Essential employees have stayed on the job through the coronavirus pandemic. There has been much discussion and debate about why some industries and businesses were deemed essential, but others non-essential. The term essential means, “absolutely necessary; extremely important”(1).
While our leaders and citizens can debate about what workers are essential, I thought of a better question for us to consider; “Who is essential to the body of Christ?”
Paul addressed the issue of non-essential Christians in 1 Corinthians 12. Let me put his answer succinctly–there ain’t none! I know that is extremely bad grammar, but you understood what I was saying didn’t you? Paul says the body is one and has many members. Each member has an essential role to play in the body. Paul compares the body of Christ to the human body’s various parts. He personifies various body parts included the hand, foot, ear, and eye. Each part plays a unique and essential role for the body. Paul says, “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. . . As it is, there are many parts, yet one body” (1 Cor. 12:18-20).
Every Christian is essential to the body of Christ. Each Christian has a different role to play for the success and work of the church. The talent and ability that you possess is essential for the cause of Christ.
While we are in the midst of this pandemic, Christians may be tempted to consider themselves non-essential. After all they don’t even have to “go to church.” Maybe the essential church workers are reduced to the few who are doing the “Live” videos and teaching for the church? Some may even feel like the work of the church has ceased. There are no classes to be taught, no youth program to bless, no organized outreach effort to attend, and even attendance is no longer essential. Thus, Christians may conclude, “I’m non-essential” to the church.
If this is your view of Christianity, then this pandemic should open your eyes to your distorted, Americanized view of church. Essential church work is not limited to the church building! Essential Christians aren’t limited to the ones who have titles like elder, preacher, deacon, or Bible class teacher. Essential work isn’t just filling a role in a church ministry that the leaders had to have filled so the church could accomplish the task. That is not New Testament Christianity. The life of a disciple of Jesus is essential! Your Christian work and witness is essential at home, work, and at play. Each Christian has an essential role to play for Christ during this pandemic. You may not be teaching on a live stream or fulfilling traditional roles in a building, but the need for Christians to provide the “same care for one another” has never been more essential (1 Cor. 12:25). You are essential as a Christian. Fulfill your irreplaceable role by praying, loving, evangelizing, serving, and caring wherever you are found. The church has left the building, but the church is still called to be the essential church that this world desperately needs!
