If We Are the Body

If there has ever been a better album than Casting Crowns self-titled debut album, I don’t know what it would be. Some of my favorite songs ever are on that album. And I’ve been playing it a lot this week because I’m using one of the songs in my sermon Sunday (reading the lyrics, not singing it!). One of the songs on the album gently chastises the church for accepting an identity that is less than that of the body of Christ. The song is entitled “If We Are the Body.”

It's crowded in worship todayAs she slips in
Trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

CHORUS
But if we are the Body-- Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing-- Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body-- Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way. There is a way.

A traveler is far away from home He sheds his coat
And quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances
Are better out on the road

A bridge that is sung before repeating the chorus says, “Jesus paid much too high a price, for us to pick and choose who should come, and we are the Body of Christ.” Has the church been much too apt to “pick and choose who should come?” Are we more about “me and my friends” than we are reaching out and including others? The song hits the nail on the head, doesn’t it? If we are the body, then why don’t we look more like Jesus? Why aren't our arms reaching, hands healing and words teaching?