"Unity, Variety" October 14 Readings: 1 Corinthians 12

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New. 

Bible Readings: 1 Corinthians 12

Background:  

There is so much going on in 1 Corinthians 12 that it deserves a book, not an introductory paragraph. Several quick points.

Contrary to many translations, the introduction should not read, "now about spiritual gifts," but is more generic. "Now, about spiritual things." The chapter is about how the Spirit operates. The key principle is that the one Spirit works in us in a variety of ways - just as our bodies are one with many parts. The individual parts must perform their unique roles in unity for the body to function properly.

The point of the passage is the twisting of certain manifestations of the Spirit in Corinth, especially tongues. Paul was telling us that we should not all serve God the same way. No gift or manifestation is for everyone. The body is not one big foot or eye or ear. Its unity and efficiency are a product of its diversity in gifts and purposes. 

Daily Devotional: Unity, Variety

What a wonderful church this church would be
If everyone in it were just like me!

Having grown up in the church and served in churches for 35 years, I can give an opinion about the source of a lot of the issues that we have today. Simply put, we want others to be just like us. We want them to like what we like, think how we think, feel how we feel, prefer what we prefer, minister how we minister, and disdain what we disdain.

I like the old hymns. I like modern music.
I like this preacher or teacher. I like that one.
I think we should do it this way. I think we should do it that way.
We should focus our efforts on this ministry. No, we should emphasize that one. 

Opinions, preferences, styles - there are just about as many of them as there are Christians. The problem comes when we try to make everyone else mold themselves to our will and our ways. Of course, there are some doctrines and practices that should be universal for all churches and all Christians. We should all believe that the Bible is true, that the Sovereign God is Triune, that Jesus is Lord, that he died for our sins and rose again and is coming again one day. We must all believe that there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. The church is supposed to preach God's Word, provide fellowship for God's people, proclaim the gospel to the world, and worship the Living God. On these things, there can be no compromise.

But on most other things the principle of 1 Corinthians 12 ought to govern our behavior. Verses 4-6 state the principle.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

Obviously, this is about the working of the Holy Spirit in the church, and how he gifts and empowers us into ministry. However, the principle is clear and is carried on throughout the entire chapter. The one God works in different ways in different people. We do not all have to be alike.

One person can be focused on Bible teaching as a ministry. Another can be devoted to ministering to hurting people. Another can make ministry outside the church, in the community with the lost a priority. One person can become burdened with a particular social issue that needs a gospel answer. Others devote themselves to working with children or youth.

With different callings, different preferences, different ministries, and different styles, we can all, together as one, serve the one God and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Christian unity is built not on forced uniformity or conformity. Unity happens when diverse people serve the same God.

Father, unite us. I do not ask that you make everyone think like me, but to have the mind of Christ. I do not ask that they conform to my preferences, but that they conform to Christ. Unite us around Christ, and not around anything else!

Consider God's Word:

Do you value the Body of Christ - united by the blood but diverse in gifts and ministries and the way God uses us?