Epiphany 3 / OT 3
Devotional
Water From the Well
Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
Object:
Now I appeal to you ... that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.
-- 1 Corinthians 1:10
Can one possibly read this passage without a deep sense of shame at the continuing divisions within the body of Christ? Paul satirized the division by naming several key leaders as possible claimants to loyalty. "What I mean is that each of you says, 'I belong to Paul ... Apollos ... Cephas' or 'I belong to Christ,' " as if such claims could set you above other believers. Can you not hear, "I belong to Calvin, John Wesley, or the true church" as if such claims do anything but shame us? Or, today, would such a claim be in the form of "I am born again, speak in tongues, am a liberal, a conservative, or an evangelical"? Should we not also tremble in response to Paul's rhetorical question, "Is Christ divided?" Given all of the foolish attempts throughout history, and in our current day, to establish the "pure" church, should we not step back from all human attempts to structure perfection through human wisdom and recognize with Paul that we are seeking to empty the cross of Christ of its power? If the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ "destroy(s) the wisdom of the wise," then perhaps we need to reflect deeply on how we have been behaving as Christians. If we are to be united in the same mind and the same purpose, then have our very divisions reflected our stubborn unwillingness to have "the same mind (in us) that was in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5)? Until we are at least willing to strive to do that, can any of us claim to be faithful disciples of Christ?
-- 1 Corinthians 1:10
Can one possibly read this passage without a deep sense of shame at the continuing divisions within the body of Christ? Paul satirized the division by naming several key leaders as possible claimants to loyalty. "What I mean is that each of you says, 'I belong to Paul ... Apollos ... Cephas' or 'I belong to Christ,' " as if such claims could set you above other believers. Can you not hear, "I belong to Calvin, John Wesley, or the true church" as if such claims do anything but shame us? Or, today, would such a claim be in the form of "I am born again, speak in tongues, am a liberal, a conservative, or an evangelical"? Should we not also tremble in response to Paul's rhetorical question, "Is Christ divided?" Given all of the foolish attempts throughout history, and in our current day, to establish the "pure" church, should we not step back from all human attempts to structure perfection through human wisdom and recognize with Paul that we are seeking to empty the cross of Christ of its power? If the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ "destroy(s) the wisdom of the wise," then perhaps we need to reflect deeply on how we have been behaving as Christians. If we are to be united in the same mind and the same purpose, then have our very divisions reflected our stubborn unwillingness to have "the same mind (in us) that was in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5)? Until we are at least willing to strive to do that, can any of us claim to be faithful disciples of Christ?
