The body of Christ is both the recipient and beneficiary of the fruit of theological reflection (1 Cor. 12:12–27). This does not mean that Christians alone benefit from ministers’ reflection and response. But it does mean that ministers undertake theological reflection, for the benefit of the nonbelieving world, on behalf of the church body in which they minister. Theological reflection in this case is an outreach and ministry of the local church to the world at large.29
