Sermon - 2024-01-07 - We have divided ourselves but God does not want that.

 Scripture

1 Corinthians 1:10-30

10Now 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. 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12What 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." 13Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
26Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

Sermon

If someone asked you about your beliefs, what would you say you are? Would you say you are a Lutheran? Would you say that you are Christian? Would you even have an answer?

Last June, when I was planning out this series of 9 Books of Bible in 9 months. I started to wonder what we needed to focus on in the new year. When I prayed about it, there were two things that came up. 

1. Who are we as a community? 

2. What is your role?

Over the course of this month and next, we will be exploring some of these concepts. The truth of the matter is that things have changed, but then again, things have not changed.  We have more technology and more mobility in the world, but we still have the same opinions, problems, and divisions that we have from one generation to the next.  

Now we can certainly just say, Well, that’s just the way things are. Yet, we are people who long for restoration and healing in the world. We hear God calling us to be beacons of light and hope into the world. So I really want us to take some time to learn and grow through this concept. 

We have divided ourselves. Now I am not pointing fingers at anyone here, I am talking about all of us as Christians. We have divided ourselves as Christians because we want to be right. We are the one denomination in all the world that got things right, exactly as Jesus taught it. The problem with that is every denomination thinks that way about themselves. Much like Paul was talking to the Corinthians, in which they were declaring who they are following. Yet one thing we all agree on is that we follow Jesus Christ. After that we begin to divide ourselves.  

Now is this what God wants for us? No. 

Yet still we divide ourselves over opinions, not accepting differences or finding ways to find common ground. Even attempts at doing so have led to one group using their definitions and terms while disregarding the others insights. They will often state, if you are not with us or believe like us, then you are not part of the true church. You are not a disciple of Jesus Christ. Or other groups will simple remove their denomination label and declare that this is what Christ was calling all of his disciple to be and do. So the listener is not even aware that they are hearing a bias. 

I tell you this so that you may be aware of what is going on around you and recognize the ways in which we are acting, as well as how others are acting. I also want you to recognize that when we do not work together, we often do not help those who are in need, we do not share God’s love, and we are often not being the church in the world but rather focused on our own differences. 

Historically, what has the greater church done with times like these? We had a Council. We had a gathering of top leaders, scholars, and others who represented the various groups that comprised themselves as Christians. Yet it was during this time that we would come together and recognize our differences and then determine, as a group, where the majority would be. This majority would then create a Creed in order to clearly state what it is that we, as Christians, do teach and believe. Highlighting too where others have gone astray.  

Yes, this would include a group that would be in minority.  A group that could be regarded as heretics. That would be regarded as outside of the church. Coincidentally, St. Nicholas was a bishop at one of these councils, where he most notably punched some heretics in the face after an argument. 

This history and practice is what gave birth to our very nation in which we support religious freedom. 

So I realize that I have talked about where we are and where we have been? So what do we do with that? Well, much like the people at the councils, WE are going to have to figure that out. I can tell you what we should do, I can share with you what our denomination is calling us to do, and I can share with you scripture in which all the groups have used to support what it is they are doing. 

Yet at the very foundation and where we find ourselves today, is to truly take a look at ourselves and the world around us in discovering: What is God calling us to do? For we can not stay here, we have to keep moving forward but in what direction.  

Now some of you are not going to like this cliff hanger, but join us next week as we continue to unfold and discover more of what God is calling us to be and do. Amen.