Spiritual Autoimmune Disease

 

SPIRITUAL AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES:

Mary Ann Wray

According to “Medicine Plus” website, an autoimmune disorder occurs when a person's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. When you have an autoimmune disorder, your immune system does not distinguish between healthy tissues and antigens (a harmful substance including cancers that causes the body to produce antibodies). As a result, the body sets off a reaction that destroys normal tissues in ‘self-defense’. In a sense, the immune system becomes confused and causes organs to turn on themselves rather than attack the real enemy-the antigen. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune disorders which can result in the destruction of body tissue, abnormal growth of an organ, and changes in their function. As a result, they can cause many diseases in the body.

Understanding this can give us some insight on how this relates to our spiritual relationships within the Body of Christ. We know that internal organs are obviously not visible, but yet vital for our health. There are some organs and limbs that a body can function without such as tonsils, appendix, gallbladder and internal reproductive organs and loss of limb. These body parts can become diseased to the point of having to be removed in order to preserve the health of the rest of the body. However, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and other vital organs are necessary to sustain life. Without these, the body cannot function and will die. If they become diseased, they must be repaired or replaced, if possible, which is very risky. 

We know that our God can fix any and all of our diseases, but this analogy is given to bring across an important point. The only so called 'members' in the body of Christ that need to be removed or excommunicated are those who are unruly and refuse to repent after being rebuked many times. See 1 Corinthians 5. Also Paul called out false teachers who crept into the church and bring damnable heresies or are extremely troublesome as follows: Demas deserted him because he loved the world (2 Timothy 4: 9 & 10), Hymenaeus and Alexander the Coppersmith, he turned over to Satan for blasphemy (1 Timothy 1: 20 & 2 Tim. 4: 14), Phygelus and Hermogenes turned away from him-probably in a betrayal of some sort (2 Timothy 1: 15), and Hymenaeus again with Philetus who swerved from the truth and upset the faith of some believers teaching false doctrines (2 Tim 2: 17 & 18). In 1 Timothy 5: 19-21 Paul said that unruly elders needed to be rebuked publicly so the rest would stand in fear. It seems Church discipline is nearly absent or weak in the face of current egregious allegations of sexual and moral misconduct. Judgment has begun in the House of the Lord. See 1 Peter 4: 17.

The Body of Christ growing together…

As individual members of the Body of Christ, we are part of the whole with Christ as the Head-not a man or a woman. God designed church government to be led by elders for this reason. Otherwise, man worship and imbalance, along with pride results. Leadership represent God's shoulders (Isaiah 9: 6), but there can only be one Head of the Church and that is Christ. How we interact with each other (leadership or not) will determine the overall healthy function of a Body of believers we are in community with. 1 Corinthians 12 gives us a beautiful picture of how important each member is. I encourage you to read it (listed at the end of this article) when you get a minute. In the previous chapter, 1 Corinthians 11,  Paul addresses the issue of taking the Body and Blood of Christ (Communion) in an unworthy manner (1 Cor. 11: 27-31). 

For this reason, Paul stated, many are sick and weak and some have fallen asleep early (premature death). This comes about because they did not properly discern the Lord’s Body. In so doing Paul says that we eat and drink judgment upon ourselves. He also said we should examine ourselves and show more 'honor' to the less visible or comely members. Could this lack of discernment be the cause of unhealed sickness, weakness and early death in the Body of Christ despite going through the motions of prayer? I think about this a lot. I personally believe this is one of the reasons why we don't see more healings and deliverances from bondage even though we 'pray'.

Healing happens in a normal functioning body when one part is injured. It's miraculous how God designed the body to heal itself under normal conditions. When groups of believers gather together in communal settings under the headship of Christ with the Word of God and power of the spirit, there is a spiritual synergy that takes place. Healings and other gifts, if allowed to flow through individual members, rather than one 'super star, is a wonderful and amazing dynamic. It can only that place in an atmosphere of unity of spirit, worship to God in Spirit and Truth and agape love by preferring one another.

There also has been a real problem with pseudo honor in the Body of Christ i.e., bestowing more honor on the more visible members. These members are the ones up front and leading. Also visibility can be based on  popularity, wealth, appearance, nepotism and other things that are more worldly rather than spiritual. Because of this, a hierarchy has been established in people's minds and cliques form. If you are not visible, many times you are not considered important. If you are poor, you're not worthy of honor. If you are not part of a particular group or in the church, you are not part of the rest. This is what breeds division and what the Apostle James was also was speaking about. 

"My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors." James 2: 1-9

We Must Learn to Discern…

The word discern here means: discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation. Could it be that if I do not recognize and appreciate your value as a member of the Body of Christ, regardless of outward 'appearances' and other wrong assumptions,  I could be causing myself harm? Could it be that I open myself up to the wrong antigen (enemy) by not loving and regarding you as part of Christ's Body that I am a part of? Regardless of the color of your skin, position/ lack thereof, gifts, talents/ lack thereof, age, outward appearance, idiosyncrasies, affiliation or socio-economic status, we are called  to One Body, One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism. Is it possible that I could remove the very thing you can give me to be edified or assuage any physical or spiritual antigen working against me? By not discerning one another properly and loving each other as God commands us in scripture, The Body of Christ  can actually experience weakness, sickness and an early death. 

"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another." Galatians 5: 13 & 14.

Challenging false doctrine, or derelict leadership is not what the Apostle is talking about here. In fact wolfish leaders are the ones who bite and devour God's flock. Church discipline is needed for health and growth too. As mentioned earlier, Paul identified at least five false teachers and mentioned false prophets at least nine different times in his letters. Identifying heresy and false teachings is necessary for a healthy assembly and it's not the same as someone breeding strife out of jealousy and greed. A surgeon will cut open an abdomen to remove a cancerous tumor, infected appendix or gall bladder so that the body doesn't become toxic and the disease doesn't spread. The same principle applies to identifying false teachings/ teachers in the modern church. This unhealthy leaven spreads and infects the Body of Christ bringing dis-ease. See Luke 12.

Growing into Spiritual Maturity...

This requires putting off childlike behavior and attitudes towards one another, even when we disagree, and put on Christ-likeness. It requires being weaned off milk given to us by someone else and studying the scripture for ourselves. We can't rely on others to feed us what we need to eat. To rely heavily on your pastor or any other ministry gift to feed you as the primary way you learn about the things of God is dangerous. Ministry gifts are just that...gifts. They are not the Messiah and not meant to replace our relationship with Jesus Christ. They are supposed to point you back to Christ and rightly divide scripture so that you want to learn more of it and grow in your faith and good works to the glory of God-not a ministry. Young children idolize their parents and see no wrong in them even when they are abusive. There are many child-like Christians today who idolize their pastor or their favorite minister and find no fault with them. Unfortunately,  even when they are accused of sin out of the mouth of more than two or three witnesses, childish Christians will defend them to the death. They'll keep supporting them financially while sometimes going without food, necessities or paying their own bills in time. They are easily manipulated and controlled and do not question those who are supposed to be an example but instead lord over them as a domineering parent. We are living in an age of deception. We have a more sure word of prophecy and all scripture is given for reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness. See 1 Timothy 3: 16. We need to pray and seek to grow up unto the full measure of the stature of Christ. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13 (commonly referred to as the Love Chapter) 

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”

Infants and small children rely on adults to feed them. They don't question what they are fed unless they don't like it. They need to eat a balanced diet but if they only eat one type of food, they become malnourished, especially if they are fed junk food. Children who have suffered with serious physical maladies at a young age have difficulty growing in stature if they are not nourished and nursed to health properly. So it is with us. Rely on scriptures to feed your soul more than books, videos and celebrity preachers. There are a myriad of free Bible Study tools available on line. If you don't have a computer you can dowload apps like Blue Letter Bible and the Bible Hub. We are without excuse these days. If you don't read and study Scritpures or yourself, you will certainly be malnourished.

Gathering Together brings strength and healing…

Jesus calls us as believers to assemble together (Hebrews 10: 25). As bad as COVID was, I believe a good thing that came out of it was that believers had to get creative on how to fellowship together. More small groups and Bible Studies began to happen. The controversy of shutting churches down brought a lot of division but caused the church to stand on principles rather than government mandates. But the truth is, it had been the practice for the Body of Christ since the Church’s infancy (ekklésia-called out ones) on the Day of Pentecost to meet together from house to house. This was ingrained and a practice in Hebrew culture. Small gatherings was the pattern and emphasis more than large gatherings where dialogue and discipleship could take place. But the practice of coming together weekly and breaking bread from house to house has always been the pattern for worship. Its purpose was and is to build the family of God first, a body of believers, in real koinonia fellowship because it makes the Body grow and mature together in agape love. Through this practice we can accomplish God’s will and purpose in the earth. Praise and worship, sacrificial giving, good works, helping the poor and needy, taking care of the widow and orphan and evangelism are difficult at best and sometimes nearly impossible unless a Body of Believers in Christ purpose to come together with an attitude of submissiveness.

“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. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”  1 Corinthians 12: 13-14

Severed Limbs…

There are many in the Body of Christ who have been wounded and have detached themselves from fellowship. This may be necessary for a season to get alone with God and spend time in His Word, to detoxify, but eventually, He will lead you to connect with like minded believers. Pray and seek God. He will show you who, where and how. That is how God designed us as a Body! 

The fact that you ARE a part of the Body of Christ makes you valuable in whatever your function you as part of the whole may be. We must never sever ourselves completely from the rest of the Body. Again, separation may be necessary for a time to detoxify and heal from hurt, but eventually, you will need to re-assimilate back with other believers. Through the wounds we have suffered we learn to discern others who truly belong to Christ. "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples , by the love you have one for another." 

Finally, Jesus prayer for unity in the Body of Christ among its communal members is found in John 17 which is also referred to as His “High Priestly Prayer.” Here is a portion found in John 17: 20-26 ESV

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.  O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.  I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

The Apostle Paul instructed the church in Corinth who had all the gifts of the Spirit in use but were immature and out of order. They needed to understand the importance of  Body Ministry...

“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. 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. 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? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one 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!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 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, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way (love). 1 Cor 12: 15-29 & 31