Imagine the unity of being a new Christian in the early church. You and your friends witnessed the life and death of the long-awaited Messiah. You heard Jesus pray that you would all be one, see John 17:21. Talk about a ‘Shared Cultural Moment’![1] You were a witness to the crucifixion and resurrection—or at least you can say it happened during your lifetime! What could create a more powerful sense of unity between believers? We are all on the same team, right? But the unity did not last, and Paul confronted the Corinthians about it:
“It has been reported to me … that there is rivalry among you…. Each of you says, ‘I’m with Paul,’ or ‘I’m with Apollos,’ or ‘I’m with Peter,’ or ‘I’m with Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name?” 1 Corinthians 1:11-13.
The Christian church in the U.S. is divided into an estimated 200 denominations. Do you think we have rivalries? You bet we do. Is that wrong? Perhaps it depends—is this a friendly rivalry between brothers, or is this a bitter feud? There is nothing wrong with playing in a church softball league and battling your Christian brothers and sisters on the field. But Jesus said people would know true believers not by their competitiveness but by their love, John 13:35.
Do you love members of other churches?
Do you love members of other denominations?
Jesus does. You should too. Otherwise, you are fleshly and immature.
“I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, because you are still fleshly. For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and living like unbelievers? For whenever someone says, ‘I’m with Paul,’ and another ‘I’m with Apollos,’ are you not unspiritual people? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” 1 Corinthians 3:2-7.
Unity is important. When the lost complain about the number of denominations, only love can answer the charge. If you do not love the people who attend other churches, you will never be able to persuade someone to attend yours.
Denominations are a normal result of disagreement; I do not believe they are wrong per se. After all, each of us has a right to worship with those with whom we agree. And even if we are kind to each other and “agree to disagree,” it may make sense to worship in different places. Churches must make many decisions about what they believe and how they exercise that belief—find a church that you can agree with.
But even in the best church, you will sometimes disagree with your pastor and leaders. Without a mature spirit of unity and forgiveness, you will not be able to get involved and stay involved with your local church.
Paul takes it even further: without a mature spirit of unity and forgiveness, you will not be able to mature from milk to solid food. Do you really want to remain a baby Christian forever?
Humble yourself and be humble not only toward your pastor, but about your pastor, your favorite Bible study leader, or author: “No one should boast in human leaders” 1 Corinthians 3:21.
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[1] The following events have something in common: the Kennedy assassination, the attacks of 9/11, the TV broadcast of the Moon landing, STAR WARS hitting the theaters, and even the Ice Bucket Challenge. When everyone you know is paying attention to the same event, that event becomes a “Shared Cultural Moment.” Few things are more unifying. When everyone you know is watching the same thing on television, then during that day and for days—even years—after, you know you can talk to anyone and they will identify with you and be able to understand your feelings. Shared Cultural Moments create an incredible sense of unity.
Household Words: 