On the last Sunday of January our New Testament Epistle reading was from Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth. It’s always fascinating to read what Paul writes to these early communities of believers. Is he offering words of comfort, encouragement, and care? Or is he addressing a problem in the community that he has heard about? Is he writing to tell them that he will visit them soon? Or is he introducing himself and what he believes about Jesus to a community he hasn’t even met?
In all of the Epistles attributed to Paul, he finds opportunity to do all of the above. I think it’s fascinating that Paul had never met the believers in Rome when he wrote his robust theological letter to them that we now call the book of Romans.
But back to the reading we heard on the last Sunday in January:
10Now I appeal to you, siblings, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my siblings. 12What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. 18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
In addition to having a moment of forgetfulness around who he had baptized, Paul is writing to the church at Corinth because he has heard that they are giving their allegiances in their life together to someone other than Jesus.
This is how church fractures happen. When we give our allegiances to someone other than Jesus. When we don’t keep the “main thing the main thing.” When we listen to Apollos, who is unhappy about something or Cephas, who has a beef with someone….instead of turning our hearts and minds toward Jesus.
It’s also easy to turn away from Jesus to things outside of the church: to those other activities that keep us away from community or worship or service. And Jesus talks about this when he reminds the early believers “where your treasure is, there will your hearts be also.” What we prioritize in our daily living, with our time and presence and support, is what we really believe in.
The Church is a flawed institution. Generations after mine are driving that point home with their absence. They are watching to see if the Church is willing stand in our loyalty to Jesus and speak truth to power, no matter the cost (remember, it cost Jesus his life) or whether we will play it safe, choosing our earthly allegiances over our call from Christ.
And yet, Christ calls us to life together in community. To worship together, so that the holy becomes incarnate in the body. Christ calls us to wrestle together with the hard questions, no matter how we differ in opinion. Christ calls us together to share our vulnerabilities, to offer up our sorrows and fears.
If you are concerned about the “future of the Church”, know that your presence, support, and commitment to it, in the name of the risen Christ, can and will make a difference. Know that your commitment to what Jesus taught (and not other allegiances) is what will make a difference, not only in the world, but in your hearts.
See you in church.
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The Messenger- January 2020