January 22, 2023
There is something important for everyone in our congregation to think deeply about. Do you see differences as a blessing or a problem? How you answer this question is important, as it will influence how you live and act. It will influence how you be part of the church.
The church in Corinth had a major problem. And the problem wasn’t differences, but how people responded to these differences. Our reading from 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 10 to 18 indicated that there were at least four factions within the congregation.
Verse 12 says One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” and these factions had led to quarrels and arguments.
The reality was Paul, Apollos and Cephas had all preached the Gospel. They had all helped others see that Jesus was their only hope for a future and eternal life.
However some people were saying Paul’s style was the best or most important, others Apollos’ style was the most important, others Cephas’ style the most important and others their interpretation of Christ’s style the most important.
The problem was instead of seeing the different way people present and hear the message of Christ as a blessing and helpful to people connecting to God, they were using them to cause division. And when it comes to our congregation there are differences.
One of the great things about our congregation is that we have a diverse range of people. We have a wide diversity of people in our congregation from diverse backgrounds and experiences. There are many differences in our congregation.
So how are you responding to the differences in our congregation? Do you see them as a blessing??
Unfortunately. some people think that the best way to deal with differences is to eliminate them by either forcing everyone to be the same or excluding or demonizing those who are different from you. This is because they see differences as a problem. The truth is this would make for a very lonely church. Taken to the extreme you would be part of a church where only you would be the member. But this is not Jesus’ approach
Nor is it the way the early church dealt with its differences. Take a few moments to consider who Jesus spent time with….. Think about his first 12 disciples…they weren’t all the same characters
He regularly spent time with the Pharisees, tax collectors, adulterers, people who were not popular, people with diseases, his disciples, Jews and Gentiles, women, men and children, and there is a lot more
And his reason for spending time with every person he met, was so they could hear and experience the Good News and have the opportunity to join His kingdom.
Being prepared to spend time with people who are different from you is part of our call in being disciples who make disciples of all nations. Now also consider the discussion that Paul has with various churches about the Body of Christ.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 12 We are reminded that Christ is the head of the body and there are different parts that make up the body. And not every part is the same but they are all important. Please keep remembering this not every member of God’s church is the same, but we are all important. 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 15 reminds us of the following: And Jesus died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Jesus who died for them and was raised again.
Because God is focused on giving salvation to all people, His church should include a lot of different people differences for both Jesus and the Early Church are not a problem. Rather in Jesus coming to earth God made it very clear that our mission as His disciples is to all people, not just those we are the same as us or who we are comfortable with.
Do you see how differences are a blessing and not a problem? As a disciple of Jesus, As a person called to represent God in the world do you see why it is important to be welcoming to all people?
What about you how are you responding to differences? Are you fighting them? Are you ignoring them?
Are you welcoming the differences? Are you pleased to see others connecting to God who like different things than you? How are you responding to people in our congregation who are different from you? And what about the strangers that cross your path? If we are to take seriously being an evangelical church, Gospel proclaiming
and that means take seriously God’s call for all of us to be His disciples we need to expect to live with and encounter people who are different from us. This includes not only people with different background and experiences, different abilities, different disabilities, not everyone can be as perfect as some of you think you are.
People who will respond to God’s love differently than what we may have. People with different personalities respond to and work different than we do. We need not embrace what others do, but certainly it is not our responsibility to stand in their way. At times when there are difference we can co-exist with others peacefully and without conflict. As we saw in our reading from 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 being focused on differences can cause a problem for a community, especially a church community.
God’s encouragement is not that we demand that our differences be accepted, and others rejected. But rather we accept others even if they are different and that we don’t let differences divide us
In Philippians chapter 2 verses 1- 3 we hear “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”
The reality is we need differences if we are going to live out God’s call for us to make disciples of all nations. Therefore, the solution to being a church where different people can live and work alongside each other is not being all the same or doing the same things but to be a Christ focused church and that means being a Christ focused disciple.
With Jesus as our focus we will be constantly listening to Him in prayer, worship and bible studies so our lives and attitudes will be shaped by Him.
With Jesus as our focus our aim is to welcome everyone we interact with so they too can follow Jesus and rely on Him for eternal life. No one person has the right to speak negatively or condemn anyone who walks in that door if they are willing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and repent of their ways.
With Jesus as our focus we live and work together as a team we don’t have to witness and evangelize to people alone, but rather we are blessed to be part of a church community that can support and bless each other
and we can connect people to a wide variety of people.
With Jesus as our focus our aim is for people to be more like Jesus. With Jesus as our focus we have a future and a power that is not available anywhere else as 1 Corinthians 1:18 says “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” So as we live as a church community and a disciple of Jesus allow our differences to be a blessing and used for God’s glory be focused on God’s mission allow Christ to shine through us so many more know of God’s great love and power