2000 years ago preacher named Paul spoke to a church in Corinth. Corinth was located West of Athens. It was at the heart of so much life in what we today call the Greek islands. Corinth was a seaport a cosmopolitan city, and a trading center that pulled in commerce from all over the Mediterranean world—and beyond.
Paul was writing to a very new church in this city; he was writing to a church that he loved--that means he was writing to people he loved because deep down the church has always been people gathered together around the good news of Jesus. Paul was writing to this church who he loved; writing to these people he loved as they were quarrelling with one another.
There have been divisions in the church for 2000 years. Paul understood this; he knew the divisions. And Paul appealed to these brothers and sisters to see themselves not as separate parties in conflict but to see themselves as God's people.
Over 20 something years of ministry I have found numerous ways that people can divide one person from another. People can fight about politics; people can joke about sports teams; I can make fun of people from Nebraska. Sometimes the divisions are small and frivolous; but sometimes the divisions are so significant and the passion behind them so strong the people feel they must take a stand and they must speak out about somebody else.
Paul appealed to this church to see their unity in Jesus--especially in the cross of Jesus Christ. There is something that feels intentionally countercultural in Paul's direction. In our time, when media companies make great profits by dividing people into ideological silos, Paul's invitation to find a common identity in Jesus crucified and risen matters most of all. The real source of the church's identity and the only real power we have he is declaring resurrection and inviting people to live in the light of the resurrection not at a future time but today.
Thanks for reading
Peace to you, John
