Let’s read 1 Corinthians 12:18-22, “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. 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. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.”

The body of Christ (the church) has many members. Everyone who has put his/her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is a member of the body of Christ, wherever they are located. All are different and all are necessary for the proper functioning of the body. As in our literal bodies, every part is necessary. We don’t want to lose a limb or even a finger. We don’t want to lose an eye or an ear. We don’t want to lose the ability to walk or the ability to speak. Every part of our body is unique and necessary so that our bodies might function as intended.

If I were to ask you which part of your body is the most important…which part is the one part you cannot do without, I think without hesitation, you would say the head is the most important. The head contains the brain which directs every other part of the body to do its bidding. In the body of Christ, which part is the most important? Which part leads every other part of the body to do its bidding? Of course, the answer would be ‘the head’. Colossians 1:18 teaches us that, “(Christ) is THE HEAD OF THE BODY, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

I appreciate your question regarding women being leaders in the church, but I want to emphasize the point that in any church setting if Christ is not the head, if He is not the leader, then that group is seriously out of order. Scripture is emphatic in telling us to “Let all things be done DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.” (1 Corinthians 14:40). I want to point your attention away from being a leader, and point you towards being a servant…one who simply follows the instructions of the head, who is Christ. There are scriptures that instruct us about what is in order and what is out of order. I want to stress that if you are a member of the body of Christ, then you definitely have a purpose within the church and the Lord will lead you to serve Him according to His purpose, and in agreement with the teaching of His Word.

I encourage you to be like the Apostle Paul who, at his conversion, asked this question, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). Allow the Lord to lead you according to HIS purpose and will. Whether it be a work of leadership, or one of being a help, the Lord will use you as He sees fit…and it will be in accordance to the proper ORDER found in His Word. When we develop the attitude of simply being faithful servants of the Lord, He is honored, He is pleased, and He will reward us. Colossians 3:24, “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for YE SERVE THE LORD CHRIST.”

One final thought. Our service for the Lord is not confined to what we do inside a building for a few hours each work. To be a true servant of the Lord, we must give Him our lives to be used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. May we truly “Serve the LORD with gladness.” (Psalm 100:2) (300.8)