In part one of this two-part essay, we
looked at the cost of koinonia (fellowship) with Jesus that Paul wrote of in 1
Corinthians 1:9. In part two we turn our attention to what he says about the
sin of division in the family of God. You can find part one here:
“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. My brothers and sisters, some from
Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I
mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”;
another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ
divided? (1 Corinthians 1:10-13)
Let me illustrate, from my own experience,
Paul’s point about division in the Christian family.
In 1976 I’d been a Christian for four
years – but I’d spent those years overseas in Japan where I was stationed with
the Navy. So, my only exposure to Christians of different theological
persuasions was at the interdenominational base chapel and at an
interdenominational mission center a few blocks from the naval base. I had no
idea that Christ’s body was so divided – until my discharge from the navy and
our arrival in Springfield, Missouri where I attended Central Bible College –
known in town as CBC. It was an Assemblies of God Bible college, Pentecostal in
theology. In the same town was another Bible college, this one called Baptist
Bible College, known as BBC.
A few days after arriving in town, I
needed an antibiotic prescription filled at a local pharmacy. I gave the
druggist my name, address, and the school I attended – CBC – as my insurance
provider. I returned later that day to pick up my prescription. The pharmacist
confirmed my name, address, and insurance coverage by BBC.
When I told him I attended CBC, he
blushed, and stuttered his apology. “I’m so sorry. I thought you’d told me you
are a student at BBC.”
I shrugged my shoulders and told him it
wasn’t a problem. I paid for my prescription and left the store wondering why
he was so apologetic over a simple mistake. It was not until a few weeks later
that I learned many students from each school had nothing good to say about
each other.
The perplexing thing about that division
in Springfield is this: Both groups believe God is eternal, that He is
not a created Being, but has always existed as the omnipotent, omniscient,
omnipresent Creator God. Both groups believe Jesus is the Second Person
of the Holy Trinity. They believe Jesus was not a created being, but He is
co-eternal and co-existent with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Both
groups believe Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, He lived a sinless life, He
suffered and died a torturous and substitutionary death on the cross to pay for
our sins. They believe He rose again on the third day from death, and that He
is will return for His Church, which is His Body.
BOTH groups believe the essential truths
leading to eternal life. Where Pentecostals and Baptists disagree, they
disagree regarding things NOT essential to believe for salvation, such as “Is
‘speaking in tongues’ a gift of the Holy Spirit for today?” Or can a Christian
lose his or her salvation? Believing or rejecting either of those doctrines has
no effect whatever on the eternal destiny of the person. None.
Someone wisely said this about
doctrines: “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things,
charity.” Oh, that we in the church at Ashwood Meadows would take to heart the
truth.
The Christians of Springfield, Missouri
had such a sad reputation of mutual distrust for each that their non-Christlike
attitude was well known in the town. What do you think the Lord Jesus Christ
thought of their reputation? And what do you think He thinks of our reputation
here, of our infighting, our backbiting?
Let me tell you why I say that. God has given me the privilege these last four years to bring His word to every person at this 55+ community who will listen.
Let me tell you why I say that. God has given me the privilege these last four years to bring His word to every person at this 55+ community who will listen.
But I am so very sorry to say that I
have heard from time to time that some Protestants in this community won't attend
my studies or sermons because I am a Catholic. But on the other hand, there are
Catholics in this community who do not attend because I sound too much like a
Protestant.
But it’s worse even than that. I’ve also
been told that some residents have actually persuaded others who USED TO attend
Bible studies and sermons to stop attending because I do not teach what they
consider true Christian theology.
Oh, how sad is that? God has sent me here to encourage the sorrowful, to bring hope to those losing hope, and to exhort everyone toward holiness without which, as the writer to the Hebrews warned, without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14). Yet because I do not belong to what some consider the correct church, they keep themselves away from the Word of God each week – and they persuade others to stay away as well.
How must the Lord Jesus feel because of
our divisions?
Here is what Jesus prayed to the Father
in John 17:20-21 - “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those
also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as
You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the
world may believe that You sent Me.”
And what Paul wrote to the church at Galatia,
he would have also written to the churches in Springfield, Missouri – AND to
our little community as well: “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word,
in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite
and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. But
I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
(Galatians 5:14-17)
The Lord Jesus warned us in Matthew 12: “A
house divided against itself cannot stand.” (Matthew 12:25) Don’t you think Satan
also knows that Scripture? And he has deftly used that principle of division
since the first century.
The Holy Spirit wants to feed our
spirits with His truth. But we cut off His voice when we spend our time biting
and devouring one another, when we spend our time finding fault with one
another, when we waste our time dismissing one another because they don’t
believe as we believe.
Please, let’s focus our attention –
whatever is our church label – let’s focus on winning the lost for Jesus
Christ. And put into practice: In essentials – unity. In non-essentials,
liberty. In all things, charity.
Time is too short to play church. If Jesus
is not Lord of everything in our life, then He is not Lord at all.
There are no half-way disciples.
There are no half-way disciples.
3 comments:
Shalom Ha-Lem. My english is poor. I try to speak in Spanish. I am a jew too (soy un mestizo, la familia de mi padre es hebrea, y la familia de mi madre no lo es, en la abuela materna hay un poquito de sangre hebrea lejana. No hay raíces hebreas en mi familia pero soy descendiente directo de un judío). Solo quería transmitirle una tradición valiosa que viene de San Agustín de Hipona. Hay que pedir las 3 virtudes teologales (fe, esperanza y caridad) y las 4 cardinales (justicia, prudencia, fortaleza y templanza). También hay que pedir los 7 dones del Espíritu Santo (sabiduría, temor de Dios, piedad, fortaleza, ciencia, inteligencia y consejo). También hay que pedir las 7 virtudes (humildad, castidad, diligencia, templanza, generosidad, paciencia y caridad o amor fraterno). También hay que pedir las bienaventuranzas (pobre de espíritu, misericordioso, limpio de corazón, constructor de paz, etc). Eso es de San Agustín. De San Francisco Javier, en el catecismo de Goa, en sus escritos, está pedir con los mandamientos y con el credo. También hay que pedirle la salvación a Dios, como la oración de Fátima: oh Jesús mío, perdonad nuestros pecados, libradnos del fuego del infierno, llevad al Cielo a todas las almas, especialmente a las más necesitadas de vuestra divina misericordia. En esta oración le estás pidiendo a Dios que te libre del fuego del infierno.
Solo quería decirle también que no le voy a escribir nunca más.
.
El escapulario de la Virgen del Carmen es muy importante también, pero te lo tiene que imponer un sacerdote con unas oraciones especiales, sino no lo lleva usted impuesto y las promesas de la Virgen no tienen validez.
Can anyone reading this translate for me? For some reason (unless I am doing something wrong) I don't see a 'translation' button from blogger.
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