1 Corinthians 1:10-18 (NRSV)
Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 on biblegateway.com
Verse 10Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. Verse 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. Verse 12What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Verse 13Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Verse 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, Verse 15so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. Verse 16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
Verse 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. Verse 18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Devotion
If someone were to ask you your religion, what would you say? Lutheran, perhaps, or Presbyterian or Catholic. And to many who belong to such churches, there are very real differences of theology and practice that lead them to follow one tradition over another. But to those who do not know Christ – and those who have felt rejected, excluded or confused by such differences – these labels can be a source of separation, even pain.
This week we celebrate the Week of Christian Unity. It echoes Paul’s reminder that we are to be one in Christ Jesus. Theological differences? The color of the hymnals in the pews (or that hymnals are used at all)? Translation of the Bible used? Adiaphora. What truly matters is that we all follow the same Savior. Perhaps it would send a clearer message to the world if instead of identifying our religion by our denomination, we would first say “Christian” … or, better yet, “I worship God’s Son, Jesus Christ.”
Prayer
Draw your people together, Lord Jesus, that we might show the world that you were sent to save all. Amen.