1. Apollos and Paul, Models

Even though the Church represents the body of Christ, conflicts and disagreements still occur. This often results in the dispersion of people originally called by God to worship at a particular church. The word church came from “ekklēsia ” in Greek, which means being called and assembled. As the etymology indicates, it should be the place where people, called by Jesus, come together and listen to God’s word. Then, ideally, each one goes forth to spread the good news of the Gospels.

Conflicts and disagreements still occur within the church. The reasons for conflict, disagreement, and ultimate separation is not usually because of theological misunderstandings or from teachings, rather the causes flow from human relationships, something which is more commonly associated with the secular world.

Why do such disputes and quarrels occur among believers in the Church? How should we deal with such incidents? Today we will seek some answers by turning to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, which reveals the problems and causes of similar cases within the early church. “For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:4).

The church of Corinth was founded in about 51 C.E., from the fruits of Paul’s preaching ministry. Paul stayed there for one and a half years to establish the church, and before going to Ephesus, he then entrusted the church to his colleague, Apollos. Apollos was a man from Alexandria in Egypt, who was very talented in rhetoric and erudite in the Jewish Bible, so his speeches attracted many listeners. People, being drawn to Apollos, began to consider him as the leader of the church.

On the other hand there were believers who thought such a tendency was a false one, and strongly opposed the followers of Apollos. It is said that Apollos not only possessed good speaking skills, but he was also very handsome. In contrast some believers thought that Paul’s speeches were not fluent, and they were often difficult to understand. “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing” (2 Corinthians 10:10).

The church members at Corinth compared the two by their appearance, and their ways of preaching, then expressed their preference to Apollos or Paul. It seems that another group existed also, which followed Peter’s (Cephas) teaching, “Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:22). The Corinthians were using so-called worldly wisdom to evaluate their leaders and teachers. Under such circumstances the conflicts within the Corinthian church became serious, and in a matter of time it came to the attention of Paul.

Every time I read chapter 3 of 1 Corinthian, I breath a sigh of sadness, by recognizing that even after receiving baptism humans do not change their behaviors. Disturbance within the Christian church is not only confined to history. Similar problems occur even in today’s church. For example, on an occasion of the retirement of an old Pastor. Some church members become unhappy, because they cannot adjust to the teachings of newly nominated leader. So, they commence to grouch by saying, “The good old days…” In contrast those who appreciate the new Pastor, criticise the disgruntled members who favour the old methods. Thus, members split into two different groups within the church.

When I was learning in the Baptist Theological School, one of my teachers said: “when you become a Pastor you will have difficulties with believers for five years. The members of your church will feel uneasy, because they have been ministered to by your predecessor in a completely different way. Only when believers who have received baptism from you become the majority of the church, will you begin feel comfortable within your church.

That is a very severe and practical comment, but in truth, its the reality. Indeed, it may be true, but it should not remain so. Paul indicates that it is normal for conflicts and disagreements between believers, because they are only humans. And he writes, “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? (1 Corinthians 3:3).

You, having received the baptism of Christ, are no longer just flesh but also of Spirit. At the moment when you were baptized, your civil status was moved into God’s kingdom, even though you are living in this earthly world. So, why do you live a life similar to other secular people? Why then, did Jesus put Himself on the Cross? That is the way in which Paul questions and accuses Corinthians.

2. The True Wisdom of God

Paul suggests the ideal spiritual person, is someone marked and guided by the spirit. “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Non-Christians cannot understand God, and they cannot grasp the concept that God’s spirit lives in believers.

Previously Paul wrote regarding the wisdom of God, ” . . . but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God’ (1 Corinthians 1:23-24). The one without the Spirit is unable to accept the Cross, and the Salvation it offers, because in accordance with their secular knowledge, the cross is illogical and foolish.

In order to understand the Cross and salvation, we need the power of the Spirit. The believers of the Corinthian church became christians by receiving that Spirit. Nonetheless, whilst possessing the Spirit, many of them appeared to remain in a state of infancy. ” Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready” (1 Corinthians 3:1-2).

Believers who can eat solid foods means those who have grown, and matured in the faith and are in tune with God’s desires. But, many of those who attended the Corinthian Church, were unhealthy and inmature in their knowledge and faith. They did not understand that the church is a meeting place for the body of Christ. Paul, Apollos, or any other preacher in attendance are simply servants of Christ. Therefore, due to their misunderstanding, conflicts among the followers of certain preachers or advocates of different factions occurred.

“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:5-6).

It is God who really establishes the Church, not Paul nor Apollos. Paul wanted them to understand that the church cannot develop under the influence of human likes and dislikes. We are not called by God to express our admiration for certain preachers or leaders. Therefore, Paul appeals to the Corinthian believers to grow and mature in the faith, and learn the true wisdom of God.

3. The Ministry of Reconciliation

Today’s invocation verse is from: 2 Corinthians 5:19, ”. . . that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” Paul exhorts his audience to accept this reconciliation brought about by Christ’s acceptance of the fullness of human reality, including the penalty of sin.

In our Baptist Theological School, we are now preparing the curriculum for the second semester, which begins in October. It features a series of open lectures based on the role of believers in the church. Fifteen lecturers take part according to their own speciality, by reading the common text, “Religion and the Christian Faith"(1956). The book, was written by Hendrik Kraemer (1888 -1965), a Dutch Reformed Theologian, linguist, and a student of Christian mission. Hendrik Kraemer observed that churches are not influential or powerful enough to take action against the world, because they do not make the effort to carry-out their God-given mission, due to internal disputes and quarrels. Even though the book was written fifty years ago the contents remain fresh and relevant. Just as the problems of the early Corinthian church remains a convincing study of what is happening here today.

Kraemer came to Japan 47 years ago, and at the moment of his departure from Japan, he gave a message to the Japanese Christians: “Your life is splitting into two parts, religious and secular. But the faithful life can be authentic by staying within the ordinary daily life.” He invoked the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:10-23, about the freedom and rights of an Apostle, and in closing he said, “We need an attitude of seeing, in accordance with the way in which others see.” Furthermore, Kraemer said, “I can’t understand why Japanese christians, in spite of their extremely small percentage (1% of the whole population), cannot remain in harmony. They are always disputing and quarreling with each other.”

Jesus Prayed, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11). Jesus’ message is for us to remain as one in the world, and be witnesses to His love in our daily life by spreading His teachings. Paul also wrote in his letter to the church at Corinth, ” . . . whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God” (1 Corinthians 3:22-23).

The church must be established through agreement and collaboration between Pastors and believers. The role of believers is to communicate the Gospels to the external world, and the Pastor’s task is to educate and support them spiritually, as Paul says, ” . . . to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12). Once the Pastor becomes the core of the church, members have a tendency to forget Christ’s presence. That is what happened in the Corinthian church. Hence Paul wrote, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13).

The pivotal existance of the Church is Christ. ”. . . all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God” (1 Corinthians 3:22-23), which I pray is the ideals of this church. Paul says that both life and death are ours. While non-believers are victims of life, swept along by its current, wondering if there is any meaning or purpose to it. Paul called the Corinthian church, “the church of God” and its members “sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy” (1 Corinthians 1:1-2), even though they were split and divided within, with repetitive quarrels and disputes.

We too are called by Christ, and invited to listen to God’s words, then to spread them into each given place. It is not the time for conflict and disagreements. Diverse people are called to the Church. But all are the same, equal as one, under the guidance and wisdom of our Lord. We should consolidate the church through the ministry of reconciliation, and set off to evangelise the world. We are assembled here today in a sense, free from the world, but to serve the world, by staying in the world, and witnessing for Jesus.
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References:

*http://digilib.bu.edu/mission/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26:kraemer-hendrik-1888-1965&catid=18:j2l

http://www.roxborogh.com/Biographies/biokraemer.htm