This week, we have been looking how a man named Paul wrote a church in a city named Corinth about a major problem that plagued the church and still plagues churches today. We saw Paul reveal for us that Christians act unchristian when we follow the wrong leader. Paul has shown us that when we follow the wrong leader, we fail to demonstrate unity in community and end up with division over personalities. And it is these types of divisions that arise over personalities that reflect a failure to represent the message of the gospel.
Paul then reveals for us a third negative consequence that occurs when there are divisions that occur because followers of Jesus are following the wrong leader. We see this consequence in 1 Corinthians 1:17:
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.
Paul reveals for us the sobering reality that religion and religious people who are divisive cause the message of the gospel to be without power. The sobering reality is that when Christians act unchristian by following the wrong leader and cause division, the message and the witness of Christ can lose its power to transform lives.
That is why you will find those who reject the message of Jesus use as one of their primary arguments “why would I be a part of your church; you Christians fight and bicker just as much as where I work; so why would I want to be a part of that”.
So are you a christian who acts unchristian by emptying the message of the gospel of its power because you follow the wrong leader and end up causing division as a result?
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
When Christians Follow the Wrong Leader, Part 2...
Yesterday, I talked about how a man named Paul wrote a church in a city named Corinth and gave the timeless piece of bad news about a major problem that plagued the church and still plagues churches today. We saw Paul reveal for us that Christians act unchristian when we follow the wrong leader. We saw Paul reveal for us that when we follow the wrong leader, we fail to demonstrate unity in community.
The natural result that occurs when followers of Jesus and churches fight and divide over whether they want to elevate a leader who reflects their views and philosophy over the head of the church, Jesus Christ, we see a second incredibly negative consequence. That consequence is that when we follow the wrong leader, the result is division over personalities. And it is these types of divisions that arise over personalities that reveal the reality that these divisions reflect a failure to represent the message of the gospel. We see Paul reveal this reality for us in 1 Corinthians 1:13-16:
Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
In these verses, we see Paul reveal for us three ways that division within the church reflects a failure to represent the message of the gospel. First, divisions within the church do not reflect the person of Christ. Just as the physical body of Christ was not divided into parts, Christ’s body, the church, should not be divided.
Second, divisions within the church do not reflect the message of the gospel. Paul is explaining that neither Paul, Apollos, nor Cephas died for our selfishness and sin; it was Jesus who died for our sins. And because of this reality we should not elevate any person or personality over Jesus.
Third, divisions within the body of Christ do not reflect our identification. Paul talks about baptism to point out that as followers of Jesus, we are not baptized to identify ourselves with a man; as followers of Jesus we are baptized to identify with who we are supposed to follow as our Lord and Leader; Jesus.
So are you a Christian who acts unchristian by following the wrong leader in a way that results in division over personalities? Are you a Christian who acts unchristian by following the wrong leader in a way that fails to reflect the message of the gospel?
Tomorrow we will look at a third negative consequence that occurs when Christians act unchristian by following the wrong leader.
The natural result that occurs when followers of Jesus and churches fight and divide over whether they want to elevate a leader who reflects their views and philosophy over the head of the church, Jesus Christ, we see a second incredibly negative consequence. That consequence is that when we follow the wrong leader, the result is division over personalities. And it is these types of divisions that arise over personalities that reveal the reality that these divisions reflect a failure to represent the message of the gospel. We see Paul reveal this reality for us in 1 Corinthians 1:13-16:
Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
In these verses, we see Paul reveal for us three ways that division within the church reflects a failure to represent the message of the gospel. First, divisions within the church do not reflect the person of Christ. Just as the physical body of Christ was not divided into parts, Christ’s body, the church, should not be divided.
Second, divisions within the church do not reflect the message of the gospel. Paul is explaining that neither Paul, Apollos, nor Cephas died for our selfishness and sin; it was Jesus who died for our sins. And because of this reality we should not elevate any person or personality over Jesus.
Third, divisions within the body of Christ do not reflect our identification. Paul talks about baptism to point out that as followers of Jesus, we are not baptized to identify ourselves with a man; as followers of Jesus we are baptized to identify with who we are supposed to follow as our Lord and Leader; Jesus.
So are you a Christian who acts unchristian by following the wrong leader in a way that results in division over personalities? Are you a Christian who acts unchristian by following the wrong leader in a way that fails to reflect the message of the gospel?
Tomorrow we will look at a third negative consequence that occurs when Christians act unchristian by following the wrong leader.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
When Christians Follow the Wrong Leader, Part 1
Yesterday, I talked about how a man named Paul wrote a church in a city named Corinth and gave the timeless piece of good news that God has made us rich in every way through Jesus Christ. And it would have been great if Paul would have stopped there and only given us the good news. Unfortunately, Paul also delivered the bad news of a major problem that plagued the church and still plagues churches today. We see this problem 1 Corinthians 1:10-12:
"Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ."
In these verses, we see revealed for us the timeless truth that Christians act unchristian when we follow the wrong leader. And these verses, Paul reveals for us the first of three incredibly negative consequences that occur when Christians act unchristian by following the wrong leader. The first negative consequence that the Apostle Paul reveals for us is that when we follow the wrong leader, we fail to demonstrate unity in community.
Instead of division, Paul called the Corinthian church to demonstrate three things. First, Paul called the Corinthian church to demonstrate unity in what they say. Second, Paul called the Corinthian church to not divide over conflicting agendas. Third, Paul calls the Corinthian church to demonstrate unity in their attitude and their purpose. Paul’s timeless point to the Corinthian church and to followers of Jesus today, is that followers of Jesus are to come to agreement and remove the divisions that come from the conflicting aims of objectives of church members. Instead of division, the church was designed to be a community with unity in their attitude and in their purpose.
But what was causing the division? Paul explains that he had received a report from a church member name Chloe that there were rivalries over personalities, which was dividing the church over which leader they were going to align themselves with and follow; Paul, Apollos, Cephas, which is another name for Peter, or Christ.
The amazing thing about these quarrels over personalities is that they are the same quarrels that are fought in churches today. You see, Paul was the emerging church pastor. Paul was leading the early church as it emerged out of Judaism with different worship styles and services that engaged an irreligious and pagan culture.
Apollos was the mega church pastor. Apollos was a dynamic speaker who attracted large crowds and was used by God to bring many people into a relationship with Christ and into the church at Corinth.
Cephas, or Peter, was the fundamentalist church pastor. The people that followed and aligned themselves with Peter wanted a hymns only church with a strict dress code that followed that traditions and customs of Old Testament Judaism.
And then there were those who stated that they were aligning with Christ. This is not as spiritual as it sounds. These were the charismatic church people; these were the people who stated that they just wanted to be “led by the spirit”. These were the people who wanted to be in authority but did not want to be under authority. These were the people who wanted to have the license to do whatever they wanted.
What is interesting is that Paul, Apollos, and Peter never had a debate or disagreement at the church in Corinth; they were partners in ministry there. This was not a leader problem; this was a follower problem. And it is the same problem we have today, isn’t it. It is the same problem when followers of Jesus and churches fight and divide over whether they want to elevate a leader who reflects the views and philosophy of the emerging church, the mega church, the fundamental church, or the charismatic church over the head of the church, Jesus Christ.
Tomorrow, we will look at the second incredibly negative consequence that occurs when Christians act unchristian by following the wrong leader.
So are you a Christian who acts unchristian by following the wrong leader in a way that fails to demonstrate unity in community?
"Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ."
In these verses, we see revealed for us the timeless truth that Christians act unchristian when we follow the wrong leader. And these verses, Paul reveals for us the first of three incredibly negative consequences that occur when Christians act unchristian by following the wrong leader. The first negative consequence that the Apostle Paul reveals for us is that when we follow the wrong leader, we fail to demonstrate unity in community.
Instead of division, Paul called the Corinthian church to demonstrate three things. First, Paul called the Corinthian church to demonstrate unity in what they say. Second, Paul called the Corinthian church to not divide over conflicting agendas. Third, Paul calls the Corinthian church to demonstrate unity in their attitude and their purpose. Paul’s timeless point to the Corinthian church and to followers of Jesus today, is that followers of Jesus are to come to agreement and remove the divisions that come from the conflicting aims of objectives of church members. Instead of division, the church was designed to be a community with unity in their attitude and in their purpose.
But what was causing the division? Paul explains that he had received a report from a church member name Chloe that there were rivalries over personalities, which was dividing the church over which leader they were going to align themselves with and follow; Paul, Apollos, Cephas, which is another name for Peter, or Christ.
The amazing thing about these quarrels over personalities is that they are the same quarrels that are fought in churches today. You see, Paul was the emerging church pastor. Paul was leading the early church as it emerged out of Judaism with different worship styles and services that engaged an irreligious and pagan culture.
Apollos was the mega church pastor. Apollos was a dynamic speaker who attracted large crowds and was used by God to bring many people into a relationship with Christ and into the church at Corinth.
Cephas, or Peter, was the fundamentalist church pastor. The people that followed and aligned themselves with Peter wanted a hymns only church with a strict dress code that followed that traditions and customs of Old Testament Judaism.
And then there were those who stated that they were aligning with Christ. This is not as spiritual as it sounds. These were the charismatic church people; these were the people who stated that they just wanted to be “led by the spirit”. These were the people who wanted to be in authority but did not want to be under authority. These were the people who wanted to have the license to do whatever they wanted.
What is interesting is that Paul, Apollos, and Peter never had a debate or disagreement at the church in Corinth; they were partners in ministry there. This was not a leader problem; this was a follower problem. And it is the same problem we have today, isn’t it. It is the same problem when followers of Jesus and churches fight and divide over whether they want to elevate a leader who reflects the views and philosophy of the emerging church, the mega church, the fundamental church, or the charismatic church over the head of the church, Jesus Christ.
Tomorrow, we will look at the second incredibly negative consequence that occurs when Christians act unchristian by following the wrong leader.
So are you a Christian who acts unchristian by following the wrong leader in a way that fails to demonstrate unity in community?
Monday, June 7, 2010
Are you rich?
Today, do you consider yourself rich? As a man named Paul penned his opening remarks a church in the town of Corinth, he provided some good news to those who have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ:
"I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
In these verses, we see the timeless good news that we have as a result of our relationship with Jesus Christ. And that good news is that God has made us rich in every way through Christ Jesus. First, the Apostle Paul states that followers of Jesus have the riches of the message of the gospel, which he refers to as the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus. Then Paul explains that followers of Jesus have the riches of the knowledge of God. Paul continues by revealing that followers of Jesus have the riches of the proof of God’s activity in our lives. The proof and the truth of the message of the gospel is revealed in God's transforming activity in our lives as followers of Jesus.
Fourth, the Apostle Paul states that followers of Jesus have the riches of having everything we need spiritually. Paul explains that the members of the church in Corinth were not lacking in any gift. Paul’s point is that as followers of Jesus, we have everything that we need spiritually in order to faithfully live life here on earth. Paul concludes by stating that followers of Jesus have the riches of the promise regarding Christ’s return. He explains that Christ will not only strengthen His followers to remain firm in our commitment to Him while we wait for His return; Paul also explains that God is faithful. What Paul was communicating here in this simple phrase is that God is worthy of our confident trust in our relationship with Christ. God is a promise maker and God is a promise keeper.
So are you rich?
"I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
In these verses, we see the timeless good news that we have as a result of our relationship with Jesus Christ. And that good news is that God has made us rich in every way through Christ Jesus. First, the Apostle Paul states that followers of Jesus have the riches of the message of the gospel, which he refers to as the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus. Then Paul explains that followers of Jesus have the riches of the knowledge of God. Paul continues by revealing that followers of Jesus have the riches of the proof of God’s activity in our lives. The proof and the truth of the message of the gospel is revealed in God's transforming activity in our lives as followers of Jesus.
Fourth, the Apostle Paul states that followers of Jesus have the riches of having everything we need spiritually. Paul explains that the members of the church in Corinth were not lacking in any gift. Paul’s point is that as followers of Jesus, we have everything that we need spiritually in order to faithfully live life here on earth. Paul concludes by stating that followers of Jesus have the riches of the promise regarding Christ’s return. He explains that Christ will not only strengthen His followers to remain firm in our commitment to Him while we wait for His return; Paul also explains that God is faithful. What Paul was communicating here in this simple phrase is that God is worthy of our confident trust in our relationship with Christ. God is a promise maker and God is a promise keeper.
So are you rich?
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Opportunity and Opposition...
In a letter in the Bible, a man named Paul is updating members of the church he was writing to about his future plans. And in his update, we see Paul reveal a timeless truth about God and His kingdom:
"But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." 1 Corinthians 16:8-9
In this statement, Paul reveals for us the reality that when Jesus provides an opportunity for us to advance His teachings and His message, there will be opposition. And, in most cases, this truth is proportional: the greater the opportunity that Jesus gives us to advance His message and His kingdom, the greater the opposition we will face.
And while the opposition may come in many different forms, our opportunity will always be the same: to invest and invite in people so that we can reflect and reveal Jesus Christ.
So the question we all must ask ourselves is this: Are we willing to lean into the opposition that we may face in order to seize the opportunities that Jesus gives us to advance His teachings and His message?
"But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." 1 Corinthians 16:8-9
In this statement, Paul reveals for us the reality that when Jesus provides an opportunity for us to advance His teachings and His message, there will be opposition. And, in most cases, this truth is proportional: the greater the opportunity that Jesus gives us to advance His message and His kingdom, the greater the opposition we will face.
And while the opposition may come in many different forms, our opportunity will always be the same: to invest and invite in people so that we can reflect and reveal Jesus Christ.
So the question we all must ask ourselves is this: Are we willing to lean into the opposition that we may face in order to seize the opportunities that Jesus gives us to advance His teachings and His message?
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Putting Off What Needs to be Put On...
When we become followers of Jesus, God begins the process of changing and transforming our lives. And God invites us to participate in the process of transformation by doing two things.
First, we are to participate in the process of transforming our character by putting to death the desires of our old selfish nature that exists apart from our relationship with Jesus. A writer named Paul talks about our need to put to death the desires of our old nature in Colossians 3:5-11:
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him-- a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Second, we are to participate in the process of transforming our character by putting to practice the desires of our new nature that we receive when we become followers of Jesus. We see Paul talk about this in Colossians 3:12-17:
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
The problem is that sometimes we can put off what we need to put on and we can put on what we need to put off. So, if you are a follower of Jesus, are you partnering in what God desires to do in your life? Are you putting off the old and putting into practice the new?
First, we are to participate in the process of transforming our character by putting to death the desires of our old selfish nature that exists apart from our relationship with Jesus. A writer named Paul talks about our need to put to death the desires of our old nature in Colossians 3:5-11:
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him-- a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Second, we are to participate in the process of transforming our character by putting to practice the desires of our new nature that we receive when we become followers of Jesus. We see Paul talk about this in Colossians 3:12-17:
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
The problem is that sometimes we can put off what we need to put on and we can put on what we need to put off. So, if you are a follower of Jesus, are you partnering in what God desires to do in your life? Are you putting off the old and putting into practice the new?
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Charting a Course through Difficult Circumstances...
Have you ever found yourself in a place in your life where you feel like you are waiting for God to enter into your difficult circumstances and bring healing and help, but it seems like Jesus is delaying? Or have you ever found yourself asking the question “How could a good and loving God allow bad things to happen in the lives of those He loves?” How can Jesus seem to be so absent in the lives of His followers when they encounter difficult circumstances? Isn’t that the tension that we can find ourselves wrestling with?
The story of Lazarus is in the Bible because it reveals a timeless truth when it comes to charting a course to spiritual maturity. And that timeless truth is that charting a course to spiritual maturity requires trusting God to leverage difficult circumstances to make us more like Him. Sometimes God miraculously brings help, healing, and deliverance from our difficult circumstances to bring Him glory. Other times God enables us to walk through the midst of our difficult circumstances to bring Him glory. In every case, God will leverage the difficult circumstances in our lives to cultivate and develop a growing and maturing relationship with Him as we learn to lean into and trust Him.
But each of us here has a choice on how we respond to this timeless truth. We can choose to resist and push back against this truth and live a life that is filled with frustration and doubt; or we can choose to embrace this truth. And God want us to embrace this truth because when we embrace this truth, we can also embrace and engage the reality that God has placed us in the perfect position to reflect His character and reveal His glory to those around us as we walk through difficult circumstances.
So how will you respond to the difficult circumstances that God places in your life? Will you question God? Will you doubt God? Or will you lean into and trust God to leverage the difficult circumstances in your life to make you more like Him and to bring Him glory?
The story of Lazarus is in the Bible because it reveals a timeless truth when it comes to charting a course to spiritual maturity. And that timeless truth is that charting a course to spiritual maturity requires trusting God to leverage difficult circumstances to make us more like Him. Sometimes God miraculously brings help, healing, and deliverance from our difficult circumstances to bring Him glory. Other times God enables us to walk through the midst of our difficult circumstances to bring Him glory. In every case, God will leverage the difficult circumstances in our lives to cultivate and develop a growing and maturing relationship with Him as we learn to lean into and trust Him.
But each of us here has a choice on how we respond to this timeless truth. We can choose to resist and push back against this truth and live a life that is filled with frustration and doubt; or we can choose to embrace this truth. And God want us to embrace this truth because when we embrace this truth, we can also embrace and engage the reality that God has placed us in the perfect position to reflect His character and reveal His glory to those around us as we walk through difficult circumstances.
So how will you respond to the difficult circumstances that God places in your life? Will you question God? Will you doubt God? Or will you lean into and trust God to leverage the difficult circumstances in your life to make you more like Him and to bring Him glory?
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