Matins Devotion: August 7, 2024

1 Corinthians 1:1-25

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no division among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” St. Paul wrote these words nearly 2000 years ago. And yet, they are still so profoundly relevant today. They still serve as a rebuke Christians of today need to hear.

So don’t be divided doctrinally. Don’t pit Paul or Apollos or Peter or Jesus against each other. The apostles are all united in what they teach, united with our Lord. So we must be as well. We can’t agree to disagree on the nature of the Trinity and Christ, on baptism, on the Lord’s Supper, on how salvation is won and received. Denominations exist to prove that some of us are right and some are wrong. Denominations are a sign of disunity and a cause for sorrow, but they must exist until we are of one mind and one judgment. No Christian has the right to opt out of knowing the answers.

Don’t be divided in our hearts. We can’t simply move to another congregation when we are angered by our fellow Christians. If we have the love of Christ, we must love those whom Christ loves. We must forgive each other and be restored to each other. We are living in defiance of Paul’s words to be united when we have the church for rich people and the church for poor people, the church for young people and the church for old people, the church for people who like Worship Style X and the church for people who like Worship Style Y. The church is not a commodity. It’s not a product like Coke or Pepsi. The church is not a ball of clay that we can divide and twist and shape into our own individual images.

The church is the bride of Christ, the one bride of Christ. So when we are not one, we are abusing and harming the church. Let us repent. Let us be tireless students of God’s word, of the writings of the apostles and prophets, so that we may know the doctrine of Christ purely and so that the Holy Spirit may guide us to stronger love for one another. Every day, may we further immerse ourselves in the flood of Christ’s saving blood so that we may come out of the river of salvation ever more united with one another.