Why is it so hard for us to love one another? Many times it is because of our differences: we don’t see the world the same way, we don’t have the same preferences, and we aren’t working toward the same ends. Differences often lead to conflicts, not just in Washington, but also within and between congregations of Christians.

But in chapter 12, Paul says that there will always be many differences of both perspective and ability among those who truly love and trust the Lord Jesus. Just as the human body needs all kinds of different parts to function properly (12:17), the Church needs people who can teach, who can lead in worship, who can serve others, who can fix things and who can organize things (12:28).

But Paul goes further, indicating that the differences we tend to look down on are not only to be tolerated but celebrated. He points again to the example of the human body, reminding us that the least presentable parts of ourselves are the ones that we tend to dress the most beautifully (12:23). So, maybe the way to move past the divisions and misunderstandings both between and within our congregations is to find ways to honor those with whom we disagree. For isn’t showing respect to others a necessary component of loving them?

Now, this is not to say that we should throw the essentials of our theology out the window; after all, Paul spends way too much time explaining those things in his letters to allow us to believe that such truth is disposable! But where it comes to genuine Christians, those whose experience or learning we might consider to be deficient may indeed have a lot to show us about worship or service. Likewise, those whose worship isn’t the most interesting or exciting may have a lot of truth to share.

For the fact is that, regardless of our differences, all Christians need each other. We need all the abilities and talents and points of view with which God has blessed the whole Church so that together we may glorify God and bless each other in a richer and fuller fashion.

So instead of dismissing other worship styles as too abbreviated, too boring or too constraining on the one hand, and instead of shunning services that start too late, go on too long or have music that is way too loud on the other, why don’t we give each other the respect and love that all our fellow Christians deserve? Why don’t we seek out opportunities to reach across the arbitrary racial and cultural barriers we have erected? Why not engage in worship and service with other members of the body of Christ, no matter how different or strange we might consider them to be? For could there be any better way to demonstrate that we are truly one with Christ?

I Corinthians 12:1-31 (NASB)

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.
2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the dumb idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I make known to you, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
6 And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are 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 we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now there are many members, but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
23 and those members of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly members come to have more abundant seemliness,
24 whereas our seemly members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,
25 that there should be no division 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; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?
30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.