God's Foolish Church - 1 0-75 RR-805 c-76 1 Cor 1:10-11 "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. {11} For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you." Today I am beginning a talk on God's Foolish Church. There are two sides to this topic. I begin today. Will continue later. The first we find in the passage that we just read. I want for you to imagine with me for a moment that you are in a great army. You are marching in formation as you approach the enemy. This day, this battle, will determine the fate of your country. The enemy is looking ahead, and it is a formidable army. But you are being led by a great general who has had experience fighting this enemy. Just before the armies meet, one of the tall soldiers in your army turns to a short soldier and says, "You little pip-squeak, what are you doing in the army." Pip-squeak responds by taking a lunge at the big guy. Soon, the soldiers around the two are taking sides and facing off at each other. The discord moves like a wave through the men, and soon, the enemy is just sitting there laughing, for your army has just lost the battle without an arrow being fired. Foolish army, you say. I concur. The Corinthian church was experiencing just that effect. Having been established by Paul, Aquilla, Precilla, Mark, and Silas, and nurtured by Apollos, there were church members who favored the personality of each. Some even felt that they should follow Peter, though we do not know if he were even ever there. We should feel blessed today if we should experience such Godly leadership. And while each of the apostles and teachers taught the same gospel, some in the church, probably to make themselves feel better, insisted that one particular teacher that they liked better was the true teacher, and the rest were somehow suspect. And that was among those following godly teachers. Can you imagine the rest! Those heretical parties, if you, will proclaiming their version of truth. Unfortunately the Corinthian church was not unique in this regard. Proof of this is the fact that the church was soon divided, and we can see what it is like today. There are a lot of reasons for which we might like to be remembered. There are some that we would rather not be remembered. Among those, two Christian ladies in Phillipi. There names were Euodia and Syntyche. We do not know what their issues were. Perhaps they both wanted some position in the church. Or perhaps one had snubbed the other at one time. We don't know, but can imagine. Paul writes: Phil 4:1-3 "Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. {2} I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. {3} And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life." Here we have two women who had gone through all of the hardships of helping start up the work of the Lord in Phillipi. They worked with Paul, and probably Silas and Timothy. They were faithful in a pagan world. But they could not get along. Paul not only appeals to the women, but to members of the church to help these two come to harmony in the Lord. You see, God's foolish church is letting the enemy have a pass. Satan does not have to fight us if we are fighting our selves. Over and over the Apostles of Christ call for harmony, unity. Again, Paul. Ephesians 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Unity without peace) 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. ....................... 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Notice why the gifts are given. To equip saints for ministry. For building up the body of Christ. For bringing unity of the faith. For bringing the knowledge of Jesus. To bring us to perfection. For the growth of the body. In short, the gifts are to bring harmony. The Apostle John deals with this issue. 1 John 2:9 "He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. {10}: "He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. {11} But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." 1 John 4:20-21 "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? {21} And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also." The Solution: Heb 13:1 "Let brotherly love continue." How easy it is to greet someone coming into the church for the first time, whether visiting or becoming a member. But it is something else to continue to display that affection and concern. Titus 3:9-11 "But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. {10} Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, {11} knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned." I could spend hours telling you about things that churches fight about. And you could tell me some. But the Word here clearly says that a person who causes division within the church should be admonished, and then rejected if they continue to cause division. That is pretty harsh. But cancer and gangrene have to be dealt with, whether it be a physical problem or a spiritual problem in the body of Christ. 1 Th 5:11 "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Th 5:13 ...... Be at peace among yourselves." You remember what edify means. Don't you? Build up. And as we go about building each other up, we will be at peace. Col 4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." Have you every known pepper speech? Not seasoned with grace? Well, I am just going to tell it like it is. That is the way I am. Up front and direct. I would suggest that Paul is saying for the betterment of the church, honey is better than vinegar. Col 3:1-3 "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. {2} Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. {3} For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Here is one of the more important texts on the solution to the foolish church. If we would but look away from ourselves and our desires, and look to our Savior, what a difference it would make. Col 3:12-15 "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; {13} bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. {14} But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. {15} And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." Love..... What can I say? Phil 2:4 "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." A great commandment. Eph 5:21 "submitting to one another in the fear of God." This step will totally cast out the foolishness of sick church relationships. When I become more concerned with you than I am with myself... When I am as interested in listening as I am talking... When I study to see what will make your life better, your spirits more peaceful, your relationships more supportive, what a difference our churches would make. Those who work for Christ are to be upright and trustworthy, firm as a rock to principle, and at the same time kind and courteous. Courtesy is one of the graces of the Spirit. To deal with human minds is the greatest work ever given to man; and he who would find access to hearts must heed the injunction, "Be pitiful, be courteous." Love will do that which argument will fail to accomplish. But a moment's petulance, a single gruff answer, a lack of Christian politeness and courtesy in some small matter, may result in the loss of both friends and influence. {RC 30.2} Phil 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" Have you ever tried rejoicing, I mean really rejoicing, and being negative at the same time? Phil 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things." The greatest guideline for Christian speech.