Skip to main content

Agreeing

           I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. (I Corinthians 1:10)

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)

In the book of Acts, when issues came up, like the treatment of widows or the issue of whether Gentiles had to become good Jews before they could become Christians, the matter was taken to the church leadership. They discussed it and issued their decisions, and that was supposed to end that. Of course, it didn’t. Paul was still teaching about those followed where he went, telling people that Paul was wrong, and that their men had to be circumcised. Even the letter that we call First Corinthians was sent in part because people in the church were dividing in terms of what spiritual leader was the best.

Of course, one of the problems is that verses like this one get trotted out whenever someone wants to insist that we submit to them. It’s the same sort of thing we find in the world, when people say that we need to be united, and what they really mean is that we’re to agree with them and do what they say.

Part of the problem is that when people within the Church disagree – especially on matters not of real importance (granting that every matter is considered important at the time,) it gives the world, the flesh, and the devil the means to widen the divide and to convince those outside the Church that there’s no reason to set foot inside. Even worse, when the Church is divided, things that the Church agrees should be getting done don't get done because they're too busy arguing. 

All this doesn't mean that we have to all walk alike, talk alike, look alike... cookie-cutter Christians with about as much personality as a  naked wet noodle. What it does mean is that we're to consider the whole as too important, too precious to be scarred and damaged for the sake of our egos. And when the going gets rough, the Church will be our refuge. It makes no sense to turn it into a battlefield.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

A Virgin?

           Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)           This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)           But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”            “How will this be,” Mary asked the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Saved?

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...
Post a Comment
Read more