On Friday, Donald Trump took the oath of office to become the 45th president of the United States. As you know, his election was not without controversy. After all, he lost the popular vote by 1.5 million votes! So why isn’t Hillary Clinton the new president? Because Trump won the votes where they count, in the Electoral College. But since President Trump lost the popular vote, many across the U.S. have staged “Not My President” marches in the last couple of months. The nation to the south is divided.
In our sermon text today, the Apostle Paul talks about how the congregation in Corinth was also divided. Some of the members valued Paul as their pastor. Others thought Peter was the best. Still others favored a gifted preacher named Apollos. While another group simply claimed to follow Christ. Divided loyalties in a nation like the U.S. are not surprising, but such a thing should never happen in a Christian congregation. Today Paul will explain how the Corinthians and we are a church that is fully equipped to be truly unified.
Paul learned about the divisions in the Corinthian church from some members who visited him in Ephesus. These members may been part of the “Paul” faction. If so, they probably expected Paul to be happy to learn that he was their favorite. But the apostle wrote: “Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13) Just whom had Paul gone to Corinth to promote? Himself? No. He had gone to promote Jesus, the one and only savior. It hurt Paul that the congregation was bickering over who their favorite leader was. There should have been no question: Jesus was their leader!
A text like this prompts me, as your pastor, to ask the question: whose reputation am I working to promote in this congregation? My own or Christ’s? Do I work hard because I want to share Jesus with all, or because I want you to say that I’m a good pastor? Don’t you find a similar struggle inside of you? Why is it that you are so active in the work of this congregation? Why do you try your best at school? Why do you take parenting seriously? Why do you work the hardest at the office? Do you do these things because you are so filled with the love of Jesus that you want to serve others to the best of your ability? Or do you just want others to think highly of you? It’s a little of both isn’t it? And that’s not surprising because Christians are simul justus et pectaor. That’s a theological Latin phrase worth knowing. It means “at the same time saint and sinner.” As a saint, you want to do your best in everything to say thank you to Jesus and to show love to others. But as a sinner you are wired to promote yourself.
And it doesn’t help when well-meaning people say things like, “You’re the smartest coach we’ve ever had,” or “I love working with you the best,” or “I wish your classmates would act more like you.” How should you react when compared like that to others? Paul was dismayed. He did not give his sinful nature a foothold lest he be filled with pride and look down on others. Oh it’s not wrong to graciously thank someone for a compliment, but is there also a way you can deflect that praise to Jesus? If for example someone thanks you for helping them, you could perhaps say, “Don’t thank me, thank the one who sent me!” Another way to deflect praise is by not drawing attention to your acts of service. Don’t broadcast the fact that you were the one to do those chores around the house. And don’t become resentful when no one notices. Jesus noticed, isn’t that why you did the chore in the first place, to serve him?
Since the Corinthian congregation was filled with saint/sinners it shouldn’t have shocked Paul that there were divisions in the congregation, but neither could he turn a blind eye to the problem. Paul was adamant when he wrote: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1:10). It wasn’t just Paul who wanted the Corinthians to be united; this was God’s will for them in Jesus.
The first step in Christian unity comes when we’re all on the same page in regard to the teachings of the Bible. We can’t be truly unified if we suggest that there are many ways to understand the Bible. No, as Paul would make clear in a letter to his friend Timothy, there is a pattern for sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:13), and Paul insisted that all of his listeners follow that established pattern. Those who break from the pattern are a danger to themselves and others just as someone who breaks from the established traffic pattern of driving on the right-hand side here in North America is a danger.
But even congregations who are one in doctrine might still not be truly unified. That happens when members second-guess the leaders, or when leaders abuse their position of power and make decisions without consulting their fellow members. Hurtful remarks also destroy unity. Every congregation is in danger of experiencing such disunity because we’re all…what? Simul justus et pecator.
So how do we guard against such disunity? We first need to understand that Paul isn’t suggesting that we must all become clones of each other—liking the same hymns and embracing the same potluck favorites. The Greek word Paul used for “united” is what happens when a seamstress sews together two pieces of fabric. The two pieces don’t have to be the same color or pattern to make something useful and beautiful when sewn together to become a pillow or a quilt. In fact the contrast adds to the beauty. Likewise God did not make us all to be night owls, nor did he make us all good with our hands or voice. He’s scattered various gifts throughout the congregation and has now sewn us together with the blood of his Son to act as one.
He wants us to remain unified even when a fellow member hurts us with words or actions. It seems that Paul himself had firsthand experience with that. When he first came to Corinth, he met stiff opposition from the Jewish synagogue. Their leaders even hauled Paul into court for preaching about Jesus. But when the judge realized that this was a religious matter and not a civil one, he threw out the charges. The rabble watching the proceedings beat up the lead prosecutor, a man named Sosthenes, for wasting the court’s time (Acts 18). How satisfying that must have been for Paul to see his adversary receive the harm he had hoped to inflict on him! No, that’s not how Paul reacted. Instead of throwing a few punches of his own, Paul may have helped Sosthenes. We think this because Paul addressed the letter to the Corinthians like this: “Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother…Sosthenes” (1 Corinthians 1:1). If this was the same Sosthenes, then he had become a believer and a trusted helper! Had he come to faith because Paul had been the only one to show compassion after he had been beaten up by the mob? How could Paul not show such compassion and forgiveness? For he too had once been an enemy of Christ and his people, but had received forgiveness. How could Paul now not also extend the hand of friendship and forgiveness to Sosthenes?
Friends, I know that fellow Christians can say or do things to hurt, after all they are also still sinners. But I doubt anyone has treated you with the malice that Sosthenes had in mind for Paul. And yet Paul didn’t see that as a reason why he and Sosthenes could not become unified. After all that’s why Jesus died—to not only forgive Paul of his sins, but to also forgive the sins of Sosthenes. Likewise Jesus didn’t just die to take away your sins, he died to pay for the sins of those who have hurt you. God now calls you to extend that forgiveness and the hand of friendship to everyone that there may be true unity in the church.
Paul leaves no wiggle room about this. Listen again to these words: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1:10). We are not just to tolerate each other as we tip-toe around each other; we are to be truly united. And since that’s what will happen perfectly in heaven anyway, why wait until then to extend that hand of friendship and reconciliation? Wouldn’t we be embarrassed if we find that our room in the heavenly mansion ends up being right next to the induvial we spurned here? Don’t wait to show love and unity to all through the forgiveness that you yourself have received from Jesus.
Now I wouldn’t want you to think that I feel that this is a divided congregation. I saw evidence of your love and unity a couple of Sundays ago when you were looking for your baptismal stones to place in the font. I enjoyed watching you help each other find your stone and then take turns snapping each other’s pictures. It’s a memory I will cherish because it was a picture of Christian unity.
BUT I also believe that we can become even more unified. When Pastor Kruschel was here he reported how you told him that this is a friendly church. And yes, it is, but we’re friendly with those we already know well or are related to. I think we can do better sharing our friendship with everyone—even those we don’t hang out with during the rest of the week. So Pastor K. suggested we adopt the 3-minute rule. The way it works is that for the first 3 minutes after worship, you can’t speak with anyone you are related to or have church business with or see regularly during the week. Find someone you don’t know as well and greet them and ask about their week. You don’t have to talk to the same person for three minutes. Nor do you have to do this alone. You and a friend, a spouse, or sibling can together make new friends. And this rule isn’t just for the adults, it’s for our children too! I’ll remind you of the 3-minute rule when I share the announcements after worship. May it help foster even greater unity in our congregation, for this is God’s will for us through faith in Christ Jesus! Amen.
SERMON NOTES
What problem in the Corinthian congregation did Paul address in today’s text?
How does the Latin phrase simul justus et pecator explain why even Christians struggle with pride?
How can you react when someone praises you for a job well done or compares you in a favorable light to someone else?
Paul said that Christian congregations are to be unified. Such unity can only be achieved and maintained if we’re first all unified in regard to….?
(2 questions) What picture does the Greek word “unify” portray? And what is the agent that binds us together even though we are so different from each other?
We are to be unified even with those who may have hurt us. How did Paul demonstrate such unity?
The “3-minute Rule” can help this congregation become even better unified. Who is that you will talk to after the service today to foster better unity?
