Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Monday, 07 October 2024 11:17

The Root of Division in the Church
by Joey Carroll Corinth Missionary Baptist Church

Since the fall in the Garden of Eden, mankind has been plagued with sinful hearts, and those sinful hearts have invented innumerable ways to express its rebellion. But for all of sin’s variety, it has only one focus, “I.”
As we have said before, there was a lot going on at the church at Corinth that was not good. The Apostle Paul had caught wind of the problems, and as a wise pastor, dealt with them quickly, directly, and biblically. But for all the problems that Paul addressed in his letter to the church, he deals with the singular source of all those problems. “Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ,”” (1 Corinthians 1:12, NASB).

Do you see the root problem? Notice which word is used 4 times in the passage. It’s there 4 times in the English translations, as well as the Greek. The Christians that lived in Corinth had lost their focus on their Savior and had set it on themselves. As Christians, anytime we take our eyes off of Jesus, we get ourselves in serious trouble.
Before Christ, we live to ourselves and for ourselves. It actually comes quite natural to us. After turning from sin and coming to Christ in faith, we live for the One who died for us and rose again. But unfortunately, that former self still holds sway over us at times, and we turn once again to living for our own glory.

That is what had happened at the church at Corinth. They began trying to make themselves more significant than the others in the church by distinguishing themselves through the pastors that they favored. You realize how ridiculous that is when you think about it. But if we, as the church, had someone give a report of our lives, I am quite sure we would all be embarrassed at the silly little things we sometimes do to elevate ourselves or our opinions above others. As the Church, we say “all glory to God.” But in reality, we sometimes act like some of that glory should go to us.
The result of this “self” focus quickly leads to division, and the lines were beginning to be drawn at Corinth. Unfortunately, we live in the aftermath of a long history of exalting ourselves instead of Christ. The result is that the Church is almost as divided as the world around us.

After I typed that last sentence, I sat at my desk in all somberness as the weight of it set in. Oh how our dear Lord must feel seeing His blessed children so at odds with one another.
For a pitiful and lost world without understanding or remedy, division is the backdrop of their experience. They grow angrier and more violent day by day in all their division. They each walk about in darkness declaring to “see,” but all they really see is themselves, their opinions, and the ignorance of everyone that disagrees. The only hope they have is to turn from themselves and run to Christ, and in so doing they would be transferred from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, and receive forgiveness of sins and join those who have been sanctified by faith in Christ.

For the Church, who lives in the Light and should walk in that Light, she should only experience division with that lost world. For how can the world and the church walk together? Certainly not! In fact, division should be the most common experience between the church and the world. Our Lord said in John 15:19, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you,” (NASB). They do after all come from two very different fathers.
But never should the Church experience division within the Church for she has been united by Christ Himself. And yet, because of the presence and power of sin, she does.
There is a way out of our terrible dilemma, and the Lord will use the mouth of the Apostle Paul to instruct us. Lord willing, we will see that way next week.