When Is a Foot No Longer a Foot

Epictetus said, “A foot is no longer a foot if it is detached from the body, so you are no longer a man if you are separated from other men.” (Discourses of Epictetus, book 2, chapter 7). He may have been overstating his case a bit, but he has a point.

For all practical purposes, a foot is no longer a foot while separated from the body. As soon as a foot is separated from the body, the body loses all benefit from that foot. The body is crippled. Even if, in theory, we want to say that Epictetus is wrong, and it still is a foot, it cannot function as a foot. So, in functional terms, it is not a foot.

I suspect you know where this is going, so I will not belabor the matter.

As a foot separated from the body is (functionally speaking) no longer a foot, so the Christian separated from the body of Christ is (functionally speaking) no longer a Christian. Just as our physical body derives no benefit from a foot that has been separated from the body, so the body of Christ derives no benefit from those members who no longer take part in the life of the body. (See Rom 12; 1 Cor 12; Eph 1:23)

Even if you are just a toe in the body of Christ, you make a difference, and your absence makes a difference. Do your part, whatever that part may be.

Satan wants you to believe that you can remain separated from the body of Christ and still remain a Christian. Satan is a liar.