Monday, 6 February 2012

Issue 3 - Day 1

1 Corinthians 1


1 Corinthians 1:10

  1. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

The church of Corinth was divided. They had a divided leadership and a divided body. Have you ever tried a three legged race, or have you ever seen Siamese twins you will know that they are two connected people who have to go the same way. If they disagree then it will be painful, and they will fall down. When churches are divided it causes pain and collapse. This is far from honouring God. However the start is in disagreements between brothers in Christ. Is there anyone in the church with whom you are not of the same mind?

The Corinthian problem began as the leaders started teaching different things so the people had to decide who to follow. In America a couple of years ago a couple were pastoring a church together. They disagreed so much that they divorced. He went, leaving her a pastor of the church. Half the church followed him. Leaving aside what she was doing as pastor in the first place, their differences of mind split a church and destroyed the witness in that town for years. Who will listen to the Word of the Lord, when the leaders of the church are arguing!

It all starts with a word, or rather lack of a word. Communication is the key. Two people cannot be of the same mind if they do not know what each other are thinking. As the BT advert used to say, “it’s good to talk”. Phone someone else in the church today. Pray together, and grow to be of the same mind, and let that mind be the mind of Christ.

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