fixing what is broken

In my message yesterday from Ephesians ch 4 we looked at the truth that Christ has graced the local church with gifts, distributed at His pleasure to members of His body, part of that gift of grace, He says, is pastors and teachers for the "equipping" of the saints.

Equipping here and elsewhere meaning - 'providing what is lacking & fixing what is broken'. we are all in need of repair, everyone of us. God in His grace has taken incomplete and broken, sinful people and saved us and put us n a road to repair for His glory. His glory being the body of Christ as a whole working properly, eph. says, and growing up into Christ.

Some thoughts were that this emphasis is on the whole and not the part... the body, not the individual. Christ is concerned with the whole body, the good of the body, not necessarily the individual. This flies int he face of our western, narcissistic, me-centered thinking... the good of the whole over my own good... others over self?! how anti-American! exactly!

another thought crossed my mind... since we are all broken and lacking in the church, and in need of equipping, could part of the churches' problem be that we come into this church thing.. this body, not realizing our need, not realizing we are broken --morally, spiritually, god-wardly broken; and as such take offense when a preacher, teacher dare exhort us from the Bible?

Now i know it goes way beyond this, into our self-esteem soaked philosophy of being American. God-forbid we should need deep fixing or God's help. We will concede our need on some levels, but only to the point of bettering our life to fill our wants and desires... or our image... God/preacher --help me have a better marriage, better kids, better finances... see the self-centered, self-esteem building root? Recognition of need here is OK because it will make me feel better or look better.

What we end up feeling is that God is here for us to prop us up and build us up... me. my , I... I have needs, I need to be a better person... do we see the narcissism and selfishness and sinfulness of this? Christ came not to build my self esteem or make me a better person, but to create a new person who glorifies Him and values Him above everything, even our self esteem and image!

Fixing what is broken will take realizing what is truly broken, not myself but my character, my heart toward my creator... that is what needs fixing!