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The organ begins the bridal march, and everyone stands. What is a clique? WebPaul goes right on, in Verse 12, to describe the forms that these divisions were taking in the church of Corinth: What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas" [another name for Peter], or "I belong to Christ." Orators have to be so careful not to let teaching become a pride thing rather than a gift they share to better the other. Phillip J. In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western Church. Why are these thing SO important? It is sad to see that our world appears just as divided today as it did back in the first century. Paul, however, was a good leader. When I say worn out I mean people say that it is not usable in the modern world so its words become little more than foot rests in the pew. The members started to develop division following different leaders. WebDivisions in the Church. On Friday of this week we will gather again to consider the cross of Christ. We all know what a clique is. As a young Christian in my early twenties during World WarII, I was stationed in Hawaii, and I became acquainted with the work of the Navigators. We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. This division in the church was over their own selfish ambitions evidenced in what they wanted. The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). They were drawing themselves up and saying, "Well, you may be of Paul or of Peter or of Apollos, but we are of Christ! In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. Many of us are familiar with this common phenomenon in human psychology of thinking that some symbolic thing that is of use to us is so important that we finally make it a badge of the group to which we belong. The most well known one is having worship on Sundays instead of the Sabbath. WebThe Christians at Corinth were dividing the church by pledging their loyalties to different celebrities. We worry about how the power points are going to look, if we should have one or two singers, drums or no drums, electric guitars or none at all (I feel like you get my point) its almost as if we worship these things! Acts 18:24 says that Apollos was an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man. The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). That is not the work of men; that is the work of God himself. 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes. We are all equally undeserving of salvation and a relationship with Jesus Christ. But when doctrinal beliefs keep churches from working together to further the gospel. Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. What should our evaluation of a ministry look like I wonder if its not by numbers? He said so himself. The church at Corinth had divided loyalty to different leaders. Lewis.". Ones honor and reputation were valued highly and if someone attacked your reputation it was expected that you would defend yourself and retaliate by publicly bashing your attacker. RayStedman.org/permissions. The church at Corinth had divided loyalty to different leaders. The same viewpoints are still dividing people. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. If we are, all our differences and difficulties would soon come to an end. Then comes that great Christological passage where he describes how Christ, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. The Corinthian Church. Try it some time. For example, in the first section from 1:10 to 4:21, it's errors regarding division. Offshoots had disturbed the church. Paul doesnt want these divisions to continue, so he offers them an alternative. Instead of directly saying that we follow Paul, or Apollos, we say that we are Baptist, Reformed, or even Catholic. What is a clique? Not even a three-fourths vote should carry a motion. The other reason is the division among churches of the same denomination. If someone comes on preaching the doctrines that were emphasized during the Reformation, he will get a great following of people who think that the Reformation was the whole sum and substance of all great Christian truth. He gathers disciples and establishes a church, a meeting place for educating his disciples. There are still others today who follow after some school of thought. Only the Lord Jesus Christ could pay the penalty for our sins because only He is the Son of God. There is not a single Christian teacher who ever lived who can help us be forgiven one single sin, not one. How important was unity to the apostle Paul, and to the Holy Spirit who moved Him to write this letter to the Church in Corinth? WebAccording to Paul, the communitys problems were the consequence of the Corinthians mistaken belief that they had already been exalted. Aside from this acceptable division within the modern church, there are also two other reasons for division which should not exist. The Corinthian Church. And some of them are really gross. WebThe spirit that wrought such mischief at Corinth has been busy in the Church ever since. There is not a single teacher who ever lived who can heal the hurt of a broken heart, or supply energy and adequacy to someone who feels worthless and unable to function in society, not one. (I have been trying for a long time to get my wife to accept that!) Paul does not want to be considered a philosopher who is gathering disciples, nor does he want that for Apollos or Peter or any man. WebDivisions in the Church. 2- The Churchs division. In the body of Christ at large there are many who can make a contribution to the understanding of Christ. In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western Church. A gasp bursts from the guests! In desperation, they returned and held a meeting. Its pastors, bishops and others who fear the loss of their livlihoods as their former sheep move on in God towards the new wine skins of revival that want to maintain the old wine skins which brought them an income. Its pathetic that people should get so angry about whether drums are used or if the AC unit is kept at 71 or 70. 4-The churchs failure to discipline. Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. The third thing that every Navigator had was a little black notebook covered in rough-grained leather. Some of them were saying, "Well, Paul baptized me." I Corinthians 12:12,13 says, For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. There was still a fourth group, and in some ways I think they were probably the worst. For permission to use this content, please review I still have at home the Scofield Reference Bible with the index ladder drawn by him. That, of course, is as it should be. Every Navigator had to have a Scofield Reference Bible; that was the only "Authorized Version." Paul rejects this disunity, telling the church members to focus on Christ. There should be unanimous agreement. He does not say we should stop baptizing because of this problem. Now, you do not have to be very old to recognize that that is still a problem in the church. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them; that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (NKJV). Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who The divisions of Christendom are the scandal of Christianity. Therefore, the only basis upon which you can get Christians to agree is by setting before them the Person of the Lord Jesus, and calling them back to that fundamental base. There has been no other cure that I know of through the years. There was extreme competition among the orators for honor and power. If so, what results are we shooting for? WebAccording to Paul, the communitys problems were the consequence of the Corinthians mistaken belief that they had already been exalted. Now, the second thing Paul says is, "Was Paul crucified for you?" This is a radical principle that we need to understand, because, when you understand the cross, there will be no room left for the divisions of men. My impression is that the same sorts of problems evident in Corinth are clearly evident in the contemporary church, whether that is West Michigan or Brisbane. The followers of Jesus may have believed in Jesus words only, and did not believe that the writings of Peter, Paul, and the other apostles were really Scripture. Since I was working at that time in the ship's service department in Pearl Harbor, we ordered great quantities of these Bibles. If it is to expand the congregation and further the work of the Lord in that area, and he had the whole agreement of the leadership of the church behind him, then it is fine to take part of the congregation and go away and begin another work. But when it comes to the clear teachings of Gods Word, there cannot be two conflicting views that are both right. They read only his books or listen only to his tapes. Thanks for the thoughtful comment Austin. We all know what a clique is. He finds that there is a great deal of parallels between the disciple-teacher relationship in the culture of Corinth and the problem of divisions in the church over the authority of teachers. 10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. Even as Christians, there seems to be the desire of wanting to uphold one pastor over another by comparison and ultimately glorifying certain pastors. If we sacrifice quality for numbers I dont think we are being good stewards of our gift of leadership. Obviously sin is at the heart of these divisions, but I am encouraged to hear that at least in your corner of the world there is some unification and revival. All are mere teachers; there is only one Lord. 2- The Churchs division. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else). Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. We had some great meetings and great times together. 1 Corinthians 1:10: I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.. The Lords Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. Some boasted of their special spiritual gifts; others felt left out. Doesnt He deserve better than this? the author asks. For instance, in the Greco-Roman culture the practice of teacher-disciple relationships was often common and so many Christian converts in Corinth would associate themselves with a particular teacher and be under their discipleship. We get so off track of what Christianity is all aboutMark 12:30-31 and begin focusing on worldly things like Rob Bell debated are actually being held to see if this Pastor is even Christian! WebAnd you know, that gives me some idea of how important this is to God, because from 1:10 to the ninth verse of the sixteenth Chapter, he just talks about the errors in the church. In Philippians 2:9 Paul said of Christ, Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name. No Christian, no Christian minister, is to put himself in Christs place, or allow himself to be put in Christs place, and take the authority and honor that is due to Christ alone. There are three different causes of divisions in churches that Paul mentions in I Corinthians. He chooses various channels through which to work. 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes. Whatever you say, I believe." Who are we, that we should put our interests and our desires ahead of that of the Lord for his church? In what ways have we failed to de-paganize? They were hard to get in those war years, and every shipment that came in went out like hot cakes. 3- The presence of an immoral member. He was introduced in a rather extended and flowery way, but he came on and in his great, booming voice said, "I'm not Dr.Oswald Hoffman, the great preacher of the Lutheran Hour. After all, he was one of the first apostles that Jesus himself called." It is not merely that the Church is everywhere split up into sections, but that this has led to party strife and jealousy. Some are of Ritchie, and some are of Roper, and a few of Stedman! What is a clique? This consumerism that we face today in the end doesnt seem all that much different from the way the Christian faith was treated like just another philosophy back in the days of Paul. Now, it cannot. They did not try to hide the problems. By focusing on Jesus we can see how important the parts of church really are. Divisions never really ended with Pauls letters; they just appear to have evolved into having more sophisticated names. A number of churches in this postmodern era have begun to resemble the Corinthian church in alarming ways. So he says, "I didn't baptize many of you. I lead a small group so I sometimes have to sit in meetings where the pastor shares things about the vision of our church. Since November 2021, Reading Acts is edited by Sarah Westphal. In what ways have we failed to de-paganize? (Phil Long). The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. The cross of Christ cuts across all human value systems. WebPaul rebukes the Corinthians because there are divisions and quarrels in the church. How important is it that there be unity within the Church? Christ belongs fully to every believer in His spiritual body, the Church. The first noticeable division would be among differing denominations. In what ways have we failed to de-paganize? It seems like it would be better to ask in what ways have we been re-paganized. I used to attend a Navigator group which met in Honolulu on Sunday afternoons. The anxiety of the childs mother continued to grow, for she knew that her boy was somewhere out in the darkness where wild animals were constantly on the prowl. Church has become about the pastor and not about his message. They were burdened about them, and they went to the right person with them. I agree with P. Longs last statement in that things have not improved much since the first century. He begins the process of developing them into leaders who will also preach the gospel and found more churches. When you call them back to an understanding of the meaning of the cross, you will find all the divisions disappearing; they fade away like the morning mist. Offshoots had disturbed the church. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. 1-False prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13). The divisions of Christendom are the scandal of Christianity. They will not all be the same flavor; they will not all have the same characteristics. Throughout this 2000 year process of normalizing divisions among believers, we have consistently neglected the fact we Jesus should unite us, and unless we choose to make a change, we will continue to forget this fact. They were boasting over who had baptized them. Near the cross, O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me. WebAnd you know, that gives me some idea of how important this is to God, because from 1:10 to the ninth verse of the sixteenth Chapter, he just talks about the errors in the church. These were not schisms yet; they had not split off into other congregations, but there were four cliques, or factions within the congregation. The words made complete in verse 10 are translated from a Greek word that was used to speak of mending such things as nets, bones, dislocated joints, broken utensils, and torn garments. WebPaul goes right on, in Verse 12, to describe the forms that these divisions were taking in the church of Corinth: What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas" [another name for Peter], or "I belong to Christ." He appeals to them in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word used here literally means to say the same thing. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. Lovelessness among Christians is not a light thing.. In conjunction with this, some people were questioning Pauls character and authority ( 1 Corinthians 14 ). I told them that it is a concern of mine as well. The minister is waiting, Bible in hand. But if it is to escape pressures and difficulties and problems in the congregation, then it is absolutely wrong and the worst thing he could do, because it sets before the watching world a false testimony concerning the church of Jesus Christ. Bruises show on her arm! Paul says that he does not preach in cleverness of speech because the power of the gospel lies in the facts of the gospel, and not in any mans presentation of them. I was taking my break and a person I work with asked where I went to college. The church at Corinth had divided loyalty to different leaders. WebWhat were the causes of division in the Corinthian Church? We become followers of out Pastors and churches rather than of Christ. A second issue that seems to keep the church divided (the whole church and individual churches) is the little things such as the structure of the service, the type of music played for worship, whether a pastor should always wear a tie, and what color should be used in the bathroom. His most recent book is The Book of Enoch for Beginners: A Guide to Expand Your Understanding of the Biblical World (Rockridge, 2022). To an unbeliever, this looks like we cannot agree on our own religion. We all know what a clique is. Yet, in reality as long as correct biblical doctrine is being taught no pastor should be viewed in comparison to one another. We pray that it may be rich and real in our hearts as we live this week together. It is interesting how quickly we forget where our gifts come from and think we are the cause of success. Therefore our boasting should only be in the Lord (1 Corinthains 1:26-31). One day in Africa, a small boy was lost. I find there are these tendencies right here in Peninsula Bible Church. Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who WebThe Corinthians were basically making a mockery of Communion. In fact, these divisions are a sign of worldliness. We do not know who the people were who belonged to the house of Cloe, but we must commend them for their courage and devotion. The cross of Christ is what will heal the fragmentation of Christians wherever they are. Some had no problem with consuming meat that had been sacrificed to idols; for others, it was a real offense. Paul knew this and said in 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony about God. Sometimes two or three hundred sailors, all of them Christians, would be there. One eye is purple and swollen! That is what Paul speaks about. Members follow him blindly and whatever they do seems right to them. To all of this Paul would say to us, as he says to Corinth, Is Christ divided? These preachers draw in masses of people every week who are eager to hear them speak. As we read through First Corinthians, I think we will see how very much like modern day churches this ancient church of Corinth was. Sometimes a church leader can have so much clout that he begins to have cult status. The first and perhaps biggest is denominations. Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? WebAnd you know, that gives me some idea of how important this is to God, because from 1:10 to the ninth verse of the sixteenth Chapter, he just talks about the errors in the church. I will jump on the bandwagon here and say that division is definitely an issue today. On opening it you found a loose-leaf notebook with many of the small, half-page materials that the Navigators printed their Bible helps on. We are so proud of them when they look right, but when things start to fall apart, the church begins to fall apart as well. Paul enters this world of wretched Sophists and preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:10: I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. Unity in the church is something that requires cooperation with each other and with the Spirit of God. The first thing Paul says is that it tends to chop up Christ and parcel him out as though his person and his work came in various packages, thus you lose perspective of the whole of Christian theology. This doesnt mean that they have to agree on the minutest points in areas where there is no clear teaching in Scripture. I am sure there were many in Corinth who were saying, "Oh, I love to hear Apollos! In 2019 he published a commentary. For example, in the first section from 1:10 to 4:21, it's errors regarding division. Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. Now, the Apostle Paul is very concerned about this matter of incipient division in the church at Corinth, and he begins dealing with it in this powerful appeal for unity in Verse10: I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 10 I appeal to you, brothers,[ a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. Gods people who are moving in revival (like we have been to experiencing right here in Brisbane these last few months) have no qualms about getting together to see the nation of Australia come to Christ. 1-False prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13). This Bible was pushed by the Navigators, and everybody had to have one. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. It builds him up too much; it makes him a rival, to some degree, of the Lord himself. In fact, Paul never claims disciples. I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. These are two common causes of church divisions in the West. So undoubtedly there was a big group that followed Paul. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. I think that if you put the teachings of a man over the teachings of Scripture then you have a problem. The search went on until nightfall, but no answer came to their urgent calls. Unless its mended, the tear gets bigger and bigger, doesnt it? Here are our first clues as to what is wrong with this kind of cliquishness in a church. The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. They were dividing over this whole issue, and Paul says it is all wrong. And, after all, Peter even walked on water!" Do we need to be looking for results? 10 I appeal to you, brothers,[ a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. Because the Holy Spirit has but one will, and because a church must be in complete harmony with His will, the leaders must be in complete harmony with each other in that will. Within our churches, and even in our own denominations (sophisticated name for divisions), we argue about church funds, whos on the worship team, and whether the youth should have long hair. Help me walk from day to day, with its shadows o'er me. Now, Paul says this is all basically, fundamentally wrong. The church was divided into factions, and one group was urging him to take half the congregation and go to another part of the city and start a new church. God is not confused, and He does not contradict Himself. His Word does not disagree with itself. Its a lot harder! The news went out but no one had seen the little fellow. 11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. Alexandria was a center for learning and philosophy. [Then he thinks of another group that he had baptized] (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. When I say it gets ignored like an infomercial you probably infer what that means. Some Corinthian Christians were dividing over church teachers. Im not saying its wrong to stick to what you believe. I personally experienced this at work about a year and a half ago. WebThe Corinthians were basically making a mockery of Communion. 4-The churchs failure to discipline. There was nothing wrong with Paul baptizing people, but Paul didnt want people to boast about the fact that he baptized them. He come to Corinth to create a community of disciples from which he might receive patronage and prestige. This division in the church was over their own selfish ambitions evidenced in what they wanted. Not when some people in the congregation wont look at, speak to, or even acknowledge the existence of certain other people in the congregation. We have Jesus only groups even today. The divisions of Christendom are the scandal of Christianity. That is always the unifying factor in a church, and that is the mind that is to be among us, the mind that does not consider itself the most important thing. Have you ever tried to put a jigsaw puzzle together with the pieces turned upside down so that they are all blank? It is not merely that the Church is everywhere split up into sections, but that this has led to party strife and jealousy. Others bragged that they were followers of Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12). The human condition is, unfortunately, one of comparison that seeks to place oneself or their beliefs over another. There is no other name big enough, great enough, glorious enough, and powerful enough to gather everybody together, despite the diversity of viewpoint and the differences of background or status in life, than the name of Jesus. Their relationship to Christ was the unifying factor of the church. Conclusion. In verses 14 to 16, Paul uses himself as an example. In Matthew 12:25 the Lord Jesus says, Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand..