This week we continue our 6-week series called Unity in Diversity: The Beauty of The United Methodist Church. For four weeks we have explored the rich history and theology that we share as United Methodists.
Whether you are new to this congregation or have been a part since the beginning, you know that we are diverse in our history, our background, our education and socio-economic status, our theology, our age, and so much more! Enriched by this diversity, we are a church family who cares for and prays for one another, a church family who lifts one another up, a church family who nurtures and loves. We do not do these things because we are obligated by dogma or tradition. Instead, we love because we are loved!
The Apostle Paul needed to remind the church at Corinth how to love one another in the unity of Christ. You can read about Paul founding the church at Corinth in Acts Ch. 18. Corinth was a large city with many temples to the Greek and Roman gods. The church began to follow the ways of the Greek and Roman temples by creating “mini gods” of their teachers and dividing themselves according to which teacher they preferred. In this text, Paul does not force the church to choose one teacher over another, but he does admonish them for making mini gods of the teachers. He reminds them at all people, including the teachers, serve in the name of Christ, not in the name of men.
We can all claim our favorite preachers, theology books, hymns, or style of worship. We are not called to be uniform in our preferences; however, we must never create mini gods of those preferences. We, as Christians and United Methodists, must remember to keep Jesus at the the center of our faith. The Gospel is the object of our unity, for “they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”
1 Corinthians 1:10-18 (CEB)
“Now I encourage you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Agree with each other and don’t be divided into rival groups. Instead, be restored with the same mind and the same purpose.
My brothers and sisters, Chloe’s people gave me some information about you, that you’re fighting with each other. What I mean is this: that each one of you says, “I belong to Paul,” “I belong to Apollos,” “I belong to Cephas,” “I belong to Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you, or were you baptized in Paul’s name? Thank God that I didn’t baptize any of you, except Crispus and Gaius, so that nobody can say that you were baptized in my name! Oh, I baptized the house of Stephanas too. Otherwise, I don’t know if I baptized anyone else.
Christ didn’t send me to baptize but to preach the good news. And Christ didn’t send me to preach the good news with clever words so that Christ’s cross won’t be emptied of its meaning.The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are being destroyed. But it is the power of God for those of us who are being saved.”
Consider these questions:
- What words or images come to mind when you hear the word “uniform?”
- What words of images come to mind when you hear the word “unity?”
- How are those words or images different?
- What does it mean to you to keep the Gospel at the center of your faith?
- How may the Gospel unify the church?