Sufferings for the Body of Christ

Sufferings for the Body of Christ

“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church . . . .” Col. 1:24.

It sounds a little strange that something could be lacking in the afflictions of Christ and that Paul would fill them up. But we see that Paul was referring to the body of Christ, which is the church.

Nothing was lacking in the sufferings of Christ concerning salvation and the way. The way through the veil, which is His flesh, was consecrated and opened. Heb. 10:20. Everything was finished so that each one could follow Jesus. All they were waiting for was the Spirit who was to lead them and give them power. There could be no church until this happened. We are to be along in building the church; in other words, Jesus could not do it while He was on earth. He had to use the apostles to build the church. They are the ones who had to endure the sufferings that are an integral part of building the body of Christ.

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ . . . .” Eph. 4:11-12.

Those whom God has put in the church for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry have to endure great sufferings. The sufferings are so great that extremely few have the mind and the love to endure them. Therefore they form denominations from among the various believers instead of building up the body of Christ.

It is easier to organize than to give birth. When you organize, you can choose the most sympathetic and talented people who are liked by the majority, to take care of the ministries and then the rest can just sit there without any responsibility beyond supporting them economically. Therefore they pay a pastor to look after the preaching, the teaching, and the shepherding. Quite often he has some helpers as well. This is the Catholic system that the Protestants and the various sects that have arisen through revivals have imitated. These pastors can resign and seek new positions, and if they are capable, they can be pastors of large assemblies with a correspondingly large salary. This is what it means to be a hireling.

If pastor were to work with an entire assembly so that they could become members of one another, and were not just gathered to listen to him, but to each other (1 Cor. 14:26), he would have to possess the love of Christ to endure the sufferings that would follow.

There is a substantial difference between the pastor working to get the flock beneath his pulpit to like him and to increase, and to get that same flock to become one body, to have the same care for one another so that when one member is honored all of them are honored. 1 Cor. 12:24-27.

In this connection let us take a look at Paul’s sufferings in order to further the church. “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you . . . .” Gal. 4:19. “Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to exhort everyone night and day with tears.” Acts 20:31.

Here we can see how Paul worked with the individual. It is easy enough to preach to a flock as a group. It is something totally different to exhort each one individually.

“Him we preach, exhorting every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Col. 1:28.

“Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?” 2 Cor. 11:29.

In addition to all these spiritual sufferings for the individuals which he had to endure in order to give birth to them, Paul also had to endure physical sufferings such as persecution, hunger, cold, and night watches in order to bring them the gospel. But the outcome was sufficiently great that he did it with joy. 2 Tim. 2:10.

The result was the edification of the body of Christ, that each individual might grow up into Him, Christ, “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Eph. 4:15-16.

All those denominations are a glaring contrast to this great work—the edification of the body of Christ—for which Christ and the apostles suffered. But thanks be to God that He also in our days has raised up men with insight and understanding of this tremendous building, who have sufficient love to endure the sufferings that are required to edify the body of Christ.