DON'T FOLLOW THE LEADER!
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
We live in an age characterized by rebellion and fighting.
Neighborhood drive-by shootings
“Road Rage”–“Target practice” against people who dare to cut you off in traffic
Fear of kids carrying weapons to school
Lawsuits for every conceivable reason
Divorce is rampant-even among Christians
People fight for their rights
There’s a spirit of revolution and rebellion in the air.
Everywhere we turn we find an independent spirit: “I don’t need you!”
“You’re going to find out just who you’re messing with!”
Even in the Church there’s fighting and bickering.
“Church on every corner” leaves people thinking we’ll stay in our present church
as long as “our” needs are met, or until “they” go a direction we don’t like.
Church splits are increasingly common
When God called us to pastor in Salt Lake City, we had just spent time in our home church. It was hurting! The pastor left under difficult circumstances after 22 years of ministry. The church split. There were bloody people everywhere. We had good friends on both sides of the conflict who were ready to tear each other apart. They were angry and hurting.
After months of helping people through the healing process, God called us to Salt Lake City. The church was hurting from the loss of the previous pastor. He had been forced to resign. The church was divided. There were bloody people everywhere. Some thought the previous pastor was wonderful; others couldn’t stand him. But people were hurting and angry. We spent years dealing with those hurts; helping people learn to love each other again.
Gene Edwards, writer about church splits: "About five percent of churches split every year. That means about fifteen thousand splits per year in America alone."
"Most Christians can only take so many church splits before bailing out of the church entirely. Christians can survive one split. A few can survive two. A handful of steel-coated souls may survive three. That’s about the limit of human endurance."
Paul deals with this issue in 1 Corinthians.
This 1st century church has a problem
The church in the 21st century has a problem too!
Beacon magazine article: “Worship: To the Glory of God or Destruction of the Church”
That issue is dividing churches all over the world;
Satan’s having a field day tearing churches apart over it.
That’s just one issue facing the modern church.
Other issues tear churches apart also.
Contemporary problems aren’t unlike problems facing the church at Corinth!
The modern church is a gifted church,
with more talents and greater resources than at any time in history.
Yet, the church seems to have forgotten how to love each other!
Introduction 1:1-9
Paul thanks God because of things he’s sure are true of them [True of us too!].
We’ll be unreprovable in the day of judgment because GOD is faithful,
--NOT because of ourselves.
They have received EVERYTHING. God has made them rich in every way!
They understand God’s truth;
all the spiritual gifts are evident among them.
BUT THEY’RE LACKING LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER!
They have all these things, yet they’re carnal—love and unity are missing.
[First problem: most obvious problem affecting them: DIVISIONS]
CONCERNING DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH 1:10-4:21
THREE EXHORTATIONS TO UNITY 1:10
1.That we agree—that all say the same thing.
-He isn't asking us to be parrots.
-He isn't asking us to give up our differences of opinion.
He’s calling for balance between unity and diversity.
-We should be able to express differences, in a spirit of unity.
Paul wants us all to have the same theme!
We should have unity on essentials, and allow diversity on non-essentials.
2. That there not be any divisions among us. (schisms) ( <= tear, break)
= a tear in a garment (the result of the action of tearing something apart)
Mark. 2:21-Jesus refers to a patch which tears away from the old cloth.
Mark. 15:38-the temple veil is torn in two.
John. 21:11-the net does not break–it isn’t torn apart.
Comes to be used figuratively —when the body of Christ is torn apart.
His warning against divisiveness, isn’t dealing with doctrinal issues.
In Phil 1,he readily lays aside personal issues–matters of preference.
In Gal 1, he calls people who teach a different doctrine “accursed!”
3. That we be united—joined together "... perfectly united in mind and thought"
mending nets (Mt. 4:21; Mk. 1:19) medicine=> setting bones
knit together = restored to order again.
Bringing things together into a working relationship
-in thoughts, in attitudes, in the midst of differing opinions
Ralph Earle: "fitted together as the fragments of a piece of mosaic,
in which each minute portion exactly fills its proper place."
DESCRIPTION OF CONDITIONS 1:11-12
Two kinds of problems among them:
1) They are quarreling 1:11 "strife, quarrels, debate, contention"
Quarrels seem issue related, as evidenced throughout the book.
Is it better to marry or stay single? Drinkers vs. non-drinkers
Do we eat meat offered to idols or not? Dancers vs. non-dancers
Women's libbers vs. veil wearers Debtors vs. non-debtors
Haves vs. have nots Christian schoolers, home schoolers,
Charismatics vs. non-charismatics vs. public schoolers
and on and on it goes . . . .
2) They’re following Christian "gurus" 1:12
In their culture, great philosophers come to town looking for followers.
Everyone wants to be identified with a great teacher (preacher, i.e., famous Christian guru). "Thiemites" tapes, or contemporary spokespersons (Piper, Swindoll).
[Some committed to follow ... ] Paul—Apostle to the Gentiles
Founder-special to "charter members"-remember when he used to preach there.
Theologian Intellectual type = GENTILE PARTY = THEOLOGICAL PARTY
[Others committed to ... ] Apollos—Eloquent preacher
Acts 18:24 “A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.
He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.”
Alexandrian => Hellenistic—follow Greek philosophy
Great preacher = PHILOSOPHICAL PARTY
Well received at “Toastmasters Club”"DALE CARNEGIE COURSE" PARTY
[Others follow ... ] Cephas (Peter)-Apostle to the Jews
One of “the twelve” => Authority established by Christ Himself
Some don’t care much for him; has a tendency to react precipitously at times.
Known to “jump on his horse and ride off”
in whatever direction seems right at the moment.
Man's man-powerful = RELIGIOUS PARTY JEWISH/JERUSALEM PARTY
"MOTHER CHURCH" PARTY
[Finally, some are only committed to ... ] “Christ”-the "spiritual" party
"We don't follow any man! We only follow Jesus!"
While this sounds good, it’s really a subtle form of pride!
"We get our teaching straight from God Himself!"
"We only follow Christ!" = SEPARATIST PARTY
Ironside told of a church with motto JESUS ONLY over its door. At first he was impressed. He learned that they’re narrow in beliefs and uncharitable to anyone not of their persuasion--even if it involves a relatively unimportant doctrine. A windstorm tore away 1st three letters, leaving US ONLY. He comments, "That more accurately describes their spirit."
It isn’t wrong to have a preference.
What’s wrong here is the attitude! “We’re followers of _____!” “I don’t like _____!”
They’re focusing on personalities and belittling people who don’t agree with their desires.
“I want what I want!” “I like what I like!”
“If you don’t like what I like, there’s something wrong with you!”
They have their eye on the messenger,
instead of on God who gave them the message!
CORRECTION OF CONCEPT 1:13-17
Paul corrects concept of following human leaders
in competition with each other.
He asks 3 questions to get us thinking: 1:13
He focuses attention on those who claim to follow him–doesn’t take sides!
If Paul were like most people, this is the group he’d be encouraging.
They’re on HIS side!
But he doesn’t. He corrects those on his side!
That’s the group HE can most effectively speak to.
They claim HIM as their leader. So he addresses them directly.
The others don’t want to listen to him anyway!
Principles for his followers–that he models for the rest–are true for ALL the parties.
* Christ hasn’t been divided up among us, has He?
“He isn’t cut up into pieces for people to distribute as they see fit, is He?”
* Paul wasn't crucified for us, was he? (then why follow him?)
* We weren't baptized in Paul's name, were we?1:14-17
Some use this passage to teach that baptism isn’t for today—”Paul didn’t do it!”
He raises the same question about crucifixion. Paul wasn’t crucified for us either!
This is no more a slam on baptism than previous question is on the crucifixion.
There’s nothing wrong with baptism! Christ ordained it!
The problem is their perspective.
Idea of "in Christ's name" or "in my name" (v. 15) is identification.
They aren’t Paul’s followers! They aren’t identified with HIM!
They’re identified with JESUS!
The people of Corinth are identifying with a particular minister, as if their position before God somehow comes from the one who baptized them.
Barclay: "A soldier swore loyalty in the name of Caesar; he belongs to the Emperor.
-Into the name of implies possession.”
When baptized we’re identified with Christ, NOT baptizer
It's HIM we’re to be identified with. That's true for all of us.
GET YOUR EYES OFF THE MESSENGER AND ON HIM!
Each leader represents Christ, –NOT himself.
Jesus is the one who died.
We’re baptized in Jesus’ Name.
The leaders are united in following Jesus.
The leaders aren’t divided—they’re united in Christ
Apollos and Paul aren't feuding
They got together to talk about it themselves.
They’re both concerned about the attitudes of their so-called "followers". What might they do to put this feud to rest? 1 Cor 16:12
Paul tries to get Apollos to help straighten out this mess,
but Apollos won't have anything to do with it.
He’s going to stay away from that place!
Each one has his own calling from God
We should ALL be serving GOD; NOT following people!
Paul has something more important to do than run around looking for followers.
Paul doesn't go out as a "baptizer"
to see how many “followers” he can get to identify with HIM!
He doesn't want them identified with him, but with Christ.
Paul's concern is to announce the good news-to "gospelize". 1:17
He doesn't do it like the philosophers do.
He isn't trying to be anyone's guru.
He doesn't preach with the philosophical appeal of a "wise discourse" i.e., following the mold of human wisdom and philosophers.
He wants us to focus on the cross.
Human strategies of impressive rhetoric and cleverness distract from the gospel and make it meaningless (useless, empty).
Human wisdom, a la the Greek philosophers, evaporizes the cross.
Godly wisdom isn’t like human wisdom
The world looks at the person; it focuses on the leader.
Godly wisdom takes our eyes off people (ourselves or others),
Godly wisdom places our eyes on Christ. HE deserves glory; NOT us!
This church has everything
But everyone is pulling their way; they’re fighting for their personal preferences
They put their preferences before the desires of others.
They aren’t seeking God’s glory first!
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH US?
WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE?
Our church is capable of following that same path.
Great churches fall from greatness because of pride; the desire to have it OUR way.
I’ve seen churches where people USED to say, “we go to THIS CHURCH;”
when God humbles them, they begin to say, “We go to this church.”
Then God begins to make them into a GREAT church!
Our church is a gifted church.
It’s well grounded in the truth; people know their Bible
We have it all.
But, we must pull together (v. 10)
We’ve got to agree
We’ve got to prevent divisions
We’ve got to be united
So that God gets all the glory
If we don’t LOVE, and RESPECT, and CARE for one another,
God isn’t going to be glorified in us!
Paul urges us to get our act together:
To stand together
To rally together around a common cause
To think the same thoughts and pull together
So that we can get on with the job God has called us to:
* To announce the good news about Jesus in this community, and
* To encourage one another to love and good deeds!
Satan loves nothing more than to distract us!
When we get on with God’s work,
he’ll do everything he can to get us to focus on other people!