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Multiple
Personality
multiple personalities.
noun. A psychological disorder, in which a person exhibits two or more
disassociated personalities, each functioning as a distinct entity.
I
have a distinct personality. You have a distinct personality.
These are gifts from God, the way He chose to make us. He has also chosen
to bring you and me and others into His body--the church universal, the
Bride of Christ--as well as into to the various specific expressions of
His body--the local church you are a part of.
Each local congregation is a variegated
hodgepodge of characters. Paul stated, “Just as each of us has one body
with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so
in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all
the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us”
(Romans 12:4-6 , NIV / see also 1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
Since God is absolutely sovereign all the
time over everything, I concede that He knows exactly what He’s doing by
bringing together each church’s particular mix of personalities. While the
expression of distinct "multiple personalities" in an individual is
definitely not a good thing (except that no matter where you go you can
always have a party!), in the body of Christ it’s not just normal, it’s
required.
The significant difference is that we are
not disassociated, withdrawn, or detached from one another. We are
connected and joined together by God’s grace, functioning within the body
as distinct personalities, our efforts united in focus and purpose. We are
not built into the body to be dysfunctional or at odds with each other.
Knowing and embracing this means
recognizing that differences in the body of Christ are a good thing. I’m
not exactly like you. You’re not exactly like me. Thank God! Diversity is
God’s idea. We each bring unique God-given perspectives, ways of doing
things, and diverse insights into this majestic mix. Just as He exhibits
multiple facets of Himself yet toward one end, so we as a body are one in
our variety.
In the body of Christ weaknesses and
strengths can be paired for greater effect; inexperience can be
under-girded by experience that builds wisdom; lack of understanding can
be combined with understanding that avoids misunderstanding;
discouragement can be erased with encouragement that brings victory.
If you don’t like the way something is
being done in your church, this could be the Holy Spirit prompting you to
get involved and apply the gift of your personality to the situation.
After all, the Holy Spirit generally avoids empowering us to complain. He
does, however, readily empower us to do all we can to build up His body in
loving service as His servants.
So, go ahead and be different--be all you
can be in Him in your church! Being different in Him is cool. After all,
believers are a peculiar people!
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