditions of the Church such as anointing with Holy Oil called the Mystery (Sacrament) of Holy Unction. The practice of Holy Unction has its roots in the ancient Church, specifically mentioned in James 5.13-15, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” The reference to elders is in reference to Presbyters, or Priests, and is a clear liturgical reference from Saint James and not a suggestion to call simply upon the “old people” of the community. Living in the “Bible Belt” I often hear comments such as laying on of hands by elders and other believers, also based upon this citation in Saint James, but to claim this as the ancient practice is just not being honest with Church history.
But I’m not debating the accuracy of anointing today. Maybe that will be for another day. I’m thinking of the logic behind the mentality that if I disagree with what the Church teaches then I have the right to maintain my own teaching with as much validity as the Church’s teaching. And this clearly isn’t in keeping with Saint Paul.
14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 1 Corinthians 12.14-16
We only have to consider the actions of Saint Paul directly to understand how he would view this mentality. When Saint Paul was at odds with the teachings of the Church he and those with him were sent to Jerusalem to plead their case to the Apostles and Elders (Presbyters/Priests) there. Acts 15 describes this historical gathering of the early Church, which has served and continues to serve as the model of Church Councils to this very day. Saint Paul was bound by the decision of the Church and from then on taught accordingly. If he, Paul the great missionary, had to abide by the teachings of the Church why wouldn’t we have to do the same in 2010?
So when we find ourselves at odds with the teachings and Holy Traditions of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church – The Orthodox Christian Church – we can either follow the model of the ancient Church and Saint Paul or we can “go it alone”…. It’s clear what Saint Paul would have done.
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