Dangers of Factionalism

In the last article we considered the factions that had developed in the church in Corinth and how Paul admonished them to be united in Christ in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians. Now let’s consider what is so bad about factionalism.

Factionalism makes us “merely human”. A little later in the letter, Paul says, “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not being merely human (1 Corinthians 3:1-4, emphasis mine)?”

 

Paul had just spent time before this explaining how worldly people believe God to be foolish and weak and read the Scriptures the same way. They cannot experience the power of God’s word because they are still glorifying their own wisdom and power. In reality, no matter how much we puff ourselves up, God is so far above us that “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:25).” As long as our faith is in God rather than men, we can learn the mind of God and the mysteries of His plan for us throughout eternity (1 Corinthians 2:5-16).

 

The Corinthian brethren should already know all of this because they should be experiencing it. They are people who have put on Jesus in baptism and are dedicated to worshiping and serving Him—at least in theory. In reality, their divisions lead them to share more in common with the foolish braggarts of the world than with God. Paul cannot talk to them about spiritual things like spiritual people because they are not in a frame of mind to even receive it. This is not a separate issue from the factionalism described in chapter 1. Paul connects the two when he highlights their “jealousy and strife” (3:3) and repeats the examples of following Paul and Apollos instead of Jesus (3:4). Christians cannot experience life with God and the power of the word while simultaneously engaging in hero worship and competing with fellow Christians.

Factionalism dishonors God. Divisive behavior gives credit to someone who doesn’t deserve it. Paul was willing to say so even though some of them were trying to credit him! “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth… For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:5-6, 11-15).”

 

Paul is merely a servant of Jesus who builds on the foundation that Jesus established. What Jesus did is unique, powerful, and effective in bringing salvation to man. God was not and cannot be defeated in this work to overcome sin and death. Satan has lost and man can be freed from the grip of sin if he will come to Christ. No one can lay any other foundation with that effect and power. The church could only be established by Jesus; if it were made by someone else, it wouldn’t be the church.

 

Paul does acknowledge that he does a good work for Jesus and the church. He came to Corinth and he laid the foundation that Jesus established and he, Apollos, and others built on that foundation with teaching and example. The result of their work will be revealed in time. If the Corinthians grow and are faithful, then he will be rewarded for that work. If the church in Corinth fails, it will be a loss for Paul and the others who devoted time and energy there, but they are still judged by God for their efforts.

 

Do you see the important distinction here? Jesus’ work is powerful and effective to overcome sin. A man’s work in bringing that opportunity to others may fail. Even if the man’s work is successful, he has still done nothing more than point others to Jesus who has done the most important part. Neither Paul nor any other man deserve credit for the spiritual transformation happening in Corinth. To line up behind a favorite preacher or leader or anyone else is to grossly dishonor God by the credit He is due to someone else.

 

Conclusion. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).” The church is the temple of God, yet it can be destroyed through divisive spirits and carnal behavior. Get rid of every faction so that we can stand together as the united body of Christ, zealous to glorify God and advance His cause.