When Christians act Unchristian by Rivalries over Personalities, part 2

Yesterday, we saw part of a letter in the Bible that revealed the reality that when we are involved in rivalries over personalities, it reveals our spiritual immaturity. A second thing that the Apostle Paul reveals that can occur in the lives of Christians who act unchristian as a result of rivalries based on personalities is that rivalries based on personalities fail to recognize roles. We see this reality revealed for us in 1 Corinthians 3:5:

"What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one."

In verse 5, Paul explains that he and Apollos, who were the focus of the jealousy and rivalry, were simply the intermediaries that God used to proclaim the wisdom of the message of the gospel that led the church to place their trust and confidence in Jesus Christ as Lord and Leader. Apollos was the teaching pastor at the church in Corinth. Paul, on the other hand was what we would call a catalytic church planting pastor. Paul came to Corinth and planted the church, and then after spending some time starting and growing the church, he handed over the reigns of leadership to Apollos and went on to go plant other churches.

Instead of embracing the transition of leadership had taken place, the members of the church in Corinth failed to recognize the transition and instead spent their time having arguments and engaging in rivalries over who was the better pastor or who should really be the pastor. When Paul states that the Lord gave opportunity to each one, he is simply explaining that Paul and Apollos simply served the Lord according to the task and the role that was given them.

The problem that the church of Corinth experienced, and that many churches today still experience, is that they failed to recognize that Paul and Apollos had different roles in the ministry and growth of the church. And that failure to recognize differing roles resulted in rivalries over personalities.

Different pastors have differing roles and responsibilities within the church and these differing roles and responsibilities are meant to be complementary in nature so as to advance the kingdom mission that we have been given. Christians act unchristian when we fail to recognize the different roles that pastors and leaders have within the church and instead view pastors as leaders as competing with one another.

So are you a Christian who acts unchristian by failing to recognize roles within the church and instead involve yourself in rivalries over personalities?