QT 28 Dec 11, The body of Christ is important, but does our involvement in the body indicate that we disagree

Num 9:4-11 (NIV) So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, 5 and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.

6 But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day 7 and said to Moses, "We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord's offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?"

8 Moses answered them, "Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you."

9 Then the Lord said to Moses, 10 "Tell the Israelites: 'When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they may still celebrate the Lord's Passover. 11 They are to celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

NOTE: While the passage refers to those under the law, some interesting principles can be derived. A literal reading of the law would exclude those who were ceremonially unclean, such as those who had a relative recently die and touched the body. The celebration of the Passover was an important enough event that God commands those who can't celebrate to then celebrate one month later. A critic might reply that God responds to a situation as opposed to stating this rule from the beginning. Additionally, there is a further admonition that if a person does not celebrate the Passover when they are able, that person is to be cutoff from the assembly (9:13). We know that God is not "caught off guard" by the situation. In fact, this is the first-ever Passover, and there has been a lot revealed to the people over the last year. It probably makes sense to reveal the caveats and addendum in real life situations as opposed to earlier for the good of the people. But going back to "principles," certain celebrations are so important that there is no excuse for a lack of involvement.  Of course, we are not under the law, but I wonder if we see celebrations, such as baptism, communion, even weekly worship, as important community events. Or are they good things to do if we have the time. The body of Christ is an important aspect of our lives, yet for many Christians, the fact that they are an important member of the body is not take very seriously. If one part is absent, the whole suffers. Yet that doesn't seem to affect many church believers. God, forgive us for how we treat the body of Christ, the church.