No Man Is an Island

“…speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” ~Ephesians 4:15-16

We live in an individualistic society. We’re inundated with phrases like “My body, my choice,” “You do you,” and “Live your best life now.” Often, this advancement of self comes at the cost of others. “My body, my choice” overlooks the unborn child. “You do you” ignores the impact we have on those around us. Scripture commends another way.

The poet John Donne wrote that “no man is an island, entire of itself,” and that every man is “a piece of the continent.” He was speaking of humanity at large, and he was right as far as he went. But Paul goes further. Believers aren’t merely neighbors on the same continent. We are “members one of another” (Eph. 4:25).

Notice the picture in Ephesians 4. The body is “joined and held together by every joint,” and it grows “when each part is working properly.” There is no spectator in this body, and nobody grows up into Christ alone. Maturity is something the body does together, speaking the truth in love to one another. Paul restates the point in 1 Corinthians 12:21: “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you.’”

The New Testament is full of “one another” commands. We are to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), exhort one another daily (Heb. 3:13), and stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together (Heb. 10:24-25). Our Confession echoes this, teaching that saints united to Christ are united to one another in love, sharing in each other’s gifts and graces and bound to duties for one another’s good (Westminster Confession of Faith 26.1). None of those commands can be obeyed alone — indeed, we need to be a part of the Christian community to honor God in our honoring of others.

Now you may be thinking, “I do better on my own; others just make life difficult,” or “The church is messy,” or “I don’t want to share my struggles with others — the risk of getting hurt is too great.” Friends, I freely concede that the church is often messy, that others make life difficult (and we, of course, make it difficult for them!), and that there is a real risk of getting burned when you expose your sins or struggles. How many of us have been let down by the loose lips of a friend? But please remember: God designed life this way, and His church especially. The same community that can wound us is where we are forgiven, corrected, and carried along in our walk with Christ. He intends for us to grow up — and to help others grow up — alongside one another in this community. We are united to Christ, and to every other sinner who is in Him by faith. 

So take your place in the body, Christian. You aren’t a self-made believer, and you can’t make the pilgrimage to the Celestial City on your own. You are held by Christ and held up by His people, and you get to hold others up in return.

Rev. Kyle W. A. Lockhart, Pastor