| | | | Spiritual Unity - 1 Cor 3:5-9 As a pastor, I like to stay up on current events, and keep my finger on the pulse of the prevailing winds that sweep through our culture. Something I've noticed of the last few years is that America is becoming extremely polarized. Democrat vs Republican, Tea Party vs Progressive, big government vs small government, conservative vs liberal, pro-live vs pro-abortion, the list goes on and on. People rally around their respective "causes," but nothing is gets done. The problems that our nation is facing aren't really being addressed because our leaders are too busy hurling stones at one another.
It would be nice to say that this problem doesn't exist in the church, but unfortunately, it does. There are all dividing lines all through the church: Calvinist vs Arminianist, Pre-Trib vs Post-Trib, charismatic gifts vs no charismatic gifts, seeker friendly vs traditional, on and on. Rather than be united in reaching the world for Christ, too many Christians spend their time and energy defending or promoting their particular cause.
In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul encountered the same issue:
When one of you says, "I am a follower of Paul," and another says, "I follow Apollos," aren't you acting just like people of the world? 1 Cor 3:4
Paul is pointing out that as the church of of Jesus Christ, we are called to be different from the rest of the world, and that includes divisiveness. When we start gathering around our particular cause, church, or person, it causes conflict, and it distracts us from the work that we are called to do, which is to reach the world for Christ!
In response to this issue of divisiveness, Paul gave some sound counsel:
After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God's servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God's workers. And you are God's field. You are God's building. 1 Cor 3:5-9
Translation: - None of us are higher than another, we're simply servants of the Living God.
- Each one of us have been given a specific calling by God.
- No calling is more or less important in God's plan, but each calling is important to the fulfillment of God's plan.
- Our calling is designed to work together with others to accomplish God's purpose.
- We plant (do the work), and God grows (brings forth the spiritual fruit).
- We will be rewarded for fulfilling our call, not the results.
- The most important part of all this: PEOPLE.
In other words, Paul is encouraging us to put aside our differences, and work together to bring the gospel message to our city.
"Lord, help me to have a heart of unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and keep my focus on fulfilling your call for my life."
Pastor Clay | | | | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment