Church - What Group is Right?
There are many, many, many, many (have I said many enough?) different definitions of church.
Place of worship
House of prayer
Religious gathering place
These are just a few very general definitions that can be applied to almost any religion. So let's be a little more specific to Christianity.
cathedral
temple
sanctuary
tabernacle
Lord's house
mission
+ aforementioned
Again just a few of the very many. Now let's see how God defines church. Where do we do that? (I know it's a leading obvious question) In His Word.
The first mention of church in the New Testament is in the book of Matthew chapter 16. Where Jesus asks: 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (NIV)
So while this passage brings up the questions did He mean Peter the rock, or did he mean the foundation upon which His church will be built, or both, is an interesting debate, and you my readers know that I love that kind of discussion, it is not where I am headed for this time. The passage heavily implies that the Christian church is based upon Jesus Christ the savior. I believe I will not get a valid argument from anyone on that account. We now have a basis for definition. Jesus Christ. So we move out from there.
In Matthew Chapter 18: 15- 17, Jesus again mentions the church when talking about dealing with a brother or sister in sin. Common sense then mandates that church, as defined by God himself, is the people, not the building. You can not discuss a sinful behavior of a brother or sister with a building or some physical structure. Well you could but you are not going to get any resolution from it. This then supports the popular answer to the question, "Who is the church?" We all answer exuberantly, "We are the church!" So now we know who is the church. This is still not yet a complete definition.
Again, it is obvious, that the church is a gathering of people who agree and believe the same set of moral principles. For we Christians we can start by saying that our church is a gathering of people who believe that Jesus Christ is God. We can further agree that we base our belief system upon the gospel or good news that Jesus Christ, who is God, became man born of virgin, led a sinless life and allowed himself to sacrificed in place of we who deserved death in order that we can be redeemed for our sins. Paul said it so succinctly in Phillipians 2: 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I truly don't care what version of the Bible you prefer as long as it states the equivalent to what I just posted. I typically prefer the ESV or NASB for study but I love the NIV for this particular passage. All Christians, no matter what version is preferred, should agree on the truth of that passage. It is our milk. We get caught up on some very minute points of doctrine after that. We not only get caught up on them but we take stands, throwing out grace, closing our minds AND hearts to any differences of interpretation or viewpoints, and begin to isolate ourselves from the body of Christ and anyone who may disagree with us. So much so that the unsaved world laughs at us and mocks our God because of the way WE REPRESENT HIM.
Please do not misunderstand me. I am not talking about some of the fringe groups who have some weird doctrines that should be corrected and if correction is not accepted, should be avoided but NOT hated or treated in manner that defies grace. I am not going to mention these because in doing so it would seem like I was in contradiction to 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
So let's look at some of the very obvious stances people take which misrepresent our Church.
King James (KJ) or New King James (NKJ) versus all versions accepted by modern Theological scholars group. If you like using the King James Bible, no problem. It is a fine Bible. It was published in 1611. It was written using between 30-32 sources. The New King James Version uses exactly the same sources but changes the King James period of written English to a more modern version (ie Thees and thous become you and they) of written English. The problem comes into play when good intentioned purists take a stand and state that the KJ and NKJ are the only valid versions of the Holy Bible. They state that the versions which have been published based on over 5000 sources are not true interpretations and do not compare with the KJ. I do not understand this thinking at all. Along with being a pastor/teacher I am a scientist and an amateur historian. To me, a document with over 5000 supporting sources as opposed to one with only 30 - 32, would have a greater weight of validity. Here is the even weirder part, with the exception of a few time period cultural language differences, the KJ is in very strong agreement with the more modern versions. Kudos to the 1611 publishers and total glory to God for preserving His Word. (I, as a pastor and student of Biblical study, will have to admit that there have been some modern versions that present watered down gospel and would recommend avoidance of those; however, most pastors and serious students do not employ them in their studies and teachings.) If you want to be a total purist then you should be making your stand only on the Hebrew and the Greek original writings. But that would limit His Word to only those who can read those languages and whatever you may think, you would have to admit that His Word was written for all of humanity. Yet still, there are people who believe that the veracity of the KJ is premium and in doing that, alienate and isolate themselves to and from those who study from the modern versions.
The next groups I would address are the gifts of the Spirit vs the gifts are obsolete groups. I refrain from naming any classifications or denominations for obvious reasons. So the gifts groups. They maintain that the gifts of the Spirit as stated in 1 Cor 12 and also discussed at shorter length in Eph 4 are not only not obsolete but are as valid today as they were when Paul wrote about them and the churches he helped established practiced them. I agree. I was saved into a gifts are obsolete church but I did my own research on it and found that there was no strong support in such a determination and have been given the privilege to operate in ministry with some of them. The problem comes when the gifts become the focus, instead of Jesus Christ and when some gifts, not mentioned in his Word become accepted as "movements of the Holy Spirit." Too many churches have and are still caught up in some weird practices. Again keeping in line with 1 Peter 3, I will not mention them here. I have seen some of the weirdness. At the height of the popularity of many of these practices, a favorite speaker of mine, you may have heard of him, David Wilkerson ( he NOT Pat Boone, wrote the Cross and Switchblade) stated, "The Holy Spirit will never do anything that draws attention to himself but always will point to Jesus Christ." I may have slightly misquoted but the meaning would remain true. That statement along with the Holy Bible, helped me navigate the craziness of the time. The other thing that gifts group have done is to say that if you don't celebrate those gifts in your church, your church is dead. Again, I disagree.
Now the obsolete groups. As I stated before, I have found that in the Word of God, there are no scriptures that would strongly support that the gifts displayed in the early church and by the apostles at the time of Pentecost are obsolete. Yet these churches have stand vehemently opposed to the churches that practice and celebrate those gifts. They have stated that those manifestations were emotional outbursts of human contrivance. The gentler statements were that people were mislead by getting caught up in the emotional moment. While this may have been true in some circumstances, it is not true for all. I, however, do not see these churches as dead either. I think they may be missing out on some of the wonderful things God has for us but I do not believe that it alone puts them in the line for lampstand removal (see Rev 2:5). The church that I was saved into as well as several others that I have seen and have attended services, had many people who lived their lives in varying degrees, as stated in Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
One last group, I would like to discuss is those churches that maintain that salvation is dependent upon baptism. I so disagree with this that it hurts when I hear about teachings favoring this precept. They get their stance from this verse: Mark 16: 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. They stand on the word "and." The and is baptized. In their eyes it means that both belief and baptism are required for salvation. There is a qualifier in the NIV, NASB, ESV, et. al. that states verses 9-20 are not found in the earliest manuscripts. (KJ only people be advised that those verses are included in the KJ version as well.) None of the other gospels record Jesus making this statement. If you believe that baptism is a requirement for salvation, then please go and find all of the families of those people who had deathbed or foxhole conversions without baptism before death and explain to them that their loved ones will spend eternity in hell for lack of a dunking. Don't get me wrong, I believe that believers should be baptized but not as a requirement for salvation.
OK. These are just a few of the groups who squabble among themselves to the detriment of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. There are many other doctrinal stances that are taken to oppose churches within the Church. Some valid, some very not! So how do we in Christ define church? Again we return to His Word.
NIV: 1 Cor12: 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[c] 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. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
ESV: 1 Cor 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
KJ: 1 Cor 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. 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. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 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. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts:
Seems Paul is saying the same thing in each. Brothers and sisters in Christ, check your hearts, check your minds, check your actions, and above all check the Word of God and see if they pass this simple test:
John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
His love not our love. In that way all who believe, gather in His name, and obey that command, are the Church. Amen?
Place of worship
House of prayer
Religious gathering place
These are just a few very general definitions that can be applied to almost any religion. So let's be a little more specific to Christianity.
cathedral
temple
sanctuary
tabernacle
Lord's house
mission
+ aforementioned
Again just a few of the very many. Now let's see how God defines church. Where do we do that? (I know it's a leading obvious question) In His Word.
The first mention of church in the New Testament is in the book of Matthew chapter 16. Where Jesus asks: 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (NIV)
So while this passage brings up the questions did He mean Peter the rock, or did he mean the foundation upon which His church will be built, or both, is an interesting debate, and you my readers know that I love that kind of discussion, it is not where I am headed for this time. The passage heavily implies that the Christian church is based upon Jesus Christ the savior. I believe I will not get a valid argument from anyone on that account. We now have a basis for definition. Jesus Christ. So we move out from there.
In Matthew Chapter 18: 15- 17, Jesus again mentions the church when talking about dealing with a brother or sister in sin. Common sense then mandates that church, as defined by God himself, is the people, not the building. You can not discuss a sinful behavior of a brother or sister with a building or some physical structure. Well you could but you are not going to get any resolution from it. This then supports the popular answer to the question, "Who is the church?" We all answer exuberantly, "We are the church!" So now we know who is the church. This is still not yet a complete definition.
Again, it is obvious, that the church is a gathering of people who agree and believe the same set of moral principles. For we Christians we can start by saying that our church is a gathering of people who believe that Jesus Christ is God. We can further agree that we base our belief system upon the gospel or good news that Jesus Christ, who is God, became man born of virgin, led a sinless life and allowed himself to sacrificed in place of we who deserved death in order that we can be redeemed for our sins. Paul said it so succinctly in Phillipians 2: 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I truly don't care what version of the Bible you prefer as long as it states the equivalent to what I just posted. I typically prefer the ESV or NASB for study but I love the NIV for this particular passage. All Christians, no matter what version is preferred, should agree on the truth of that passage. It is our milk. We get caught up on some very minute points of doctrine after that. We not only get caught up on them but we take stands, throwing out grace, closing our minds AND hearts to any differences of interpretation or viewpoints, and begin to isolate ourselves from the body of Christ and anyone who may disagree with us. So much so that the unsaved world laughs at us and mocks our God because of the way WE REPRESENT HIM.
Please do not misunderstand me. I am not talking about some of the fringe groups who have some weird doctrines that should be corrected and if correction is not accepted, should be avoided but NOT hated or treated in manner that defies grace. I am not going to mention these because in doing so it would seem like I was in contradiction to 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
So let's look at some of the very obvious stances people take which misrepresent our Church.
King James (KJ) or New King James (NKJ) versus all versions accepted by modern Theological scholars group. If you like using the King James Bible, no problem. It is a fine Bible. It was published in 1611. It was written using between 30-32 sources. The New King James Version uses exactly the same sources but changes the King James period of written English to a more modern version (ie Thees and thous become you and they) of written English. The problem comes into play when good intentioned purists take a stand and state that the KJ and NKJ are the only valid versions of the Holy Bible. They state that the versions which have been published based on over 5000 sources are not true interpretations and do not compare with the KJ. I do not understand this thinking at all. Along with being a pastor/teacher I am a scientist and an amateur historian. To me, a document with over 5000 supporting sources as opposed to one with only 30 - 32, would have a greater weight of validity. Here is the even weirder part, with the exception of a few time period cultural language differences, the KJ is in very strong agreement with the more modern versions. Kudos to the 1611 publishers and total glory to God for preserving His Word. (I, as a pastor and student of Biblical study, will have to admit that there have been some modern versions that present watered down gospel and would recommend avoidance of those; however, most pastors and serious students do not employ them in their studies and teachings.) If you want to be a total purist then you should be making your stand only on the Hebrew and the Greek original writings. But that would limit His Word to only those who can read those languages and whatever you may think, you would have to admit that His Word was written for all of humanity. Yet still, there are people who believe that the veracity of the KJ is premium and in doing that, alienate and isolate themselves to and from those who study from the modern versions.
The next groups I would address are the gifts of the Spirit vs the gifts are obsolete groups. I refrain from naming any classifications or denominations for obvious reasons. So the gifts groups. They maintain that the gifts of the Spirit as stated in 1 Cor 12 and also discussed at shorter length in Eph 4 are not only not obsolete but are as valid today as they were when Paul wrote about them and the churches he helped established practiced them. I agree. I was saved into a gifts are obsolete church but I did my own research on it and found that there was no strong support in such a determination and have been given the privilege to operate in ministry with some of them. The problem comes when the gifts become the focus, instead of Jesus Christ and when some gifts, not mentioned in his Word become accepted as "movements of the Holy Spirit." Too many churches have and are still caught up in some weird practices. Again keeping in line with 1 Peter 3, I will not mention them here. I have seen some of the weirdness. At the height of the popularity of many of these practices, a favorite speaker of mine, you may have heard of him, David Wilkerson ( he NOT Pat Boone, wrote the Cross and Switchblade) stated, "The Holy Spirit will never do anything that draws attention to himself but always will point to Jesus Christ." I may have slightly misquoted but the meaning would remain true. That statement along with the Holy Bible, helped me navigate the craziness of the time. The other thing that gifts group have done is to say that if you don't celebrate those gifts in your church, your church is dead. Again, I disagree.
Now the obsolete groups. As I stated before, I have found that in the Word of God, there are no scriptures that would strongly support that the gifts displayed in the early church and by the apostles at the time of Pentecost are obsolete. Yet these churches have stand vehemently opposed to the churches that practice and celebrate those gifts. They have stated that those manifestations were emotional outbursts of human contrivance. The gentler statements were that people were mislead by getting caught up in the emotional moment. While this may have been true in some circumstances, it is not true for all. I, however, do not see these churches as dead either. I think they may be missing out on some of the wonderful things God has for us but I do not believe that it alone puts them in the line for lampstand removal (see Rev 2:5). The church that I was saved into as well as several others that I have seen and have attended services, had many people who lived their lives in varying degrees, as stated in Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
One last group, I would like to discuss is those churches that maintain that salvation is dependent upon baptism. I so disagree with this that it hurts when I hear about teachings favoring this precept. They get their stance from this verse: Mark 16: 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. They stand on the word "and." The and is baptized. In their eyes it means that both belief and baptism are required for salvation. There is a qualifier in the NIV, NASB, ESV, et. al. that states verses 9-20 are not found in the earliest manuscripts. (KJ only people be advised that those verses are included in the KJ version as well.) None of the other gospels record Jesus making this statement. If you believe that baptism is a requirement for salvation, then please go and find all of the families of those people who had deathbed or foxhole conversions without baptism before death and explain to them that their loved ones will spend eternity in hell for lack of a dunking. Don't get me wrong, I believe that believers should be baptized but not as a requirement for salvation.
OK. These are just a few of the groups who squabble among themselves to the detriment of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. There are many other doctrinal stances that are taken to oppose churches within the Church. Some valid, some very not! So how do we in Christ define church? Again we return to His Word.
NIV: 1 Cor12: 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[c] 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. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
ESV: 1 Cor 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
KJ: 1 Cor 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. 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. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 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. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts:
Seems Paul is saying the same thing in each. Brothers and sisters in Christ, check your hearts, check your minds, check your actions, and above all check the Word of God and see if they pass this simple test:
John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
His love not our love. In that way all who believe, gather in His name, and obey that command, are the Church. Amen?
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