I recently heard of this disorder…
Body integrity identity disorder (BIID, also referred to as amputee identity disorder) is a psychological disorder wherein sufferers feel they would be happier living as an amputee. It is related to xenomelia, “the oppressive feeling that one or more limbs of one’s body do not belong to one’s self”. – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_integrity_identity_disorder
This may not be as strange as it sounds because the Apostle Paul addressed the spiritual reality of this condition related to the Body of Christ…
One Body with Many Parts
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. (1 Corinthians 12:12-26 NLT)
How about you? Do you suffer from Body of Christ integrity identity disorder? Do treat other Christians as if they are inferior to you because they are different than you? If so, then you might be suffering from Body of Christ integrity identity disorder. There is a cure.
How about you? Do you have xenomelia about any other Christian, who is another one of those members of the Body of Christ? Do you feel that any other Christian is not as special as you are? Do you feel that any other Christian is not as loved by God as you are? Do you feel that any other Christian is not as much a part of the Body of Christ as you are? If so, then you might be suffering from spiritual xenomelia.
What about your actions? Do you act like you are more special than any other Christian? Do you act like God loves you (for any reason) more than any other Christian? Do you act like there are limitations in your fellowship with any other Christian? If so, then you might be suffering from spiritual xenomelia.
Before you accuse me of being wishy-washy love-love soft on sin, please read 8 Dangerous Things for Christians to Avoid.
The cure for Body of Christ integrity identity disorder and spiritual xenomelia is…
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other .(Romans 12:3-5 NLT)