Grace and Peace to you!
As I sit to write this in anticipation of Christmas, I know that there are many hearts that are heavy right now. Mine is one of them. It seems that we as a nation prefer to see the differences that we have with others become the source of distancing ourselves from others.
The Apostle Paul was not a stranger to Christians setting themselves against each other. Paul spent 18 months serving the congregation in the Greek city of Corinth. After he moved on, problems developed in that diverse congregation. Some members claimed to be followers of Paul while others preferred Apollos. Still others stated that Peter was their man. When Paul found out about these attitudes spreading through the congregation he wrote these urgent words: “Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, 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 … Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10, 13)
One of the most beautiful truths about the Christian Church is that people from all walks of life, people of all income levels, people of all cultures are members of the Christian Church. We are one people. I believe that it truly saddens God when factions develop within the church.
I’m not suggesting that you must be a buddy to everyone you might disagree with over various issues facing us today. Consider how Jesus selected for himself only twelve disciples to be his close followers and of those twelve he had three, Peter, James and John, in whom he especially confided. And we know from scripture that these twelve didn’t always see eye-to-eye with each other.
But when we say the Apostles’ Creed we confess our belief that the Christian Church is a communion. That is, a common-union, a community, a gathering where all kinds of people are welcome.
The reason that we are one people is because we share one bond. Jesus is the bond that holds us together and it is in him and only in him that God considers us to be holy and to be saints. Make no mistake, holiness is not something that is earned. No, holiness is not achieved; it is received through faith in the cleansing blood of Jesus.
Will members of the Church always act like saints? No. That’s why saints need to be patient with one another. We will always have to adjust to each other’s likes and dislikes as we live together. That’s what Paul was urging the Corinthian Christians when he wrote: “…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.”
When Paul urged his listeners to be united in mind and thought he wasn’t saying that Christians should become carbon copies of each other. He’s not saying that you should adopt the same favorite hymns. Nor is he saying that we should start dressing alike or suddenly take up the same interests and hobbies.
Paul was encouraging them to say that was what God is up to there. And that is what God is up to here. God takes people with different likes and dislikes and blends us together so that those who come into contact with us can sample the wonderful variety of God’s love when they see us interacting in peace, and working together for the common good and for the benefit of others.
In Christ!
Pastor Bakker
6just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:6-9 (NRSV)
Grace and Peace to you!
As I sit to write this in anticipation of Christmas, I know that there are many hearts that are heavy right now. Mine is one of them. It seems that we as a nation prefer to see the differences that we have with others become the source of distancing ourselves from others.
The Apostle Paul was not a stranger to Christians setting themselves against each other. Paul spent 18 months serving the congregation in the Greek city of Corinth. After he moved on, problems developed in that diverse congregation. Some members claimed to be followers of Paul while others preferred Apollos. Still others stated that Peter was their man. When Paul found out about these attitudes spreading through the congregation he wrote these urgent words: “Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, 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 … Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10, 13)
One of the most beautiful truths about the Christian Church is that people from all walks of life, people of all income levels, people of all cultures are members of the Christian Church. We are one people. I believe that it truly saddens God when factions develop within the church.
I’m not suggesting that you must be a buddy to everyone you might disagree with over various issues facing us today. Consider how Jesus selected for himself only twelve disciples to be his close followers and of those twelve he had three, Peter, James and John, in whom he especially confided. And we know from scripture that these twelve didn’t always see eye-to-eye with each other.
But when we say the Apostles’ Creed we confess our belief that the Christian Church is a communion. That is, a common-union, a community, a gathering where all kinds of people are welcome.
The reason that we are one people is because we share one bond. Jesus is the bond that holds us together and it is in him and only in him that God considers us to be holy and to be saints. Make no mistake, holiness is not something that is earned. No, holiness is not achieved; it is received through faith in the cleansing blood of Jesus.
Will members of the Church always act like saints? No. That’s why saints need to be patient with one another. We will always have to adjust to each other’s likes and dislikes as we live together. That’s what Paul was urging the Corinthian Christians when he wrote: “…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.”
When Paul urged his listeners to be united in mind and thought he wasn’t saying that Christians should become carbon copies of each other. He’s not saying that you should adopt the same favorite hymns. Nor is he saying that we should start dressing alike or suddenly take up the same interests and hobbies.
Paul was encouraging them to say that was what God is up to there. And that is what God is up to here. God takes people with different likes and dislikes and blends us together so that those who come into contact with us can sample the wonderful variety of God’s love when they see us interacting in peace, and working together for the common good and for the benefit of others.
In Christ!
Pastor Bakker
6just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:6-9 (NRSV)
