Divisions - a podcast by Coker UMC

Divisions seem to have always been a part of human history. From the very earliest recordings of history, we can see people dividing up themselves for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, these divisions were a result of social, economic, or racial tensions. We tend to divide themes like age, gender, social structures, education, ethnicity, etc, into categories; and we also divide countries through borders. To be sure, some of these are necessary, but some have been harmful and damaging for so many.

When we think of the harmful side of divisions, I don’t think that very many people think first about the church. I mean, the church? Divisions in the church? Especially not in the “United” Methodist Church? That’s sounds as strange as saying that there are no divisions in the “United” States of America...

And yet, the Apostle Paul exposed and addressed several problems in the church at Corinth, and the first one he dealt with was the problem of division. This was very intentional because how can you ever work together for a common good if you don’t have at least agreement and
unity of purpose? We can have the best plan in the world, but if we are divided by selfish interest, then that plan has little chance of success.

The Apostle Paul saw how these divisions were harming and hindering the work of Christ in the church at Corinth so he addressed them in 1 Corinthians, and, again, it’s no surprise that the first one he tackled was division. The division that existed in the church at Corinth was impacting every other area of the church in a not good way.

The Apostle Paul summed up his exhortation to the division issue with a rhetorical question: Is Christ divided? The obvious answer is no; so then, why so much division? Again, he answered with another question: “I mean, because of all this division, doesn’t that show me that you all are still a little worldly?” (1 Cor. 3:3, my paraphrase)

Divisions, like many other issues, are a very human thing. However, the Gospel of Jesus makes possible to have Christian unity to honor God and for the common good of the church and world.

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