Order in the Court of the King! (Unity Or Division? 2)

Grace Thoughts

Order in the Court of the King! (Unity or Division? 2)

‘Unity’ in the Christian Church is vital. Why? Because that’s what King Jesus wants, and Christians should give Jesus Christ whatever He wants. Christianity is not about getting what we want, no matter what you may have heard from some unscrupulous preachers –

For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans 16:18

It’s important that Christians learn the difference between ‘heretical’ divisions and ‘non-heretical’ divisions within churches, denominations, and Christian colleges and seminaries. One reason is that how we resolve the problem within the framework of God’s direction is an important part of bringing glory to God and finishing the work He’s given us to do.

[Listen to a Podcast of this study by clicking this link.]

Non-Heretical Divisions

In the last part of our series we looked at Scripture that told Christians to have nothing to do with heretics who cause divisions within churches, denominations, and Christian schools. Paul boldly told the Christians in Rome to ‘avoid them,’ which is the same as saying ‘reject them, turn your back on them, have nothing to do with them.’

Now let’s look at ‘divisions’ in churches that are caused by our fellow brothers and sisters, rather than heretics. Let’s begin with an example, then some definitions –

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 1 Corinthians 1:10-11

The Greek word Paul used for ‘divisions’ was schismata. We get the English word ‘schism’ from it. The Greek word means ‘split, dissension, a rending, a dividing, a division.’ It comes from the word schizó, which means ‘cleave, divide asunder, split, to rend.’ That’s not a good thing to have happen in churches when King Jesus wants us to be unified and behave in an orderly fashion as members of His Body.

Paul founded the church in Corinth, so he had every right to dive right into the problem from the start of his letter. The apostle began his letter as he often did with a nice greeting and a few kind words. Then, he stated his ‘theme’ and developed his ‘theme.’ What was it? Come together and do God’s work for His glory!!

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Let’s go back to verse 10 for a few minutes – “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

Paul ‘pleads’ with the ‘brethren.’ This is so serious that Paul uses the phrase – “by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” That particular phrase is used only one time in the New Testament. That’s how significant this situation was to Paul. Remember that Paul was being inspired by the Holy Spirit to write this letter, so his using that phrase was well within God’s permission to do so.

The word ‘plead’ is parakaleó and means “to exhort, call for, beseech, entreat, beg.” That’s a pretty strong thing for an apostle to do. In my opinion, Paul demonstrated great restraint in how he approached this ‘divisional’ issue in the Corinthian church. Take note of that. It demonstrates what Paul would later tell Timothy –

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26

An apostle of Christ had tremendous spiritual power – probably more than we can imagine. They also had great wisdom that came from both the Holy Spirit’s urgings as well as ‘battlefield experience.’

Paul’s plea was three-fold –

that you all speak the same thing
that there be no divisions among you
that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment

Paul explained, beautifully, how Christians should demonstrate unity in the Body of Christ. Is speaking the ‘same thing’ always an easy thing to do? Is it easy not to have any ‘divisions’ among members of a church or denomination? Is it a walk in the park ‘to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment?’ Short answer, no. It’s not easy. What it is, is the Lord’s will for members of His Church. Let us never forget that Jesus Christ is building ‘His Church,’ not ours.

The Corinthian Church

The Christian ‘church’ in the Greek city of Corinth was not unlike many churches today. If you could go back almost two-thousand years and visit the Corinthian church members, you’d find people just like the people you attend church with every week. Some of them saved, some unsaved. Some serious about God’s Word, some not serious about God’s Word. Some selfless, some selfish. Some helping build unity, some sowing division. In other words – church.

According to Acts 18, the Lord spoke to Paul in a ‘night vision, and said – “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” Paul preached the Gospel in Corinth for 18 months and established the first church there. Paul faced a lot of opposition from Jews in Corinth, but he stayed strong in his position for a long time. Paul eventually took leave of Corinth and headed for Ephesus, taking Priscilla and Aqulla with him. Paul left them in Ephesus while he traveled to Jerusalem.

While Paul was traveling, a Jew by the name of Apollos came to Ephesus. He was an ‘eloquent’ speaker and knew some things about Jesus, but not everything. Apollos went into the synagogue in Ephesus and spoke boldly about Jesus, “showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.” Aquila and Priscilla heard him, took him aside and “explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

Aquila and Priscilla met the Apostle Paul in Corinth. They were tentmakers, like Paul. Aquila was born in Pontus, which was near the Black Sea (now part of Turkey). Aquila was Jewish and had lived with his wife in Italy. However, they left Italy ‘because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome,’ probably around 49 AD. They traveled to Corinth and became Christians at some point either before or after meeting Paul. What we do know is that because Paul ‘was of the same trade,’ he stayed with Aquila and Priscilla and worked with them making and selling tents. Paul ‘reasoned’ in the synagogue every Sabbath, ‘and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.’

Imagine that for a moment? Getting to become friends with the Apostle Paul, work with him in an occupation, and hear him ‘reason’ with Jews and Greeks about the Lord Jesus Christ. No wonder Aquila and Priscilla were confident in taking Apollos aside and ‘explained to him the way of God more accurately.’

Even as Paul traveled from one city to another preaching the Gospel, Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos did the same. Acts 18 and 19 tell us that Apollos ‘desired to cross to Achaia’ (southern part of modern Greece). The ‘brethren’ in Ephesus wrote to the disciples in Achaia exhorting them ‘to receive him.’ Apollos had learned well from Aquila and Priscilla (who had learned from Paul) and ‘greatly helped those who had believed through grace.’ Apollos ‘vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.’

How ‘Divisions’ Begin

Acts 19:1 reads that while Apollos was at Corinth when Paul arrived in Ephesus. The fact that Apollos spent time ministering in Corinth would later lead to a ‘division’ in the Corinthian church. Here’s how Paul explained the division –

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ … Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. 1 Corinthians 3:1-11, 21-23

This was not an issue of ‘doctrine.’ Paul said nothing about ‘heretical’ teaching. He did say that some in the Corinthian church were behaving immaturely. The problem was ‘pride’ about which person had taught them. Paul led some of them to Christ and taught them when he started the church years earlier. Some came to Christ later, possibly under the ministry of Apollos. That led to something that still plagues the ‘Church’ to this day – ‘celebrity boasting’ – “I am of Paul” … “I am of Apollos.”

How did Paul address this problem of immature pride among some in the church? Head on – “you are still carnal,” “babes in Christ.” Paul then appealed to the ‘order’ that God had designed for how His children were to behave toward one another and toward Him –

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

ALL of the credit goes to God. Yes, Paul planted. Yes, Apollos watered. They each did what God called them to do. However, it is God ‘who gives the increase.’ When people in churches give credit to other people instead of to God, they are walking close to the edge of ‘heresy.’ Remember what God told Israel from the holy mountain – “You shall have no other gods before Me.” When we start crediting humans for what God does, we are treading on unholy ground. Back up and repent.

Next, Paul appealed to the importance of ‘unity’ within the Church –

Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3 is an excellent example of how to deal with a ‘non-heretical division’ within a church, denomination, or Christian school. Paul put his ‘apostolic finger’ on the root of the problem that faced the church in Corinth and faces so many churches today. It’s pride, selfishness, envy, jealousy, immaturity, a lack of knowledge of God’s will for His people.

I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal.

How ‘Divisions’ End

These types of ‘divisions’ are not difficult to bring to an end ‘if’ church leaders are knowledgeable about and willing to address them biblically. How does that happen? First, church leaders need to know what the Bible teaches on a wide variety of subjects. Paul told Timothy that one of the qualifications of being a bishop (pastor) was being “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). Paul told Titus that an ‘elder’ in the church should hold “fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”

Based on years of hearing and reading pastor’s sermons and books, much of it is not ‘sound doctrine.’ Many of them are not fully qualified to be pastors because they don’t know what or how to ‘teach the Bible ‘rightly divide’ the Word of God. They may be nice people who do a lot of other things well, but being ‘able to teach’ and knowing the Bible well enough to ‘exhort and convict those who contradict’ is often lacking. That’s one of the reasons Christians sometimes don’t know how to address ‘divisions’ in their churches and denominations or make wrong decisions that end up seriously hurting other Christians. I pray this series helps improve that situation for many churches.

[Listen to a Podcast of this study by clicking this link.]

Next Time

You may have noticed that I have used the term ‘denominations’ throughout this series. What are denominations and why do we have so many of them? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Does it bring ‘order’ to the Church? Do denominations bring glory to God? Do they help Christians finish the work God has given them to do? I’ll share my thoughts on ‘denominations’ in the next part of our series, Order in the Court of the King!

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Order in the Court of the King! (Unity Or Division? 2)