United We Stand

1 Corinthians 3

United We Stand, Divided We Fall...

"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God [is SOMETHING], who makes things grow" (1 Corinthians 3:7).

Paul is addressing the divisions through quarreling and jealousy that was taking place in the Corinthian Church. He chalked this up to the believers being in their infancy, spiritual infancy, which Paul equated with 'worldliness' rather than spiritual maturity - Godliness... Ouch.

So, when we are divided through disagreeing that leads to quarreling, bickering, judging, one upsmanship...we display our immaturity as believers. Paul exhorts believers to grow by graduating to the feeding of the meat of the Word - Paul points out that their viewpoint is to realize that what is important is God - who causes the growth. No matter who is doing the teaching, baptizing, leading....that is not the emphasis (which the believers were arguing about ...kinda like, "I'm a Baptist, I'm a Non-denominational, I'm a Methodist, I'ma I'ma I'ma....).

When I was at Rock of Our Salvation Evangelical Free Church (!!) in Chicago for many years, we had a focus of first helping reconcile people to God through Jesus and then helping breakdown walls of division between races; particularly black and white in the church. Some of us joined the Pastor in going to different churches to share the message of reconciliation - we would sing a song called "We Will Stand" by Russ Taff (check it out on youtube :) The lyrics focused on the fact that as believers, we are brothers and sisters - regardless of our differences - that most important reality was that we were one because of what Jesus did on the cross, and what the Holy Spirit did in our lives by drawing us to God through Jesus....that is what causes (d) us to stand.

As the Church goes, so does the world...if the Church - people of God - are united and intent on one purpose (Philippians 2:1-11) then we will be a powerful force for good, for God throughout the world. If we are divided, then we are revealing that the world is having more impact on us.

How do you see the Church's impact on our world today? How do you see your impact on those around you today?

"God, please forgive me and forgive us as Your people for the divisiveness and division we are perpetrating today...either by acts of commission (things we are doing) or acts of omission (things we are not doing). Lord, move by Your Spirit, help us to mature in Christ, moving from the milk of the Word to the meat of the Word (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). Give us as individuals and as a body the deep desire to be closer and closer to You. This is a desire that You will fulfill and that You will empower us to step into by our activities and actions. Show us the spiritual disciplines that will help position us for greater transformation, continual transformation into the Image of Your Son Jesus, the body of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Thank You Lord."