WATCHWORD:
18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” 20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 1 Corinthians 1:18-20
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. Ephesians 4:1-6
Meditation:
Division is Good?
In a recent Our Daily Bread, pastor Mike Whittmer started his meditation with this story:
Dewberry Baptist Church split in the 1800s over a chicken leg. Various versions of the story exist, but one account was that two men fought over the last drumstick at a church potluck. One man said God wanted him to have it. The other replied that God didn’t care, and he really wanted it. The men became so furious that one moved a couple of kilometers down the road and started Dewberry Baptist Church #2. Thankfully, the churches have settled their differences, and everyone concedes the reason for their split was ridiculous.”
Stories of churches who have split over some of the most ridiculous reasons are numerous. At last count, there there more than 50,000 splinters of the Christian faith. Churches have split over serious differences as well as ridiculous and superficial reasons. While disagreements among the congregations continue, the basic tenet of Christianity, Jesus Christ is Lord, remains.
We know that the night before his death, Jesus prayed for his followers. “May they be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me” (John 17:21-23).
Charles Spurgeon, noted theologian and minister in the 1800s, commented that he blessed God that there were so many denominations, because if there were not believers who differed a little in their creeds, we would never get as much gospel as we do. He went on to say that “God has sent different believers to defend different kinds of truth; but Christ defected and preached all — Christ’s testimony was perfect.”
That is the point, isn’t it? We who sit in the pews may grieve a split in your church, but our worship has the singular focus of Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified.
Why do you go to church? Do you happen to be there because your children are part of the youth program? Is that your only reason? You go to church because the minister preaches interesting and engaging sermons? Is that your only reason? Do you go to church because friends are there and they would notice if you’re not in attendance? Or, do you go to church to pray, sing blessings to the Lord, to honor the one true God? And just maybe you think that your ministry to your Lord and Savior is to be present in his presence, and to be an encouragement to others. We are blessed, in order to be a blessing. Hallelujah. Amen.
A Bit of Divisive Humor:
There was an old, contentious Quaker who went from one meeting to another, never finding the “true” church. Someone once said to him, “Well, what church are you in now?” He said, “I am in the true church at last.” “How many belong to it?” “Just my wife and myself, and I am not sure about her sometimes.”
Praise Prayer:
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
