Have you ever heard the term “out of body experience”?

It’s a popular term that refers to a moment that people have where something happens to them and it feels as if they are watching it unfold from a third person point of view. 

I know I’ve had a few of these in my life. And when I look back on these memories it’s as if I was watching a situation happen to someone else like I was watching a movie or a simple bystander, when in reality they’re my memories and happened to me. 

The term presents a nonreality, because the truth is, whether we want to admit it or not, is that we cannot escape our bodies. 

Think about it. Right now, you’re reading this article in a body. Your body is working hard right now to keep you alive. You are breathing. Your heart is pumping blood. The food you ate is currently being turned into energy to keep you going. Your fingers are scrolling on the phone that you’re holding. Your toes are keeping you balanced on the floor. 

The body is a crazy, intricate, and amazing thing. 

 And we cannot escape it. 

It works together so well as an ecosystem for life. And when a problem arises (a sickness, an injury, or something traumatic) it works in overdrive to fight it and get you back to normal. 

32 teeth. 70 to 80 major organs. 206 bones. About 400 joints. At least 600 muscles. 60,000 miles of blood vessels. Around 86 billion nerve cells. Roughly 30 trillion blood cells. And an estimated 7 octillion atoms. 

All of that. Working together. For the common good of keeping you alive and healthy. Using their unique makeup, skills, and defense mechanisms to make life doable for you. 

Isn’t that amazing? 

And what is the Bible’s favorite illustration for doing life with other believers? 

A body. 

Look at what Paul says in Romans 12… 

“3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

Romans 12:2-5 

We were not designed to do this alone. We were created for community. We are formed in community. We are challenged in community. We are called to community.

Specifically, the Church. 

ZealHouse isn’t a church. We are a nonprofit that exists to connect young people to Jesus and to provide clear tools and resources to help you know what to believe. We are not a church replacement, we are not better than church, but we exist to build you up and send you into your local church ready to take over your community for the Kingdom of God 

In fact, my vision for ZealHouse is to take over a generation of students and become a household name for students who are trying to follow Jesus in this day and age. And I have a vision of students all across the world going into their churches being the best leaders, volunteers, and contributors to every ministry that they touch and everyone around them going, “They must’ve been trained by ZealHouse.” 

But I digress. 

We have to stop neglecting the body. 

Jesus doesn’t have a plan B. He is reaching, saving, and returning for His Church. 

There is some popular sayings in our world about “loving Jesus but hating the Church.” 

This doesn’t exist.  

Loving Jesus and hating the church is an oxymoron. Like being a foodie who refuses to eat.

Don’t neglect the body. 

Get plugged in, discover your unique gifts that God has given you, and serve with all that you’ve got. 

Paul goes on in Romans 12… 

“6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

Romans 12:6-8

In a different letter from Paul, he states a different point about the same idea… 

“24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:24-25