Why Is Every Member of the Body of Christ Important?

Direct Answer

Yes, every member of the body of Christ is important because God has placed each one in the body according to His will.

Paul uses the human body to illustrate that each believer, whether visible or unseen, is essential. Les Feldick emphasizes that even the little toe is important, and no one should think God cannot use them because they are in Christ.

Key Scriptures

1 Corinthians 12:18 — This verse directly states that God has set every member in the body as it pleased Him, showing individual importance.

What Does the Bible Say?

The Bible teaches that the body of Christ is like a human body, with many members but one body (1 Corinthians 12:12). By one Spirit, all believers—Jew or Gentile, bond or free—are baptized into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13). Every member is placed by God as He pleases (1 Corinthians 12:18), and no member can say to another, "I have no need of thee" (1 Corinthians 12:21).

What Does Les Feldick Teach About the Importance of Every Member?

Les Feldick teaches that every believer is placed into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit the moment they believe the gospel. Using the human body as an analogy, he says that some members are unseen like the little toe, but they are just as important as the more visible ones like Billy Graham. Les emphasizes that if you are in Christ, you are somebody, regardless of your station in life. He also notes that the body functions as one unit, with each member having a function, and that even imperfect members remain part of the body.

What Does the Human Body Illustrate About the Body of Christ?

Les uses the human body to show that the body has many members—hands, feet, eyes, ears—but is one body. A foot cannot say it is not of the body because it is not a hand. Even the little toe, often unseen, is missed if lost. The body operates as one unit from a central nervous system, and if you strike your thumb with a hammer, the whole body hurts.

Does Being Unseen or Less Visible Make a Believer Less Important?

No. Les insists that believers who are unseen like the little toe are absolutely important. More visible believers like famous evangelists are not more important. Never say God can't use you because you are a nobody; if you are in Christ, you are somebody.

How Does the Holy Spirit Place Believers into the Body?

At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit immediately places (baptizes) the believer into the body of Christ. This is not a denominational baptism but a spiritual act done by the Spirit alone. All believers worldwide become part of that one body.

What Distinctions Do Not Matter in the Body of Christ?

Whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free, rich or poor, black or white—these do not matter. All are made to drink of one Spirit and part of the same body. Les emphasizes that our station in life makes no difference.

What Is the Role of the Head and the Members?

Christ is the head of the body. The body is composed of many members, and each has a function. Even if a member is imperfect, like a pinky that was partially clipped off, it is still part of the body. Every member is connected and matters to the whole.

From the Teaching

Baptism by the Spirit into the Body

Les explains that at salvation, the Holy Spirit places every believer into the body of Christ, creating a spiritual unity that transcends human organizations.

The Little Toe Analogy

Les teaches that even the least visible members of the body are important and that being in Christ makes a person a 'somebody.'

The Foot and the Hand

Using the foot's response, Les shows that no member can claim to be unimportant because it is not another member; every part is necessary.

One Body, Many Members

Les describes how the human body functions as one unit with many members, applying this to the body of Christ which includes believers of all backgrounds.

All Believers Placed into One Body

Les stresses that all believers, not just a select few, are baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ.

Imperfect Members Still Part of the Body

Les uses his own imperfect pinky to illustrate that even believers who are not all they should be remain part of the body and cannot be removed.

The Body as One Unit

Les shows that the body operates as a whole, and just as pain in one part affects the whole, every member of Christ's body is connected.

Every Member Has a Function

Les teaches that regardless of how God has placed us—whether as a pinky or a toe—every believer has a function in the body.

Bible Verses

1 Corinthians 12:12: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

This verse establishes the analogy of the human body to the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

This verse shows that all believers are placed into the body by the Spirit, regardless of background.

1 Corinthians 12:18: But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

This verse emphasizes that God individually places each member in the body.

1 Corinthians 12:21: And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

This verse directly says that no member is unnecessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a less visible believer less important in the body of Christ?

No, Les Feldick teaches that even the unseen members like the little toe are absolutely important. Visibility does not equate to importance.

How does a person become part of the body of Christ?

The Holy Spirit places a believer into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation. This is a spiritual baptism that happens when one believes the gospel.

Does being rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, matter in the body of Christ?

No, Paul says all are baptized into one body regardless of these distinctions. Les emphasizes that our station in life makes no difference.

What happens if a member of the body is imperfect?

Imperfect members are still part of the body. Les uses his partially clipped pinky to show that even an imperfect member remains part of the body.

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