Body of Christ........Underdeveloped

So, what's the rush?? Why not just skip this and get onto biblical leadership?
Well, I am going to take the time to do this post, mainly because it deserves to be something other than a footnote. And the lack of development for the members of the body of Christ, that's one of the major reasons why there is such a thing as biblical leadership anyway!! So let's take a look at what happens when we do not develop as intended, both physically and spiritually.

As a reminder, while you read the following and watch the video's, remember that the information is not meant to be detailed. It is there to give you greater knowledge. The video's aren't perfect, some have advertisements.....etc. Regardless, they are there to help you. Know that it will most likely cause emotions to rise in you. They will rise because you KNOW that something has gone wrong, somewhere along the way, in the development process. And you will know how that effects not only the individual, but all those around them. Don't brush off those emotions!  In the same way, God, feels those same things as He sees the body of Christ when it's not developing and acting as He intended, those who are supposed to be HIS body in this world. We should see it the same way.

We will take a look at 4 major categories which pertain to the physical body not developing as intended:

Autism, Downs syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Congenital heart disease.

Autism-- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. They include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances.





Downs syndrome-- Down syndrome (also called Trisomy 21) is a genetic disorder that occurs in approximately 1 of 800 live births. It is the leading cause of cognitive impairment. Down syndrome is associated with mild to moderate learning disabilities, developmental delays, characteristic facial features, and low muscle tone in early infancy. Many individuals with Down syndrome also have heart defects, leukemia, early-onset Alzheimer's disease, gastro-intestinal problems, and other health issues. The symptoms of Down syndrome range from mild to severe.



Cerebral Palsy-- Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development or infancy. It also can occur before, during or shortly following birth.
"Cerebral" refers to the brain and "Palsy" to a disorder of movement or posture. If someone has cerebral palsy it means that because of an injury to their brain (cerebral) they are not able to use some of the muscles in their body in the normal way (palsy).
Cerebral palsy is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination. Depending on which areas of the brain have been damaged, people with cerebral palsy may experience one or more of the following:

• Muscle tightness or spasm
Involuntary movement
• Disturbance in gait and mobility
• Abnormal sensation and perception
• Impairment of sight, hearing or speech
• Seizures

Congenital heart defect-- The word "congenital" means existing at birth. The terms "congenital heart defect" and "congenital heart disease" are often used to mean the same thing, but "defect" is more accurate.
The heart ailment is a defect or abnormality, not a disease. A defect results when the heart or blood vessels near the heart don't develop normally before birth.
Congenital heart defects are structural problems arising from abnormal formation of the heart or major blood vessels. At least 18 distinct types of congenital heart defects are recognized, with many additional anatomic variations. Recent progress in diagnosis and treatment (surgery and heart catheterization) makes it possible to fix most defects, even those once thought to be hopeless


As I compare physical development with spiritual development, remember, no analogy is perfect. That's why it is an analogy!! It is just meant to help us better understand a given subject by comparing it to a separate subject.

There are many aspects that are crucial for the body to work as designed. In this post we are focusing on the body developing the way it was designed to. As you know, there are too many ways in which the body doesn't develop as designed, to look at. These four are just a small sample. Some are obvious, others are not as easily seen, but take time and relationship building to know they exist.

It is similar with the Body of Christ, the local church and universal church. Obviously, that manifests itself in so many different denominations. Generally speaking, similar beliefs in the "big" things, differing beliefs in the "smaller" things.
Autism -  Physically, because of brain development, there is trouble communicating, both verbally and non-verbally. Difficulty in social interaction and motor function.
Spiritually, in general, there is a lack of development in what is called progressive sanctification. Are we growing in knowledge of God, growing in love for God, growing in love for His mission, growing in obedience, growing in your calling as His ambassador......etc. Are you saved? What should happen after that? We all should be growing in our Christian life, less of us and more of Him. When our "brain" does not develop as intended, we have trouble interacting with other believers, we have trouble communicating, speaking, eye contact, and sadly, we do not function as one. Or with one purpose.

Downs syndrome - Physically, cognitive impairment, learning disabilities, heart defects and other health issues. Common physical characteristics in facial features.
Spiritually -  this one is difficult. But when you know what "normal" is, or what "normal" should be biblically. And when you are presented with something that resembles "normal" but is obviously not "normal", well, you know the difference. When the Body of Christ, doesn't learn what it should be, then how can it be what it is supposed to be?? It is going through the motions, but the heart is not right, there are all kinds of internal health issues. Fixing the "learning disabilities" will not make the internal better. They exist at the same time. Spiritually speaking, for the individual, the head can be wrong, and the internal heart a mess. The head can be right, but the internal heart still a mess. Having the heart and head in unison, that's the desire. But when they are not,......it is just as clear as the physical characteristics of those with Down syndrome.

Cerebral Palsy - Physically, usually, damage done to the brain during fetal development or in infancy. It shows itself in a lack of muscular control and coordination.
Spiritual - an obvious lack of control and coordination due to lack of spiritual development. The cause of damage can be different, regardless, the lack of development as a disciple, shows itself with our lack of self-control and our almost spastic movements. When we do not develop as disciples, when we do not learn what God has commanded of us, or how to live a life that is in obedience with scripture, well, we are seen as a people with no self control. Always losing the battle between the spirit and the flesh. Preaching and judging one thing, but being that very same thing we preach and judge against. As individuals who make up the body, there is no coordination, which most non-believers can spot very easily!

CHD - Physically, a defect or abnormality in the development of the heart. Most are fixable, but can require numerous surgeries, therapy, and a restriction of activity and diet.
Spiritually - When we do not develop correctly in the spiritual realm, it generally is regarded as a "heart" issue. When our "heart" is not right, we do not function properly. If that is to be "fixed", there are numerous and ongoing "surgeries" that need to occur. All of our actions and words come out of our "heart". How many times have we heard that!! ALOT. How often do we see or experience a mentor coming along side of us? How often do we see Biblical accountability between believers? How often do we even know anything about the heart condition of our brothers and sisters in Christ? Too many hide their heart issues. CHD is not visible at a glance. Either are spiritual heart issues. This development has to be intentional, by us, by those around us, and by our "Christian" leaders. "Therapy", "activity", and "diet". Too often neglected.

The Body of Christ is clearly defined in scripture. Jesus is the head, believers in Jesus are the body.
Now that we have looked at the Body of Christ analogy, we get to look at what God put in place to help the body function and develop as intended.

All of that being said.......I can now turn the focus onto Biblical Leadership.

The Body of Christ......diseased.

The Body of Christ is very important to me, so I am going to take some time to set this up right.

This post will be about the physical body, how disease's affect it. For the most part, we know this, we see this, we can readily recognize disease. I am picking 6 disease/syndrome's that effect people. They all, to varying degree's, result in the body no longer responding to the head in some way. They each are different in how they stop the body from functioning properly. We might not necessarily know the actual disease or syndrome, but without out a doubt, we know when something is not "normal".

I added a few short video's for 4 disease/syndrome's. I am visual. These help me to understand what the disease/syndrome's really looks like. I am not lobbying for anything, or trying to get you to donate funds. I am just trying to teach you something about these disease/syndrome's. Watch them if you like. I found myself watching quite a few (not posted)!! Again, I am visual, and these videos are just a helpful tool to give a better idea of what the disease/syndrome looks like.

Disease -  "a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment."

Syndrome - "a group of symptoms that together are characteristic of a specific disorder, disease, or the like."

Disease or Syndrome, where the body does not submit to the head, or function the way it is designed to.

ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) - an incurable disease of unknown cause in which progressive degeneration of motor neuron's in the brain stem and spinal cord leads to atrophy and eventually complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles.


Parkinson's disease - a progressive nervous disease occurring most often after the age of 50, associated with the destruction of brain cells that produce dopamine, and characterized by muscular tremor, slowing of movement, and partial facial paralysis.



Tourette's syndrome - a severe neurological disorder characterized by multiple facial and other body tics, usually beginning in childhood or adolescence. Often accompanied by grunts and compulsive utterances, as of interjections and obscenities.



Disease or Syndrome where the body attacks itself.

Cancer - any type of malignant growth or tumor, caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division: it may spread through the lymphatic system or blood stream to other parts of the body.
** As a side note that I will come back to, the body has a natural defense system called apoptosis that prevents the "abnormal and uncontrolled cell division" from happening. Basically if a bad cell is found, the apoptosis process destroys the bad cell and keeps it from multiplying. Google it, it is fascinating, that and I will be coming back to this......

Multiple Sclerosis - a chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system in which gradual destruction of myelin occurs in patches throughout the brain or spinal cord or both, interfering with the nerve pathways and causing muscular weakness, loss of coordination, and speech and visual disturbances.


Lyme disease - an acute inflammatory disease caused by a tic borne spirochete characterized by recurrent episodes of decreasing severity in which joint swelling, fever, and rash occur, sometimes with cardiac or nervous system complications.
** Basically Lyme disease is often diagnosed as MS. The same thing is happening, but with Lyme the cause is known, with MS the cause is not known. Either way, the Myelin sheath is being attacked by the body.......hmmmmm, I am going to come back to that one too!!!!

We view these disease/syndrome's as tragic. And this is such a small sample of all the disease's and syndrome's that are out there. I want to point to the fact that most of us know what "normal" is with our physical bodies. We know how they are supposed to function, and we know when they are not functioning "normally"!!!

As I said at the beginning of this post, the Body of Christ is very important to me. Scripture let's us know what the Body of Christ is supposed to look like. And that will be the next post, the Body of Christ.......diseased.......spiritually.