People who claim Christ sometimes misrepresent Him in huge, destructive ways. When talking with people who are looking for reasons not to believe, I hear arguments against violations of human rights supposed Christ followers have done. “But what about this person,” “what about that movement” “what about that portion of history?” I’ve heard a brilliant counter argument: if you like Mozart, you don’t blame him when the musicians butcher his music. His music still stands. In the same way, we cannot look at those who claim Christ and yet do things that are selfish, unkind or destructive. Christ still stands in SPITE of what people do.
Someone was by the office yesterday, and I think they hit this point home well: how often to Christians set themselves up around teachings and teachers, but not the Bible itself? How often is a congregation built around the preacher and not the Christ who saved it? Paul admonished the Corinthians for doing this (even claiming the faction who said “I follow Christ”) was arrogant. We’re supposed to be One Body, One Church, because we follow One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism (Paul’s words, not mine). While we have shepherds of the flock (Paul says “follow me as I follow Christ”), we need to make sure they are accountable to the Word. And Christ is the Word, and He is enough.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
11 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
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