In Peter's analogy comparing the Church to a building, he names Christ as the living cornerstone and believers as the living stones that make up the structure. His point is that all believers make up ONE spiritual temple called the church, regardless of location, background, or even denomination. As stones in that Temple, each believer contributes to the strength, function, and even aesthetic of the church, and therefore, any failure by one believer affects the church as a whole. Peter goes on to say that those in the church are one race, one priesthood, one nation, and one people, further emphasizing the unity established by God's Spirit between believers. Based on that emphasis, shouldn't the lives of believers be more focused on their roles as part of the church than on their individual lives? |
