Yesterday we talked about Christians who are still being breast fed instead of growing in our relationship with Jesus. So what would keep followers of Jesus on the bottle, when they could and should be eating steak? What would keep followers of Jesus from being weaned from the breast so that they could feed themselves and grow in their faith?
We see the reason that the members of the church of Corinth, and many followers of Jesus today, are still on the bottle in 1 Corinthians 3:3-4:
"for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men?"
In these verses we see the Apostle Paul reveal for us a timeless truth that reveals the reason why many followers of Jesus still find themselves being breast fed instead of growing and maturing spiritually. And that timeless truth is that Christians act unchristian when rivalry reveals our immaturity.
In verse 3, Paul states that there was jealousy and strife that ran rampant in the church at Corinth. Paul is explaining to the church in Corinth that the proof that they were unable to process and integrate the deeper truths of the faith into their lives was revealed in rivalries over personalities and successes that revealed their disappointing and immature behavior and character. The members of the church at Corinth consistently displayed negative feelings over the achievements and successes of others. In addition, the church members were engaged in rivalries over the leaders in the church. This jealousy and rivalry revealed the reality that they were not growing in their relationship with Christ.
Instead, in verse 4, Paul explains that the jealousy, strife and rivalries over personalities that marked their behavior were no different than those who were not followers of Jesus. They were Christians who were acting unchristian. And in the same way, when we are jealous over the spiritual growth or success and achievements of other individuals or ministries in the church; when we become engaged in rivalries over personalities or over other ministries within the church, we reveal the reality that we are Christians who are acting unchristian in spiritual maturity.
Ministries and ministry leaders are not in competition with one another in the local church; ministry and ministry leaders are to work in cooperation with one another in order to advance the common kingdom mission that we have as members of the body of Christ.
Tomorrow, we will look at a second reality that occurs when Christians act uchristian as a result of rivalries based on personalities.
So are you a christian who acts unchristian by being involved in rivalries based on personalities that reveal spiritual maturity?
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