Living Together: Embracing Differences

Scripture Passage

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Sermon Script

In our world today, there’s a great emphasis on being INCLUSIVE. All of us are very familiar with this term. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, one of the definitions says: including everyone. Being inclusive is the opposite of being exclusive. Being inclusive has to do with making sure that no one or no group is left out.

At our church, one aspect of our mission statement is being an ‘Inclusive’ community. To welcome and embrace all people. This is the description you will find on our website—

St. Timothy’s is a multi-generational Korean-immigrant church. However, it also strives to be a community where people are welcomed, loved, and included – regardless of their race, culture, and/or political views.

Being inclusive is good. As human beings, we have a deep desire to belong. No one ever wants to feel left out. No matter how different someone might be, they should be welcomed and loved for who they are.

Yes, being inclusive has to do with embracing all differences. But it can easily turn into being INDIFFERENT to those differences. That’s what I realized.

On the surface, we could seem like a diverse, inclusive community. But underneath, we may not care all that much about each other. We may only pay attention to those we like, or people that are part of our friend group. We may have the attitude of, “You do you, I do me.”

In today’s passage, St. Paul uses the analogy of a BODY. The body is the church – God’s community of people. There is one body, but MANY parts. Every part is different. But you need all of them. They belong to the body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

1 Corinthians 12:21

We may not think this necessarily or say it outwardly to someone. But by showing indifference to someone, we are saying it to them. “I don’t care if you are here or not.”

Being inclusive doesn’t mean being indifferent to others. Being inclusive means actively caring for people who are different than me. Rather than being indifferent, we seek to EMPOWER them. We give them their confidence. That’s how you make someone feel accepted and loved. That’s what great people do. I share this with our Execs from time to time.

Then how can we empower others? How can I be a truly inclusive person? I can think of two ways.

First, learn to ACKNOWLEDGE others. This is the most basic human gesture. It’s social skills 101. You acknowledge someone, regardless of who they are. That means looking at them in the eye when you see them. That means saying ‘hello’.

Doing it will cost you nothing. But it will make all the difference in the other person’s life. They will feel SEEN. They will feel like a human being.

Many of you say, “Hi Pastor Dave!” when you see me. I appreciate it a lot. But do that with each other too. Especially people you don’t talk to as often.

Second, learn to APPRECIATE others. It’s not the same as acknowledging them. You are going a step further. Appreciating someone means RECOGNIZING what makes them UNIQUE and WONDERFUL as a person. You EXPRESS that to the other person in a concrete way.

Each person has something distinct and unique about them. I believe that. It has to do with their personality, gifts, and talents. They have something wonderful they can offer to others.

Some of us may know what that is already. But there are others who don’t. There are those in our midst who feel unsure of themselves. Those who lack confidence. Those who stay in the shadows. You’re called to help them see what they cannot see on their own. Older students – you can do that for the younger students.

…and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modest, while presentable parts need no special treatment.

1 Corinthians 12:23, 24

We are all different. But none of us are lesser than others. Across all differences, we are God’s children. Each of us are unique, lovely and precious in God’s eyes. God’s Spirit has brought us together so that we can bless each other with our uniqueness.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

1 Corinthians 12:13

As we heard last week, this year’s theme is “BE A WITNESS”. Being a witness is being God’s loving presence to one another. Each of us are called to be a witness. As a community of faith, we are also called to be a witnessing community to God’s love and acceptance.

As we begin this new year as Hi-C, let us start by ACKNOWLEDGING and APPRECIATING one another. Make it your resolution in 2024. Let us EMPOWER each other. What will our body be if all the parts decided to ignore each other? It will stop functioning. It will die. When we actively care, encourage and walk with each other, we will become a healthy, fully-functioning body of Christ. We will be truly INCLUSIVE community that glorifies God.