3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, 2008
Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
It seems that a person can’t turn on the news without hearing about the latest quarrels surrounding the presidential candidates. The Democrats are divided and the Republicans are debating. Obama, Clinton, and Edwards are trying to gain support by giving reasons why he or she is the best candidate. One declares, “Don’t vote for this candidate because of this, that, and the other thing. McCain, Romeny, and Huckabee are trying to stand out above the competition. Each one declares, “Vote for me, because of this, that, and the other thing.” People are even trying to create divisions by suggesting that the African Americans are suppose to vote for Obama, the women are to vote for Clinton, the Mormons are to vote for Romney, and the Christians are to vote for Huckabee. Politics divides people including those in the same political parties as people follow after the more dynamic politicians. This is the world of politics enticing people to choose whom they will follow. It is as if each one of you says, “I follow Edwards,” or “I follow McCain,” or “I follow Gulliani.”
This sounds strikingly similar to our Epistle lesson this day. Paul hears a report from Chloe that there is internal division, quarrelling, and strife in the church at Corinth. Paul says, “What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” (1 Cor. 1:12) It’s as if the people were trying to pit one teacher against another. Yet these teachers were given the same message to teach. They were to proclaim the word of the cross. We see this most clearly in the liberal academic world in which the so-called scholars try to pit Jesus against St. Paul as if they were at opposition to each other. They try to divide Paul from Jesus and Peter from John. They say such things as this, “That is a Pauline doctrine,” or “ a Petrine doctrine,” or “a teaching of the Johannine community.” In the end they just follow their own teachings causing further division. It’s as if they were telling us, “Paul said unto you this, that, and the other, but I say to you this, that, and another thing.” The end result is that man’s words take precedence over God’s Word. The bottom line is that these so-called scholars want you to follow them.
In both religion and politics, there are strong passions and convictions related to personal opinions. Movements are personality driven. There is the underlying desire to be right. For this reason people say, “You shouldn’t discuss politics or religion unless you want to start an argument.” People say, “Doctrine divides.” Therefore, the solution is to agree to disagree. Now, honestly, does that make any sense at all? Can the church truly agree to disagree with the teaching of God’s Word? Can the church allow the objective truth revealed by God be trumped by subjective feelings and emotions?
In the Bible, it’s not doctrine that divides; rather, it is false doctrine that divides. In the church, there should be no divisions based upon the doctrine that comes from God. The church is called to join together in fellowship with God and what He teaches. Divisions come when new paths are built and new fellowships are made. Divisions are a peeling off from the whole of the church. Such divisions are rooted in the sin of self-centered individualism. It is the individual who says, “Follow me rather than Jesus.” The Christian Faith is not about being right for the sake of being right. No, it is about being right with God. We can only be made right with God through Jesus. We are to put to death the desires of the Old Adam in us that want to be right in our own sight.
Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” (1 Cor. 1:10 ESV) The Church is called to keep the name of God holy by teaching rightly the Word of God and living holy lives according to it. In this way everyone is on the same page. Christ is not to be divided. The image of a body is the image of being one, being united, having concord, and having one head. The church is about community with God and His holy people. Divisions and discord bring destruction to the unity of the church. The “we” of the church becomes a “me,” “myself,” and “I.” The body is to be one and not to be fractured into personalities and opinions.
Paul takes us back to Jesus. Paul takes us back to the cross. Paul takes us back to our baptism. For there is one Faith, one Lord and Savior, and one baptism that unites us into the body of Christ. The Gospel is about Jesus. The Gospel is summed up in what Jesus did. It’s not about Paul. It’s not about what Paul did. Thus he says, “Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”(1 Cor. 1:13 ESV) Paul uses a rhetorical question meaning that the answer is obvious. Jesus was crucified for you. He appeased God’s wrath and died in your place. Then when you were baptized, you were baptized in His name and were united with Him. In your baptism, you were crucified with Christ. With a rhetorical question Paul brings this truth home. The message is about Jesus and not the messenger. It’s all about Jesus. It’s all about preaching Jesus and not about the preacher.
Then Paul goes on to say that it’s a good thing that he didn’t baptize many of the converts in Corinth or then they would confuse the matter all the more. It’s not that Paul is diminishing baptism, for as we see in the book of Acts, Romans, Galatians, Colossians, Ephesians, and Titus he regards it very highly. It would be like me saying, “When I came here to serve as your pastor, I wasn’t sent here to baptize you.” I was sent to preach the Gospel. I only baptized a few of you, namely Madison and Samuel.” In fact, most of you weren’t baptized by Pastor Escue either. This way there isn’t any divisions like, “I was baptized by Escue,” or “I was baptized by Kachelmeier.” There is one baptism and it is done in the name of Jesus. It’s all about the name of Jesus and not the name of the pastor.
Paul came to preach the Gospel which is summed up in the cross. Jesus died for your sins. It is the Gospel that unites. It is the word of the cross that brings people to Christ. It was Jesus who said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32 ESV) To those who are perishing this Word of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God for salvation. The Greek word here for power is “δύναμις” which is the root word for our “dynamite.” It is the Word of the cross that is dynamite. It’s not special stories or dynamite jokes that have the real power. The real power is not in the person or the pastor being dynamic. Let’s leave the dynamite speeches and dynamic personalities in the world of politics. In the church, the real power is in the word of the cross.
Yet, to the world the word of the cross is offensive. The world would rather hear about how to become a better me than how Christ has redeemed you on the cross. It is offensive and it will continue to produce offense. Not all can stomach it. Simeon said that this would happen. When Jesus was brought to the Temple as an infant Simeon declared this to the Virgin Mary when he said, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed” (Luke 2:34 ESV) It would be swell if everyone would just get along and believe in Jesus. But that’s not how it works. We cannot remove the cross in order to keep from causing offense. It is the word of the cross that will bring the downfall of many but at the same time it will raise up many as Simeon said.
The Christian Faith is all about Jesus who was crucified for you. If you want to be a Christian, then you must learn to embrace the cross realizing that there will be those who are offended by it, but there will also be those who build upon it as the true foundation. Let us never lose sight of the Word of the Cross and cause unnecessary divisions. Let us crucify the flesh and trust alone in the Crucified One.
If you want to be true disciples of Jesus, then you must continue in His Word. As Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 ESV) Jesus sent the apostles out to make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them all that He commanded. Therefore, as His disciples, let us continue to grow together in the word of the cross and follow Him. Jesus died for you, and for me, and for us all. Let us continue to live in Him. Amen.
