Articles
Dynamics of Congregational Relationships - 2
Any group of human beings is a conglomeration of diverse individuals trying to manage that diversity in order to achieve the aims of the group. For example, a jury is a cross-section of society, each member bearing their unique personality and perspective on life. But they must find a way to minimize their individual distinctiveness and focus on a unified purpose: upholding societal justice by determining the guilt or innocence of a fellow human being.
So it is with the athletic team, the cast of the play, the orchestra, the hospital personnel – and the local church.
We cannot formulate our own criteria of “ideal” church members and include only those who pass muster. Rather, God decides who is accepted into His family, and He isn’t interested in human standards such as wealth, ethnicity, physical attractiveness, IQ scores, fame or family connections. He is looking to identify who is humble, contrite, penitent, appreciative of His Son’s sacrifice, submissive to His authority and desires fellowship with God more than anything else.
Those who fit that template are a spiritually solid core, but diversity still exists. Opinions, preferences and personality quirks are all shaped by upbringing, lifestyle, habits, hobbies and genetics. Some have psychological scarring that is not magically erased at conversion to Christ. Most will have ingrained sinful desires and patterns of thinking that take time to remedy. These things will challenge the unity of brotherhood.
This will not surprise the thoughtful Bible student, for the new testament bears witness to such struggles and provides guidance on how to resolve them. Consider a few hiccups among early saints in Corinth:
1. Problem: The congregation was being subdivided by those who placed too much emphasis on men: “For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?” (1 Cor 3:3-4). They were forming factions by exclusion and false standards, and it was causing unrest.
Solution: The relative value of men must be kept in perspective: “Who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (3:5-6). Natural differences between Paul and Apollos should not be grounds for disunity, for God used each man and his unique strengths to accomplish His will. The focus should be on the great blessings that come through such men: “Therefore let no one glory in men. For all things are yours …” (3:21). To reject Paul’s rough prose in favor of Apollos’ polished oratory is to foolishly deny oneself the wonderful insights the Holy Spirit shared through the great apostle.
2. Problem: Some in Corinth had gotten crossways with each other and were petitioning unbelieving judges for redress (6:1-11).
Solution: “Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?” (6:5). This is a stinging rebuke especially for a group that prided itself in knowledge. Paul doesn’t deny that injustice will arise in a local church, but there is a way to resolve it without airing dirty laundry before the community. For the sake of Christ, “Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be defrauded?” (6:7). It is better to absorb the wrong than shatter the peace of God’s people.
3. Problem: The Lord’s supper, a most solemn memorial, had been turned into a common meal that discriminated against the poor: “Each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk … Do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing?” (11:21-22). Giving in to life’s baser impulses results in profaning the holy.
Solution: “Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? … But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment” (11:22, 34). Paul tells them to physically separate the temporal from the spiritual: Eating to satisfy hunger is to be done at home; eating to honor Jesus’ death is the true purpose of the Lord’s day supper. As we say: “Don’t even go there.” Don’t haul your ham and potato salad into the place of assembly. It opens the door to fleshly temptation. Paul urges the Corinthians to renew the meaning of the memorial and quotes Jesus’ words: “This do in remembrance of Me” (11:24-25). Also, “You proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (11:26).
The blessings and duties given to us far outweigh our petty distractions. We must work to eliminate selfish preferences for the greater good.
