Unity and the Christian Church: Part 1 - an excerpt from a thought provoking discourse

During the course of my current research into the issue of "unity and the Christian Church", I came across a discourse I had yet to read. It is my belief that this particular discourse will serve as an excellent introduction to this planned multi-post series on "unity and the Christian Church." For now, I am going to keep the speaker of this discourse anonymous—in a later post, I will reveal his identity. From the discourse we read:

I will read to you a portion of the first chapter of Paul's epistle to the Corinthians. After his salutation to the Church in Corinth, the Apostle said:

  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house  of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Unfortunately some clumsy hand has here closed the chapter. The opening verses of the second chapter properly belong to the words I have just read, hence I continue:

  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

It is not always that we preface are remarks by reading a chapter from the Scriptures; it is not always that we take a text which we desire to expound; but I thought it proper on this occasion to read this Scripture to you, and I think it proper now to call your attention to one or two verses that perhaps may be regarded as a text for that which I desire in my heart to say:

    Every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

  Is Christ divided?

This was the great question which the Apostle of the Gentiles propounded to those Saints in Corinth, among whom divisions began to appear. These divisions, however, were incipient as compared with those which exist in Christendom today; and if those divisions existing in the primitive Church at Corinth called forth this stern reproof from the great Apostle of the Gentiles, I sometimes wonder what he would say to torn, distracted Christendom of today! Would he not with increased emphasis demand of this Babel that exists now in Christendom, an answer to the question, Is Christ divided?

The plain inference of this Scripture, of course, is that Christ is not to be divided; that men are under condemnation who say that they are of Paul, or of Cephas, or of Apollos. It plainly declares that the Church of Christ is to be one.

Part 2 of this series will be posted shortly, the Lord willing.

Grace and peace,

David