I appeal to you, my friends, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ: agree among yourselves and avoid divisions; let there be complete unity of mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1:10
Our house is decorated and readied for Halloween visitors. Our little costumed door-bell-ringers will be welcomed with basketball cards (in lieu of candy) and compliments on their fun costumes as they visit around the neighborhood tomorrow, October 31st. Some of the children are those who I see when I go for walks around the neighborhood and others are newbies.
Halloween and Thanksgiving are traditions around harvest time in the United States. Other countries have festivals and holidays that are scheduled around the time of ingathering also. Holidays and festivals can be times of unity and enjoyment. They can also be times of division. The Apostle Paul gives special attention to group dynamics when he says, “… agree among yourselves …”
As the world is not at peace, we reflect that there are disagreements between people, groups, and countries. Paul addresses the Church in Corinth in the Scriptures because they are choosing up sides with their favorite leader of the Church and it is triangulating the Church. They had formed cliques around certain leaders: Paul, Apollos and Simon Peter.
There were contentions among these believers. Now the word for contentions is ‘eris.’ Eris was the goddess of strife and wrangling. There was strife, quarreling, schisms, and wranglings in the Church at Corinth. It is at this juncture that Paul points out that when division happens there is one sure thing that we all can do to gain unity again—that is to regain the unity and thought of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are not the Church when there is an open break caused by fighting, by gossip, criticism, hatred, or bitterness. These things cannot be in our life if Jesus Christ is our partner. Paul also says, “Take to heart among yourselves what you find in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2:5 We find the mind of Christ. We are to take on the mind of Christ. “… let there be complete unity of mind and thoughts,” meaning that we are unified with the mind of Christ Jesus.
To love, to live, to serve with the mind of Christ. We remain independent, different as night and day, unique people. Our differences are precious to God, who created us as such. We are Christ’s Church around the world. Let us have the mind of Christ. This is our unity.
Prayers for:
Those suffering under situations of war. May Christ protect the innocents. Persons who are cleaning up after hurricanes and power outages. Healing for those who have experienced loss of jobs and financial crisis. May Christ's Peace fill each heart with His transforming love as we turn to Him.
That persons realize that placing hope in Christ is the best choice, always. For a young girl recently found with juvenile diabeties, Christ's healing.
For a young girl whose cancer has returned, Christ's healing.
Rev. Patricia E. Walker, senior minister of Alpha Church
PO Box 33097, Tulsa, OK 74153 phone 505.321.2715 Our Church is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian Church
on the internet and looking for a Church building in Tulsa to purchase. We are supported by your prayers and offerings. Donate online. If we may pray with you please contact us on the bottom of our Home Page.
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