“Living Under the Cross” (1 Corinthians 1:10-17)

Unity Impossible

There was once a man in San Francisco walking along the Golden Gate Bridge, and he saw a second man about to jump over the edge. He stopped him and said, "Surely it can't be that bad. You know God loves you." The man about to jump got a tear in his eye. He said, "Are you a Christian or a Jew or a Hindu?" The fellow said, "I'm a Christian."

"Me, too. Are you Protestant or Catholic?"
"I'm Protestant."
"I am, too. What franchise?"
"I'm Baptist."
"So am I. Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?"
"Northern Baptist."
"That's a miracle! I am, too. Are you Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?"
"Northern Conservative Baptist."
"Me, too. Are you Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist or Northern Conservative Reformed Baptist?"
"I'm Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist, Karl Ripley."
"Me, too. Are you Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes region or Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Eastern region?"
"I'm Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes region."
"So am I. Are you Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes region council of 1897 or Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes region council of 1912?"
"I'm Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist Great Lakes region council of 1912."

 And the guy said, "Die, heretic," and threw him over the bridge.

 We live in a polarized world. It seems more and more people think, when you and I have different visions of the way the world is supposed to be, there is no room for unity. But in fact, this is not something new. This was exactly what was happening in Corinth. Today’s scripture, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, is about Christian unity. What I would like to do is

1.     Identify the root cause of division; then

2.     Examine how Paul attempts to build a foundation for unity; and  

3.     See what it looks like living in unity in our context today  

The Root Cause of Division

First, Paul describes how the Corinthian Christians were dividing: "My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you" (v. 11). Here Paul says, "I hear you guys are all fighting." And one group says, "I follow Paul"; and another group says, "I follow Apollos"; and another says, "We follow Peter." You don't sit together. And one group, holier than thou, says, "We follow Christ." Then and now, the nature of the disunity is deeply rooted in pride. Most of us feel like “nobodies” in a world where the media constantly encourages us to live as somebodies. So what we do is to line up behind “somebody” and to satisfy this desire. So for the Corinthians, this pride expressed itself in lining up behind favorite Christian leaders and boasting about their superiorities – I am better, I am holier, I am more right than you. And the result was quarreling and schisms in the church.

Let us ponder for a moment how relevant this is today. We see divisions and schisms at every level – group against group, denomination against denomination, race against race, nation against nation. I am deeply grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ for the peace and unity in this congregation. But we need to be vigilant. Let’s face it; we each come to this church with our own convictions, ideas, experiences which are different. We each come with some sinful inclinations and pride. So you and I are not entirely to be trusted if we should meet one another on a bridge. We are prone to fight and quarrel just like anybody else. So we need God’s word right now. Today’s scripture will help us stay connected and united with each other.

Foundation for Unity

We just learned the root cause of division is pride. Then, what is the cure? The best cure is Christ Jesus and his cross. Paul says, “Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (v. 13) Here Pau is saying, “It doesn’t matter who started the church, who taught you the Bible, who baptized you. What matters most is in what name you believed, you were baptized and saved.” Jesus is the only name to be remembered, honored, glorified. The Bible says we were dead in our sins. We were following the course of this world, trying to find our identity in union with somebody, another patron. We were all divided and polarized. We were hostile to God and to each other. But in his own body on the cross, Jesus broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. Through the blood of his cross Jesus cleansed us, unified us, created a new nature in us, so that we would live a new life and find our identity in union with him. Not only that, but Jesus created one new humanity, the Church, so that we would belong to him, love one another, and serve the world together in his name.

When we recite the Apostles’ Creed, we say, “I believe… the holy catholic church.” Here the word “catholic” comes from the Greek word katholikos, which means “according to the whole” or “universal.” When we say that the church is catholic, we are affirming a wide variety of believers, traditions, polities, and denominations. As long as we have Jesus Christ as our only foundation, a diversity of perspectives is not contrary to the catholicity of the church. Do you think there is any way two separate hands could become one? Although we tie them together for years, they will never become one. But, there is a way! If each hand is connected to the same body, the two hands are considered one because they belong to the one body as a whole. Oftentimes, in the church there are people who never mix just like oil and water. But, if we each are truly willing to obey the head of the church, Jesus Christ, we are still able to become one. Isaiah 11 beautifully describes what the church would look like when Christ becomes the head. It says, “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them… The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.” When Jesus is the head of the church, we, as the body of Christ, can live together in unity!

Living Under the Cross

This gift of unity is available to all God’s people, all Christ’s church. But in reality, we live more like the Corinthians – divided. I am thinking about the United Methodist Church and its future. As many of us are aware, we Methodists are at a crossroads, waiting to see what happens with possible church split over LGBTQ issues. I believe John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, can be a good example of Christian unity.

John Wesley should have left the Church of England. His theology was too radical and his methods too unorthodox. So they kicked him out of churches and pulpits. So he preached in fields, markets, and cemeteries. He should have left the Anglican Church, but he didn’t. His message was clear: Any split would damage the Methodists’ witness and thwart their divine calling to renew the Church of England. Wesley wrote, “We look upon ourselves, not as the authors, or ringleaders of a particular sect or party … but as messengers of God, to those who are Christians in name, but heathens in heart and in life.” Throughout his life, Wesley remained within the established Church of England, insisting that the Methodist movement lay well within its tradition.

However, in his sermon “On Schism,” Wesley also argues for when a church separation is not only acceptable but demanded by conscience. He preached, “Suppose you could not remain in the Church of England without doing something which the word of God forbids, or omitting something which the word of God positively commands; if this were the case, (but blessed be God it is not) you ought to separate from the Church of England.” Here Wesley provides guidance for when to stay or go. In other words, as long as we can preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and practice our faith freely according to our conscience influenced by God’s word, we should stay. But if we are demanded to do or undo something against our good conscience, it’s time to go.

For Wesley, the doctrines of salvation were key. As we are trying to find a way forward, I believe we too should focus on the core doctrines of salvation. In fact, that was exactly what Paul was doing for Christian unity in Corinth. He said, “For 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” (v. 17). Again he said, “For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified” (v. 23a). And again he said, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (2:2). Jesus and his cross – the crucified Christ is our song, our banner, our motto, and our salvation.

The 3S’s of Unity                            

As we engage the current controversy which threatens the unity of the UMC, I exhort our church to practice the 3 S’s of unity: stop, study, and struggle. First, stop. In an age of social media, many of us are so busy trying to keep up with all the information. But few of us take time to stop. We need to stop with purpose – stop to listen, question, understand, ponder, abide. Second, study. We should not afraid of taking an unpopular stance if Scripture required it, but never rush into an opinion. With humility and love, we need to study and work tirelessly to understand every perspective on this complex human sexuality issue. Third, struggle. We do not need more commentary. We need more pain in the mind. Whatever our stance, we need to struggle together and create more welcoming, compassionate, beloved community for LGBTQ people.

After the General Conference next year, we will have a better picture. But our Christian unity is more about our character and attitudes, and less about the right outcome. So whether the UMC would remain or split, God’s will be done. In the meantime may we stop, study, and struggle. May we never stop proclaiming Christ and him crucified. Amen.