February 16, 2020
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
My cousin Earl is a fascinating man. He is a few years younger than me and is the oldest child of my uncle, my Dad’s older brother, Billy Knight. Like all of my first cousins on the Knight side, Earl was born and raised in Stoneville, North Carolina. After graduating from Dalton McMichael High School in Stoneville, he began his college education at N.C. State. After leaving N.C. State Earl enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and even though he would tell you that prior to doing so, enlisting had never entered his mind, the fact is he was walking in the footsteps of those in our family who had come before him. People like my Dad and his Dad, who many years before had done the very same thing.
My Dad was so proud of Earl and loved sharing stories about Earl’s Air Force experience with me – and I loved hearing the stories. I believe my Dad secretly loved being able to relive some of his own Air Force experiences by/through Earl’s enlistment. The fact that my Dad and Earl both served in the Air Force, went through basic training at the same base, and had other similar experiences that are unique to serving in the United States Air Force, I believe, allowed them to connect on an even deeper level. Something for which I am grateful.
The Air Force also allowed Earl the opportunity to experience something else… traveling and living all over the world. This proved to be quite significant, I think, because if you had asked me where I thought Earl would live when he grew up, I would have quickly answered Stoneville. And I would have been wrong. Today Earl lives in downtown Atlanta, Georgia and by all accounts is loving it.
A little over a year ago Earl and I started this new routine of texting, and we’ve been pretty consistent ever since and I have loved it. Each conversation begins with a simple text message, like me checking in with him to see how things are going and what he is up to. That quick message oftentimes turns into a deeper conversation which has allowed us both to be openly vulnerable with each other – something I believe all of us really need. Recently, though, when Earl has been the one reaching out to me, his messages are about all of the insensitive tribal like things he sees people saying on social media and how troubled he is by them. None of it makes sense to him and I let him know it doesn’t make sense to me either. These insensitive things people post on social media are painful for both of us to read. They defy logic and when things defy logic, it seems to make the pain a little worse.
There is also an element of tribalism in such things and that tribalism is ripping us apart. It is causing people to accept almost anything any member of their tribe says. That’s the part that defies logic. Blind acceptance of whatever someone says is actually pretty scary, yet that is exactly where we find ourselves today. So many people are taking time out of their day to share things through social media posts, or write comments on other people’s posts, that clearly set forth what tribe they are a part of. Worse than that, a simple question about their post/comment can send most into attack mode, and in that mode anyone they perceive not to be in their tribe becomes the targeted enemy. People have even gone so far as to label those not in their tribe as EVIL to their core. EVIL to their core. Are you kidding me? Don’t get me wrong, I do believe there are evil forces at work in the world. Forces that want to rip things apart and enjoy sitting back and watching the destruction that ensues. I just don’t think someone holding and expressing an opinion different from mine is what makes someone evil. We are so divided in this country that I worry, seriously worry about our future. This division is crushing us, and we say we know it. We say we don’t want it. Yet our actions tell an entirely different story. They tell a story of a people divided. They tell a story of insensitivity. They tell a story of injustice that is all too real and all too pervasive.
************************
Rather sadly, these latest divisive actions, aren’t unique to the people of today. Extinguishing the divisions among people, created by people, may have been the biggest, most important, part of Paul’s ministry. Paul seems to always be instructing the early followers in those early towns like Thessalonica and Ephesus and Corinth about the dangers of division within the community. If you remember, Paul’s authentic letters were always written in response to concerns brought to him by members of the community. This, I believe, is critically important when reading these letters for it gives his words the context they deserve, and it allows us today a better chance at seeing ourselves and understanding how humanity has always been more alike than different.
So, take those early followers in Corinth. What was the issue they wanted Paul to address?
The best way to figure out what issue Paul is addressing in his letters is to go back to the beginning and when we do that with Corinthians, we find this:
“10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”[1]
So, this particular letter is written to a people experiencing tribalism. It is written to a people experiencing division and because of how destructive it is, because of how opposite it is from Gospel living Paul deals with it head on. Claiming to be superior to others. Claiming to be in a superior tribe than others is childish and if that is how you are going to keep acting then I guess I will have to keep treating you as immature selfish children. Is that what you want? Surely not for that is not at all what Gospel living looks like. “I belong to Paul.” “I belong to Apollos.” These cannot be the proclamations on which you stand. These should not be the proclamations on which any of you stand.
Instead, proclaim I belong to God and more importantly, understand all people everywhere are justified in proclaiming it too. It is the proclamation for all of you. It is the proclamation for everyone everywhere. Any proclamation that is less than that, less than claiming all belong to God is divisive and ultimately destructive. And such divisiveness, such destructiveness is not about God. In fact, it can’t be because God is Love and God’s work is the work of reconciliation. God’s work is about bringing everything and everyone together. It is hard work, but more importantly it is loving work. Gospel living is never destructive. Gospel living is never divisive. Gospel work is always constructive and is always about restoration of those things that were once torn apart.
****************************
A couple of weeks ago Earl sent me this message:
“I feel like hypocrisy is a huge threat to the Christian faith. More than any other issue.” I told him that I thought he could be right in his assessment. I told him that one of the biggest problems is the hypocrites can’t bring themselves to see and admit how their words and actions are the polar opposite of Christ’s teachings and Christ’s message. As someone recently said, “When we complain on FB, post insulting memes, and mock the other side in our deeply divided culture, then we can congratulate ourselves, because we are doing our part to deepen and entrench American divisions. And the forces of evil and destruction rejoice. Mocking is not taking a stand for justice; it's not being prophetic; it's just corrosive to our society. With God's help, let's help each other be the change needed desperately by our world. With God's help.”[2]
You see, this is all modern-day division. Being created by people in real time… today. I wish for everyone’s sake Paul could write a letter to us. A letter to help us better deal with all of the division among us. A letter that encouraging us to be of one mind and one purpose. A letter explaining how we are all part of God’s tribe. Now that I think about it, it seems Paul has already written this letter we just need to realize he wrote it for us.
[Prayer]
Amen!
[1] 1 Corinthians 1:10-12
[2] Tidsworth, Mark – via Everette, Jim FB
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
My cousin Earl is a fascinating man. He is a few years younger than me and is the oldest child of my uncle, my Dad’s older brother, Billy Knight. Like all of my first cousins on the Knight side, Earl was born and raised in Stoneville, North Carolina. After graduating from Dalton McMichael High School in Stoneville, he began his college education at N.C. State. After leaving N.C. State Earl enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and even though he would tell you that prior to doing so, enlisting had never entered his mind, the fact is he was walking in the footsteps of those in our family who had come before him. People like my Dad and his Dad, who many years before had done the very same thing.
My Dad was so proud of Earl and loved sharing stories about Earl’s Air Force experience with me – and I loved hearing the stories. I believe my Dad secretly loved being able to relive some of his own Air Force experiences by/through Earl’s enlistment. The fact that my Dad and Earl both served in the Air Force, went through basic training at the same base, and had other similar experiences that are unique to serving in the United States Air Force, I believe, allowed them to connect on an even deeper level. Something for which I am grateful.
The Air Force also allowed Earl the opportunity to experience something else… traveling and living all over the world. This proved to be quite significant, I think, because if you had asked me where I thought Earl would live when he grew up, I would have quickly answered Stoneville. And I would have been wrong. Today Earl lives in downtown Atlanta, Georgia and by all accounts is loving it.
A little over a year ago Earl and I started this new routine of texting, and we’ve been pretty consistent ever since and I have loved it. Each conversation begins with a simple text message, like me checking in with him to see how things are going and what he is up to. That quick message oftentimes turns into a deeper conversation which has allowed us both to be openly vulnerable with each other – something I believe all of us really need. Recently, though, when Earl has been the one reaching out to me, his messages are about all of the insensitive tribal like things he sees people saying on social media and how troubled he is by them. None of it makes sense to him and I let him know it doesn’t make sense to me either. These insensitive things people post on social media are painful for both of us to read. They defy logic and when things defy logic, it seems to make the pain a little worse.
There is also an element of tribalism in such things and that tribalism is ripping us apart. It is causing people to accept almost anything any member of their tribe says. That’s the part that defies logic. Blind acceptance of whatever someone says is actually pretty scary, yet that is exactly where we find ourselves today. So many people are taking time out of their day to share things through social media posts, or write comments on other people’s posts, that clearly set forth what tribe they are a part of. Worse than that, a simple question about their post/comment can send most into attack mode, and in that mode anyone they perceive not to be in their tribe becomes the targeted enemy. People have even gone so far as to label those not in their tribe as EVIL to their core. EVIL to their core. Are you kidding me? Don’t get me wrong, I do believe there are evil forces at work in the world. Forces that want to rip things apart and enjoy sitting back and watching the destruction that ensues. I just don’t think someone holding and expressing an opinion different from mine is what makes someone evil. We are so divided in this country that I worry, seriously worry about our future. This division is crushing us, and we say we know it. We say we don’t want it. Yet our actions tell an entirely different story. They tell a story of a people divided. They tell a story of insensitivity. They tell a story of injustice that is all too real and all too pervasive.
************************
Rather sadly, these latest divisive actions, aren’t unique to the people of today. Extinguishing the divisions among people, created by people, may have been the biggest, most important, part of Paul’s ministry. Paul seems to always be instructing the early followers in those early towns like Thessalonica and Ephesus and Corinth about the dangers of division within the community. If you remember, Paul’s authentic letters were always written in response to concerns brought to him by members of the community. This, I believe, is critically important when reading these letters for it gives his words the context they deserve, and it allows us today a better chance at seeing ourselves and understanding how humanity has always been more alike than different.
So, take those early followers in Corinth. What was the issue they wanted Paul to address?
- Jealousy.
- Quarreling.
- Division.
The best way to figure out what issue Paul is addressing in his letters is to go back to the beginning and when we do that with Corinthians, we find this:
“10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”[1]
So, this particular letter is written to a people experiencing tribalism. It is written to a people experiencing division and because of how destructive it is, because of how opposite it is from Gospel living Paul deals with it head on. Claiming to be superior to others. Claiming to be in a superior tribe than others is childish and if that is how you are going to keep acting then I guess I will have to keep treating you as immature selfish children. Is that what you want? Surely not for that is not at all what Gospel living looks like. “I belong to Paul.” “I belong to Apollos.” These cannot be the proclamations on which you stand. These should not be the proclamations on which any of you stand.
Instead, proclaim I belong to God and more importantly, understand all people everywhere are justified in proclaiming it too. It is the proclamation for all of you. It is the proclamation for everyone everywhere. Any proclamation that is less than that, less than claiming all belong to God is divisive and ultimately destructive. And such divisiveness, such destructiveness is not about God. In fact, it can’t be because God is Love and God’s work is the work of reconciliation. God’s work is about bringing everything and everyone together. It is hard work, but more importantly it is loving work. Gospel living is never destructive. Gospel living is never divisive. Gospel work is always constructive and is always about restoration of those things that were once torn apart.
****************************
A couple of weeks ago Earl sent me this message:
“I feel like hypocrisy is a huge threat to the Christian faith. More than any other issue.” I told him that I thought he could be right in his assessment. I told him that one of the biggest problems is the hypocrites can’t bring themselves to see and admit how their words and actions are the polar opposite of Christ’s teachings and Christ’s message. As someone recently said, “When we complain on FB, post insulting memes, and mock the other side in our deeply divided culture, then we can congratulate ourselves, because we are doing our part to deepen and entrench American divisions. And the forces of evil and destruction rejoice. Mocking is not taking a stand for justice; it's not being prophetic; it's just corrosive to our society. With God's help, let's help each other be the change needed desperately by our world. With God's help.”[2]
You see, this is all modern-day division. Being created by people in real time… today. I wish for everyone’s sake Paul could write a letter to us. A letter to help us better deal with all of the division among us. A letter that encouraging us to be of one mind and one purpose. A letter explaining how we are all part of God’s tribe. Now that I think about it, it seems Paul has already written this letter we just need to realize he wrote it for us.
[Prayer]
Amen!
[1] 1 Corinthians 1:10-12
[2] Tidsworth, Mark – via Everette, Jim FB
