Tag Archives: division

Do You Not Know? 

15 Sunday Apr 2018

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One can’t help but notice that Paul asked a single question a number of times in his letter to the Corinthians; in fact, he asked this question 10 times! The question is “do you not know?” The question is asked a total of 17 times in the New Testament, with Paul asking 15 of them. The single question is asked in varied contexts; in this bulletin article, I want to consider the question in two contexts. What prompted Paul to ask the brethren about something they should have already known?

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you (3:16)? In the context of these words, the apostle wants the Corinthian saints (and us by extension) to understand that the “church” is God’s temple dwelling place. Paul does not have in view a physical building, but the individual saints collectively called the church. Those who adversely (negatively) affect the local church affect the temple God dwells in. When we think about our own dwelling place (our house, our home), and someone negatively affecting it, then we can appreciate the Lord’s concern a little better. If you felt it was threatened, you would likely go to what degree is necessary to protect it. Those who adversely affect the Lord “house” will have to address the Lord at His proper time, but while here on earth, the Lord wants His saints to give attention to this matter also.

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump (5:6)? In this particular context, the apostle Paul addressed the saints expressing his disappointment that some within the congregation were much too willing to let a brother engaged sin continue in that same sin without correction. In other words, the saints should have insisted upon him stopping the sinful activity, but they did not. In fact, as you can see by the question, they were “glorying” in this matter! What a shame! The local congregation, the elders especially, have an obligation to address sinful behaviors in the saints. When the elders and the saints within the congregation are made aware of sinful behavior, there is a need to address the one or the ones so involved. For what purpose? Two reasons. First, to save the soul engaged in the destructive/sinful behavior. Second, to take the old sinful leaven out of the new lump (church) so the church is not negatively affected more than it already has been (cf. Acts 20:28).  What is very troubling about situations like this is the occasion family members take to protect the one engaged in sinful behavior. There is a preference to “protect one’s own” more than there is to honor the One who own’s.  RT

Solomon and the Constitution

29 Wednesday Apr 2015

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The book of First Kings is a book of historical transition between one king to the next. At the start of the book, David is still king, but he is now transferring his authority to his son Solomon. There are two things David passed on to Solomon that ought to be mentioned. First, Solomon had his dad’s example. Whatever is to be said about David’s failings, it was the loyalty David manifested to the Lord that stayed with Solomon. Second, David’s charge to Solomon to never forget the Lord (1 Chronicles 28:9).

Into his reign Solomon took these two teachings points with him, though, of course, he took more than that with him. He took the major governmental document governing all Israel (the Law of Moses), his dad’s example, and the Lord’s wisdom. This was, we might say, constitutional law for the nation. These three things in place made the future for Solomon very bright.

Something happened along the way, however. Solomon was blessed with something no other king in human history was; he was blessed with an abundant amount of wisdom from God (1 Kings 3:12). It appears that Solomon handled this abundance very well in his reign; that is, he handled it well until he got near his end (1 Kings 11). What happened? Solomon allowed his pride to get in the way and, even worse, he allowed the wisdom of others to get in the way (11:4; cf. Proverbs 16:18).

Solomon, in his pride, became progressive. In studying 1 Kings 11 one can’t help but notice that Israel’s king did not want to be governed by the Lord and His “constitution” (the Law of Moses). Solomon allowed the affluence of wealth, political tolerance, religious pluralism, and hedonistic desires to control him. That which controls the top filters down to the people. Because of all this, the nation was divided religiously, morally, and politically.

The lesson is not lost on those of us today who take the time to observe.  RT

The Deprived Ones

25 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by in Leadership, love, Preaching

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When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he wrote concerning two things; first, he wrote to encourage them in the Lord and for them to avoid the divisive spirit that was amongst them already; second, he wrote to answer questions that were troublesome to them. In the course of addressing these two main points Paul also addressed why it was that a divisive spirit existed among them. A divisive spirit exists because people accept the wisdom this world presents as enlightened and reject, as a result, God’s wisdom. The Bible uses terms like “flesh” or a “carnal spirit” to describe such a way of thinking.

When these two approaches meet (man’s wisdom opposed to God’s wisdom), the clash is great and a spirit of division pervades. This divisive spirit drove a wedge between the Christians in Corinth because of personalities; people wanted to be aligned with prominent preachers. Paul addressed this matter when he spoke about his own experiences in relation (or comparison) with those in Corinth (4:1; 2:1-5). Paul was judged by some in Corinth as being inadequate for the occasion he was called upon to engage (preaching the good news of God). He mentioned that as an apostle he was considered foolish, he was deprived of necessary things like food, water, and sufficient clothing, and that he had no real place to call home (4:9-13). Paul, however, was not going to be thrown off his God-ordained task of preaching and teaching; rather, he used his circumstances in order to serve God, the brethren, and even himself (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7).

Let us make an application: Christians can be deprived of many things in this world. This does not mean—and this needs to be said and stressed—this does not mean that God is not blessing the “deprived ones,” when, in fact, He is and has already done so. The problems many face in this life are associated with believing that possessions are the outgrowth of God’s blessings. There is no necessary connection, none! Blessings from God are spiritual (Ephesians 1:3). Whatever physical blessings we are fortunate to possess and enjoy can be (and should be) used to glorify the Lord. Let us not think, however, that because we don’t have something that the Lord is not on our side. To think this way is discouragingly wrong!