An organic view of the Church

The Pharisee Saul went through a conversion experience on the road to Damascus. This experience became the seed of his theology of the Mystic Body of Christ.
And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting (Acts 9:4-5)
His earlier life as a Pharisee had not prepared Saul for this encounter. Knowing and observing the Torah had not shaken his core of existence. But on the way to Damascus, Saul experienced a blinding experience. He was blinded for three days.
And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank (Acts 9:9).
Saul had never met Jesus before. Followers of Christ were all that he knew. They were sinful for believing in a blasphemer, a crucified carpenter, whom they claimed to be God. Therefore, Saul the Pharisee was very eager to stamp out this heretic movement.
In this experience, Jesus told Saul that the Christians whom he persecuted were indeed Jesus himself. John developed the "I am the True Vine" theology (John 15:1-7) while Paul the Mystical Body theology. Both images are organic. Peter has developed a different theology: the Holy Temple built up from living stones (1 Peter 2:4-5). Of course, the Holy Temple was a magnificent image. At the end of the day, it is the organic image which held the swing.
Paul's image is more elaborate. There is unity as well as division of labour. Earlier on, he talked about unity. He mentioned seven one's to highlight the unity of the Church. Now, he turns his attention to the division of labour in the Church.
And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11),
Historically, these offices were part of the church hierarchy. Yet, the office of prophets gradually became obsolete. Yes, prophets are the most unpopular and became obsolete once the other offices began to gain their ground. They tended to be corrective and therefore unpopular. They worked for God and did not please men. But that could not be the reason for its extinction in the Church. These offices are gifts from God. Therefore, the only possible reason is that God does not bestow on the Church the gift of prophets. Why? God knows.
Now, we have division of labour because the church is evolving into ever more complex structure. Division of labour is essential. But these specialization in the roles should not become an end in itself. Paul has mapped their course of growth.
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
The Mystical Body of Christ is a complex structure. Each element has his specific role and the complex whole is made up of these tiny elements to be assemble into the Body of Christ. These tiny elements have a life of their own. Yet they grow towards a goal: unity of faith, unity of the knowledge of the Son of God, to become spiritually mature and to become Christ-like.
Before I leave, I would like to quote for you the first ever Old Testament passage quoted in the epistle to Ephesians.
ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν, ἔδωκεν δόματα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις.
When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. (Ephesians 4:8)
ἀνέβης εἰς ὕψος, ᾐχμαλώτευσας αἰχμαλωσίαν, ἔλαβες δόματα ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ,
Thou didst ascend the high mount, leading captives in thy train, and receiving gifts among men, (Psalm 67:19a LXX, 68:19a MT).
Here, Paul quoted the Septuagint and made necessary changes, from second person singular to third and turned the table around from "God taking gifts" to "God giving gifts"! Luckily, Paul's theology does not rely on this quotation.

My dear Advocate, I pray that we may grow more Christ-like daily. Amen.