Jump Start # 385 

1 Corinthians 11:18 “For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.”

  Trouble in paradise! The Corinthian church, which was the family of God, redeemed, forgiven, taught and on course set for Heaven was plagued with problems. Most today would find worshipping at such a place a total disaster. I find Paul’s latter expression in our verse today almost humorous, and maybe a bit sarcastic. He said, “in part I believe it.” Do you think?

• In chapter one they were divided over preachers
• In chapter six they were divided to the point of suing each other
• In chapter eight they were divided about eating meat sacrificed to idols
• In chapters 12-14 they were divided over spiritual gifts
• In chapter eleven they were divided over the Lord’s Supper

  A divded church is an ugly mess. Tensions abound. People are suspicious and wonder about who is on which side. There is a lot of talk that goes on behind the scenes. Not healthy. Not united. Not productive.

  Our verse today is found in the context of Paul addressing the Corinthians about their misuse of the Lord’s Supper. Some were eating it like a meal, which is not the purpose of the Supper and others were being excluded from having it at all—the division once again. Paul addresses several things about the Supper—the purpose, the unity, the attitudes they need to have.

  In the midst of this Paul mentions the brethren coming together. He says that four times. Our passage states, “…when you come together as a church.” Paul is not talking about church buildings, because the Corinthians, in fact all of the first churches we read about in the New Testament didn’t have church buildings. They met in homes. Still, there was that “coming together.” There was that intention, and purpose and gather as a church. They would come together to worship. They would come together to eat the Lord’s Supper. They were together. Some today, for whatever reason, want to return to meeting in homes. There is nothing wrong with that. But what some propose today is not what we read in the New Testament. They want to divide up the congregation with some meeting in this house and others in that house and still others in another house. I don’t see that. Paul didn’t teach that. He didn’t say “come apart,” but rather, “come together.”

  We need to be together as a church. We need to see each other. We need to be encouraged by each other. We need to remind each other. We need to warn each other. We need each other. By ourselves we get lonely and doubtful. We are easily discouraged. Singing with 5 people and singing the same song with 500 sure makes a difference. Sometimes 5 is all you have and you must make it work.

  Satan is the lion, Peter tells us. The lion does not jump on a herd of antelope. He watches. He waits. When the herd moves but one lags behind, that’s when the lion moves. He catches the ones not in the group. The lion does the same with us. We are stronger together.

  Together we are reminded of our challenge before us and the journey we make. We see young families with all of their stuff. It’s like they are hiking across America. They have bags of toys, books, bottles and all the essentials. They are there. Then there are the ones who move in slowly with walkers and canes. They are tired and they hurt, but they are there. Then there are the guys with shirts and ties on. There are some with jeans on. There are some who are new. There are some who been around for as long as folks remember. There are the ready helpers. They are always teaching the classes, cleaning the building, helping out. Familiar faces. New faces. They are the faces of the congregation. We sing together. Some of us sing wonderfully. Others kill every song they sing. We pool our money together in the collection. Some put in folded checks that amount to a lot of money, others just a dollar or two, it’s all they have. Together we listen to the lesson. Some getting more out of it than others. Together we take the Supper, remembering that it is Jesus who saved us and it is Jesus that brings us together. If it were not for Jesus, we would not know each other. Forgiven, redeemed and saved by Jesus.

  Together, we learn, we grow, we become the people of God. We model each other. We hear the way one prays and we learn from that. We see an older Christian who doesn’t feel the best, but they are there. That encourages us.

  These things come about because we are together. Paul said “when you come together as a church…” There is something special about that. You’ve seen it in other places. There is that moment before the wedding begins, everyone is excited. There is that moment before the funeral starts, it is very solemn. And there is that moment before worship to God begins. I like that moment. The church building is filled. Sometimes it’s a bit noisy and then someone walks to the podium. A prayer will start or a song will start. We are together to worship God. What a great experience that is. Together. All of God’s children in that congregation singing, praying, sharing together.

  When you come together…it makes me wish that today was Sunday. How about you?

Roger