The Stories of Christmas | Building Community

So that there won't be division in the body and so the parts might have mutual concern for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part gets the honor, all the parts celebrate with it. You are the body of Christ and parts of each other.

1 Corinthians 12:25-27 (CEB)

Paul concludes his teaching about the body of Christ with a powerful vision of what community should look like. He says the parts should have "mutual concern for each other." When one part suffers, all parts suffer. When one part is honored, all parts celebrate.

This isn't just about coexisting in the same space. This is about being deeply connected to each other. This is about caring for each other, celebrating with each other, and suffering with each other.

And Paul makes it clear that this kind of community requires intentionality. It doesn't happen by accident. We have to work to make sure "there won't be division in the body." We have to actively create space for everyone to belong.

Here's what I've learned: Creating inclusive community is inconvenient. It takes more time. It requires more effort. It's messier than just sticking with what we know.

It's easier to shop for Angel Tree gifts with the same group of volunteers who've been doing it for years. It's more efficient to stick with the system we've perfected.

But what if efficiency isn't the goal? What if the goal is actually to create a community where everyone belongs, where everyone contributes, where everyone matters?

When we make room for people we might have overlooked, something beautiful happens. Yes, it might be less efficient. Yes, it might complicate our process. But we gain something far more valuable: We become more like the body of Christ.

So what does it look like to have "mutual concern for each other"? It means we pay attention. We notice when someone's struggling. We celebrate when someone has a win. We make space for people who are different from us.

It means we ask questions like: Who's being left out? Who's sitting alone? Who do we keep overlooking? Who have we been treating like they don't matter?

And then we do something about it. We invite the new person to sit with us. We include the person who doesn't fit our typical profile. We make room for the person who makes things a little more complicated.

Because that's what it means to be the body of Christ. We're not a collection of individuals who happen to be in the same space. We're parts of each other. Connected. Interdependent. Responsible for each other.

When one part suffers, we all suffer. When one part is honored, we all celebrate. That's not just a nice idea...that's supposed to be our reality.

So here's what we have to decide: Are we going to prioritize efficiency or community? Are we going to stick with what's comfortable or make room for everyone? Are we going to create systems that work smoothly or relationships that matter deeply?

Because we can't have both. Building inclusive community requires us to sacrifice some convenience. It requires us to slow down, make space, and embrace the messiness of really seeing and valuing every person.

But when we make that choice, when we choose community over convenience, we discover that every person really does play an important part. Every person IS an important part. And together, we become the body of Christ the way God always intended.

Prayer

God, forgive us for the times we've chosen convenience over community. Forgive us for prioritizing efficiency over inclusion. Help us to see every person the way you see them—as an essential part of your body. Give us the courage to slow down, make space, and truly value everyone. Teach us to have mutual concern for each other, to suffer with those who suffer, and to celebrate with those who celebrate. Help us to be the body of Christ—not just in name, but in reality. Show us this week who we've been overlooking, and give us the courage to make room for them. Amen.