One of the biggest challenges of the Church today, is dealing with divisiveness. The call of our Lord Jesus Christ to unity, is a vital, and urgent call. (John 17:20-21) But many churches have failed to heed that call, and because of a divisive spirit, churches have declined greatly, and in several cases have even closed.
When it is so necessary today, that the Gospel be preached, and shared by the members of local congregations, how can we let our differences, destroy the main work of the church?
At the time the Apostle Paul wrote this letter, the church at Corinth had four divisions in their fellowship. Some followed Paul, others followed Apollos, others Peter, and the fourth group, followed Christ.
When there is factions in the body of Christ, it only leads to the destruction of that local body. In the midst of our disunity, we fail to act like Christians, and we act more like those in the world. Selfishness, hatred, jealousy, and strife, show their ugly heads, and the love of Christ is thrown out like wash-water. In his letter,
Paul calls them (and us) to be united in the same mind (the mind of Christ) and the same judgment (way of thinking) We are to be like a quilt of various colors and patterns, blended together in a harmonious whole.
None of us are the same, we have our differences. But we are to find our oneness in Christ, as we strive to follow His teaching about love and ministry.
I like what one commentary writer said: "The more low-minded we are, the more like-minded we will become." GP
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