No Brand Building Here
1 Corinthians 1:10-14 NKJV
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
Of all the churches Paul worked with and founded, the church at Corinth may have been the most problematic. Paul had to deal with a church in a major ancient city that was birthed in an environment profoundly pagan. Corinth was a happening place, but what was happening was not good. The church at Corinth dealt with divisions, lawsuits, immorality, abuse of the Lord’s Supper, and lifestyles that were too influenced by the culture. Paul’s letter provides some great counsel as he addresses these problems and in our passage for today, he deals with divisions in the church.
Paul was not having it. The church was quarreling over which preacher they were attached to. Paul could have used his authority as the founding leader of the Corinthian church to build his own brand, but that was not his style. Paul was adamantly opposed to brand building and the divisions it could cause inthe church. He asked great questions of the church. “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” Paul constantly turned the attention away from himself and pointed to Jesus. He refused to pump himself up and, for that matter, did not pump-up other preachers. It was Jesus who was exalted; everyone else was not nearly as important.
This is not to diminish the role of ministers in the church. But Paul realized early on that people would attach to preachers and, in doing so, divide the focus of the church. Paul concluded this chapter by declaring that the one who is going to glory or boast, let him only glory in the Lord. Paul understood the tendency in man to exalt man, but he did not allow it in his life.
Application
I wonder how Paul would handle our culture today? We live in a build-your-brand, self-promoting world, and that mentality can easily slip into the church of Jesus Christ. The problem with making too much of man is that when man lets you down, it causes people to waver in their faith. I believe in the principles of honor and respect. But they should apply to all in the body of Christ, not just well-known preachers. And the One we exalt above them all is the One who was crucified for us!
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, that You died for me. I exalt You above any person. I glory only in You.