Who are we one with?

In Paul’s letter many letters to the Corinthians, and in particular 1 Cor 1:10-17, we hear of disputes between factions. But what is the context for this place called Corinth? Are they as one? And today, who are we one with?

God’s spirit is with the Muslim Doctor, the Hindu executive, the Sikh pilot, the atheist engineer. What may change is the awareness and response from that individual to God’s spirit. 

Corinth

This place which was the outflow from Roman households where servanthood was occasionally ended and those freed could congregate. Where the bale freed was one which contained so many people from Roman, Greek, Middle East origin, people who followed different religions. Now we might say that there are no divisions within the Church.

As one coming here from England, I am acutely aware of the divisions as soon as I, a Protestant minister, raise my Celtic mug. I am aware that as a Methodist minister I say that I am going to Chapel. In fact we see divisions across the spectrum when labels are used. When refugees are mentioned, their country of origin acts as a marker whether negative comments can follow. All it takes is to say Albanian refugees and some might seek to extradite them back to their country or another country. All it takes is to say Russian or Ukrainian, and we may take sides – when the influence and direction is from upon high, and not from the individual being shot at, bombed or seeks sanctuary. Which begs us to ask again, in society, who are we one with?

Is it one or the other?

Here, in this text we read of a breakdown between the followers of Apollos and Cephas – despite there being no material evidence to correlate this. It nevertheless makes the point.  Oh if it were like the early Church we might cry! But the description of the early church (Acts 2) was written in around 80AD and not the mid 50s AD for the multiple letters to the Corinthians. Whenever we identify divisions we may seek to introduce a hierarchy,  one being better than the other – but really unsure how we scale the different entities. 

Is our Church liberal or evangelical, are we for biblical infallibility or social justice?
What is the common theme here? There is one… God.

Outsiders

In recent weeks we have celebrated the birth of Christ and after Epiphany we may have decided to pack away our Nativity sets, the donkey who may not have been there at all, the Mother of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and the shepherds. The magi, typically three in number, are also on their journey back to the box ready for next year, but they also are a wonderful metaphor for today. The Magi, astrologers, astronomers, magicians, call them what you will were outsiders. They were from a different land, different culture and most probably followed a different faith. These outsiders came bearing gifts but I doubt that was the first thing on Joseph’s mind as he accepted them into their presence. Who were these outsiders? They weren’t from Galilee: was it their language, their dress, the evidence of travelling what looks like more than a few days, more like weeks. 

But in that moment when they stood, knelt, watched on, they were intrinsically part of the scene. They were definitely not separate, no longer outsiders but insiders, welcomed into the scene as they were supposed to be there. 

God’s spirit was there in between and amidst all who were there. God’s spirit was there from very outset, in all of creation. God’s spirit is not part of the church but extends beyond it.

In fact, God’s spirit is part of all life, whether Christian or not.

What we might say is secular, outside of the Church, is still very much part of the realm of the Spirit.
So our secular world is sacred, for God’s spirit is in all things
we deem to be secular work in our secular world.

Brian McLaren, Why did Jesus, Moses, The Buddha and Mohammed cross the Road?

Think about that!

and of other faiths?

God’s spirit is with the Muslim Doctor, the Hindu executive, the Sikh pilot, the atheist engineer. What may change is the awareness and response from that individual to God’s spirit. 

So as Christians we can have our identity that we understand a revelation through real encounters with God’s spirit in specific locations and times. But also other religions can also claim to have real and unique encounters with God’s spirit, but perceived differently from us. Religious differences seem to plague society but it is one that can be eradicated if we, yes we, can see the Spirit of God in action. In West Yorkshire we entered into such discussions through a course entitled Betamax: beyond Alpha 😉

So in that messy environment of the stable, God’s spirit was present amidst the Holy family, the shepherds and those outsiders from a different culture and possibly following a different faith. When we call for unity, we need to understand the common thread which envelops us all: God.

What do you think?