Daily – 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 “Divisions”

It should be noted that these blog posts are my opinion and not that of any church I have attended or currently attend.  Savvy? -aaron

Something has always bothered me about The Christian Church.  Perhaps it is because I have a secret hope that one day the ideal Church will return to existence and stick around for a little longer.  You know the church I’m talking about – the one that works.  “But Aaron”, you say “the Church already works just fine!”  And I would look at you, take a deep breath and decide how best to say it.

You see, I’m a  bit of an extremist when it comes to what I think of The Church.  I’d probably upset quite a few people at the church I volunteer at if I told them just how I felt about the way they run things.  When I think of how The Church should be I flash back (way back) to the book of Romans, Acts and others where the idea of The Church was just being born within the minds of the founders and former apostles.  The daily involvement with the community and the intense focus on reaching out to those around them.

The church of old didn’t always make friends mind you.  There was conflict and battles to be had throughout the cities where the Christian message was spreading.  I wouldn’t way we need those kind of days back (I’m a fragile flower people) but I think there’s so much missing today I’m not sure we’ll be around to see the rest of the story of this world.

What I mean to say is that I personally think the Church is headed for death mired in the mud of irrelevance.  You can find countless studies that show The Church nationwide and even worldwide is falling behind in the times.  People are walking away in higher numbers and turning to other answers in their search for Truth.

And I think part of this started back in 1st Corinthians where Paul (formerly the Hitler-esque Saul) lays the smack down on the church in Corinth about dividing according to who they follow or who baptized them.  Today the divisions/denominations of the Christian Church runs the gamut from one end of the spectrum to the other.  It is mired in small differences to ideas on theology combined with differential opinions on translation topped off with whatever else we humans could find to use to further divide us away from fellow Followers of Christ.

Paul makes a point to say he remembers only a few of the people he baptized.  He’s not overly concerned with who did what as long as the message of Christ remains the same simple straightforward statement.  Could it really be that hard?  After watching the church over the last twenty years as a young boy to a young man I’m convinced we’ve done no better in my time on this earth.  Sure, there’s been moments but in the long run big picture master plan we’ve crashed, burned and dug ourselves into holes we seem unable or unwilling to abandon.

See what I said about me being a touch extreme?  I’m the Church’s Devils Advocate.  I’ve spent the better part of my years volunteering in ministry (Children’s, Youth and Etc) watching humanity take something great and throw it out with the baby and the bathwater.  I’m not sure if The Church will survive the upheaval coming with everything on the horizon, but I’m sure Megachurch buildings are not the answer.

And I attend what most would consider a mega church.  If they haven’t kicked me out yet…

Chew on these thoughts and read through Paul’s words below.  Focus on the section near the end where he talks about Human Wisdom versus The Gospel.  And wonder if we’re really doing it right.

Feel free to comment, complain, assault or otherwise tell me I’m nuts.  I’m open to discussion and processing through ideas.  I may be right, I may be wrong but the beauty of it is that we can talk through it.

Hopefully.

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (New International Version)

Divisions in the Church

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. ¹¹My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. ¹²What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas^[a]“; still another, “I follow Christ.”

¹³Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into^[b] the name of Paul? ¹⁴I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. ¹⁶(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.