"Greater honor to those who lack it."

Here is another passage which describes the breakdown of the honor in the church:

"On the contrary, those parts that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it...." 1 cor 12:22-24

It makes for less honor for the church that a woman who is known publicly as "a sinner" would follow Jesus, a holy, law-obeying God:

"If this man were a prophet, he would know who was touching him and what kind of woman she is -- that she is a sinner." luke 7:39

... Or is it?? Is that human thought, or God's perspective? Yet there are sins within the body of believers and Christ does not promote sin, this is important. What of the believers who are stuck in sin for a time? They are in that regard of their slavery to sin, unpresentable to represent Christ; "we treat them with special modesty." Another word for "modest" is "humble." Humble--waiting patiently on God to sanctify, knowing that they need help, they need a covering, silent mouthed. Our presentable parts are the parts of the body that have been made obedient--God is certainly obviously glorified by that; they need no covering. He wants the parts of the body, you can read in 1 cor 12, to be "equal."

He has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it. So I'm joe-schmoe Christian who has many presentable parts, by the long-received grace of God. I don't have to fight for honor--it comes rightfully my way. In the parable of the prodigal, this is worthy of the reward of a feast less than a goat.

But the Christian who inwardly battles, is awkward, obtuse, carnally-minded -- what does God say of them? They have greater honor than I; they are exalted at judgment higher than I.

That's why Jesus called the sinner woman's love great, why He was pleased to forgive her, to call her His own. In heaven, there is rejoicing over one sinner who needs Jesus than ninety-nine natural honor-getters in the church.

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