After opening his letter with thanksgiving, Paul shifts quickly into correction. The church in Corinth had a serious problem. They were divided.
Some claimed to follow Paul. Others claimed Apollos. Others claimed Cephas, also known as Peter. Others claimed Christ.
At first glance, it may sound like a small disagreement over favorite teachers. But Paul saw something much deeper. Their identity was being shaped more by human leaders than by Jesus Christ.
So Paul asks a question that should stop every believer in their tracks:
“Is Christ divided?”
1 Corinthians 1:13, ESV
That question still matters today.
When the Church Becomes Divided
Paul appeals to the believers in Corinth in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He calls them to agree, to have no divisions among them, and to be united in the same mind and judgment.
This does not mean every believer will have the same personality, preferences, background, or opinion. Unity does not mean sameness. But it does mean that Christ must remain the center.
The Corinthians had formed groups around leaders. They were finding value in who taught them, who baptized them, or who influenced them. Instead of simply being known as followers of Christ, they were attaching their identity to people.
Paul wants no part of that.
He makes it clear that he did not come to build a personal following. He did not come to make people loyal to his name. He came to preach the gospel.
That is a needed reminder for the church today.
The goal is not to build platforms around personalities.
The goal is not to create spiritual fan clubs.
The goal is not to compete over who has the best teacher, preacher, church, or ministry.
The goal is Christ.
The Human Desire to Belong
In our humanity, we love to be identified with someone or something bigger than ourselves. We want to belong. We want to be connected. We want to feel significant.
That is one reason people spend money on football and baseball jerseys. We want others to know who we are associated with.
We say things like, “That’s my team.”
But most of us are not actually on the team. We are not playing on the field. We are not taking the hits. We are not throwing the passes or swinging the bat. Yet we yell, celebrate, get angry, and feel offended when our team loses or when we think they were cheated.
We have favorite players.
We buy specific jerseys.
We wear certain colors on game day.
We pass traditions down from one generation to another.
Sometimes, we can even be divided in the same house over a favorite team.
But is that who we really are?
Is that our identity?
Would we rather be known as an LSU fan, a Saints fan, a fan of a certain preacher, or a member of a certain church before we are known as a follower of Christ?
That is the kind of issue Paul was confronting in Corinth. The believers were more concerned about being associated with certain leaders than being united in Christ.
When Good Things Become Identity
There is nothing wrong with appreciating a teacher, pastor, church, ministry, or tradition. God uses people to shape us. God uses churches to disciple us. God uses leaders to teach, shepherd, and encourage us.
But good things become dangerous when they become our identity.
A church can become an idol.
A pastor can become an idol.
A denomination can become an idol.
A ministry can become an idol.
A tradition can become an idol.
Even our opinions can become idols.
We can become so wrapped up in our preferences that we lose sight of what matters most.
Christ.
Following Him.
Proclaiming Him.
Loving people in His name.
Sharing the good news with the world.
When our opinions supersede truth, division follows. When our preferences become more important than the gospel, unity suffers. When our loyalty to a group becomes stronger than our love for the body of Christ, we have lost our grip on what matters.
The Bigger Picture of the Church
Paul’s correction reminds us that the church is bigger than one local congregation, one preacher, one denomination, or one tradition.
There is one body of Christ.
That does not mean every church is healthy. It does not mean every teacher is faithful. It does not mean doctrine does not matter. Truth matters deeply.
But within the true body of believers, Christ is not divided.
We may gather in different buildings.
We may have different styles.
We may have different backgrounds.
We may express worship differently.
We may have different ministry methods.
But if we belong to Christ, we belong to one body.
The mission is not to compete with one another. The mission is to go out and spread the gospel.
We are not called to make disciples of our favorite church brand. We are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Christ Is the Center
Paul says that Christ did not send him to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with words of eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ would not be emptied of its power.
That is a powerful statement.
Paul did not want his personality, skill, influence, or eloquence to become the focus. He wanted the cross to remain central.
The same must be true for us.
The power is not in the preacher.
The power is not in the church name.
The power is not in the ministry brand.
The power is not in human wisdom.
The power is in the cross of Christ.
When Christ is central, pride begins to lose its grip. When Christ is central, our need to be associated with the “right group” begins to fade. When Christ is central, we remember that we are not building our own kingdom.
We are serving His.
A Prayer for Today
Papa,
I confess that I am guilty. I can seek value in the wrong places. I can get wrapped up in emotions over things that do not really matter. I can allow my opinions to rise above truth. I can disagree with the way things happen and lose sight of what is most important.
Christ.
Forgive me for the times I have found pride in labels, preferences, church names, or associations more than in simply belonging to You. Forgive me for the times I have allowed division, frustration, or disillusionment to distract me from the bigger picture of Your Church.
Help me remember that Christ is not divided.
You have called Your people to be one body. You have called us to go out, spread the gospel, love people, and make disciples.
Help me hold tightly to truth and loosely to pride. Help me honor the people You use without making them the center. Help me love Your Church even when it is imperfect. Help me keep my eyes fixed on Jesus.
Let my identity be found in Christ alone.
Amen.
Reflection Questions
- Where am I finding identity outside of Christ?
- Have I allowed a church, leader, ministry, denomination, or tradition to become a source of pride?
- Do my opinions ever supersede truth?
- Am I contributing to unity in the body of Christ or division?
- Would people know me first as a follower of Christ or by some other label?
Final Thought
The church does not need more spiritual fan clubs.
The church needs believers who are united around Jesus Christ.
Paul’s question still echoes today:
Is Christ divided?
The answer is no.
So let us stop building our identity around people, platforms, preferences, and labels. Let us return to the center.
Christ crucified.
Christ risen.
Christ proclaimed.
Christ followed.