Please Stop Arguing!

ByJim Stephens

Reading: 1 Corinthians 1; Psalm 116

10 Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 11 For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your arguments, dear brothers and sisters. 12 Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:10-12 NLT)

Wow! I don’t know how the emphasis can be any stronger than to make an appeal in the name of Jesus Christ! This must be really important to Paul! And to God! And he says “Please stop arguing among yourselves!”

Here’s how I read this: When the Christians argue over doctrines, over personal preferences, over which leader or teacher they like best, the harmony Jesus prayed for in John 17 is threatened (maybe destroyed?). When the harmony is disrupted or lost, it won’t be long before there are divisions in the church.

Now, I’m no rocket scientist, but it’s not hard to see that when there are divisions in the church, Christ’s body is divided, the focus of introducing God’s Kingdom to our world is lost, and we fragment into disunity and disorder.

Paul is begging them (and us) to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

You know what the problem is? I’m glad to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose, as long as it’s My Thought and My Purpose we’re united in! And it wouldn’t surprise me if you’re pretty much like me in that regard.

So what are we going to do about it? Here’s some options I see: 1) Value unity more than self-willed independence. 2) Be willing to compromise, change our minds, give preference to others. 3) Acknowledge that some doctrines, issues, and preferences are essential and others are not, and that the non-essentials aren’t worth destroying the unity of Christ’s Church over! What do you think? Can we do that?

Prayer:

Father, Please forgive us for self-willed independence and for thinking our ideas are right and everyone else’s are wrong (if they don’t match ours)! We need a change of attitude if this is going to work the way Jesus prayed it would. Help us be willing to value what you value, and to think as you think. For Jesus’ sake! Amen!