Specialization of Cells and Zion

The role of diversity, freedom, and Christ in bringing ideal harmony and prosperity.

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I strongly disagree with the statement,  "Specialization is for insects."

According to the principle of the "body of Christ," each person in the community of the kingdom of God has a special function that works harmoniously with the others. To one person is given a particular gift of the Spirit, and to another is given another; and together they enrich the body as a whole. Just because one serves one function and another a different function does not make one better than the other, for all are necessary for optimal performance.

The cells of the body are a good example of this.

Each cell of the body (except red blood cells) has the same set of DNA. The eyeball cells, the fingertip cells, the knee joint cells, the kidney cells, the hair follicle cells, all have the same DNA in them. What is different is how each cell expresses that DNA encoding. A portion of DNA expressed in one cell is suppressed or only partially expressed in another cell, depending on its needs for that particular coding.

So it is with humans and the body of Christ. Each human being has the full 'set' of godly DNA, but only expresses that portion requisite to his/her particular mission in life. Together, they form something far greater than what they would be alone. The more diversity there is, and the more that diversity works in harmony, the more specialized and complex (advanced) that body becomes.

Today's accomplishments are an attestation of that principle.

Despite the many unfortunate applications of technology and information, such as pornography, servitude, graft, cloning of human beings; these advances have otherwise been a great blessing to mankind -- and can be an even greater blessing if more people would turn to God and acknowledge his hand in all things and repent of their waywardness.

Think of how much specialized talent is represented in a simple light bulb. The glass technology, the metal filament technology, the vacuum technology, the metal contact technology, the technology behind the electricity that enables the bulb to function. Then there is the packaging, the shipping, the advertising, and the marketing -- the stores, the trucks, the ships, the tires that the truck runs on, the engines in the trucks and ships, the spark plugs. And there is the chemistry behind the spark plug material that enables it to perform an insulative function under extreme heat, pressure, and movement.

Yes: the body of Christ. Each is important. Each has a particular role to play in harmony with the others. Each has something unique to contribute to bless the whole in some way.

The next time you sit down to a meal, think about what was involved in bringing that meal to your table. Think about those who planted the seeds for the grains in your meal, who nurtured that crop, harvested the crop. Think about what it took to keep them alive and to be able to accomplish their task. Think of the tractor manufacturers, those who invented the various tools and means of irrigation used. Think about the plastics in the boots they wear for muddy conditions. Think about those who then packaged the food. Think of the technology behind the box or container the food came in: the lumberjacks who harvested the trees that were used in the cardboard -- and in the lumber of the farmer's home. Think about the people who operate the warehouses where these goods are stored prior to distribution. Think about the truckers, and their dispatchers, as well as the secretaries who keep the paperwork in order in the trucking office. Think about the road repair workers who maintain the road upon which the trucks drive. The railroad employees who keep the trains going. The oil refineries that process the petroleum used in the fuel for the trains and trucks and cars for the farmer, trucker, and train engineers. Think about the engineers who designed the oil well by which the oil was extracted from deep in the earth, or far out beneath the floor of the ocean. Think about the college professors who trained these engineers and road construction workers, and farmers, and marketers. Then think about the ministers who preach repentance, which keeps lives from going to the gutter so that they can function more optimally. Think about the social workers who strive to help a wounded spirit heal and become a functional unit in the social fabric once again. Think about the entertainers who make life more enjoyable so that morale is higher and productivity better. Think about the lexographers who compose the dictionaries which are among the basic tools of society that we take for granted, but without which we would not be nearly as capable of doing what we now do. Think about the government workers who protect freedom so that these activities can take place.

As you contemplate these things, pretty soon you realize that there were millions upon millions of people involved in the meal you are now enjoying and taking for granted.  That is why when I offer a prayer before a meal, I include a phrase something to the effect, "Thank you for all who have labored to bring this meal to our table." And in my mind I visualize these various and multitudinous steps that are involved. In my prayer, I also add something to the effect, "We realize there are many who are not so fortunate, so we pray for a time when we might have all things in common, that all might be blessed. Help us to do our part to bring about such a world."

I would dare say that specialization is the name of the game. Each person discovers his/her gifts and then puts those to use the best they can, ideally seeking for God's direction and blessing as they do so.

This is not to say that there is not also value in broadening our skills and knowledge, for such is good. Independence is precursor to effective interdependence. Private victory enhances public victory. I would normally mention Steven Covey's name here for proper attribution, but he was not alone in developing either the ideas or the wording of the above two sentences. In the spirit of the body of Christ, he played a particular role along with many, many others -- including the metallurgists who helped produce the utensils he used to eat his meals.

The first coming of Jesus Christ was to facilitate private victory -- the mighty change of heart. The second coming is to bring about public victory -- the establishment of an entire society on principles of equity and truth . . . and freedom.

Zion will see specialization refined optimally, in which private victory and public victory are accomplished in an ideal way.

The advances we have now will be paled in comparison to what we will see when Zion is fully established. The vices of sin are like a match to a house, bringing destruction in their wake and impeding full productivity. When sin is overcome on a personal as well as societal level, then we will have heaven on earth.

It is to that end that we strive. But meanwhile, I would dare say that each of us individually can attain heaven on earth within our own spheres, whether it is just in our own heart, or more expanded to include our entire home, or expanded further yet to include many neighbors, perhaps and entire town. Eventually it will encompass the entire world.

No, specialization is not bad. It is the boon of ideal society.

by Sterling D. Allan; Manti, Utah; January 7, 2001

From: "hawkiye" <hawkiye@qwest.net>
To: "David's Outcasts" <davids_outcasts@egroups.com> [...]
Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2001 12:52 AM
Subject: [888] Quote of the week


> "A human being should be able to change a
> diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn
> a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance
> accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the
> dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act
> alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem,
> pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty
> meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly.
> Specialization is for insects."
>
> -- Robert A. Heinlein