For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe’s household, that there is rivalry among you. What I am saying is this: Each of you says, “I’m with Paul,” or “I’m with Apollos,” or “I’m with Cephas,” or “I’m with Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name?
1 Corinthians 1:11-13
To cling to our denomination, teachers and preachers, church building, opinions, ideas and/or interpretation of scripture above Christ is idolatry. To think we already have it all figured out and refuse to be a student is to deny the cross and set our own selves up where only God should be. Idolatry not only puts stuff, people and ideas in front of God in proximity to our hearts, but it also causes division. It seems safe to say then, that wherever there is division there is idolatry. God may call us to step out and do things that our unbelieving or luke warm neighbor will sneer at us over. But He will never cause us to stop loving that neighbor and treat him/ her with disrespect or meanspiritedness. He will never cause us to take joy in the downfall of another human - whether they were a believer or not.
He holds us to the standard, no matter how hard it is, to love our neighbor. Notice that He never said we had to agree on everything though. Based on the wisdom of the perfect God, it may hurt our flesh but it will heal our spirit when we persist in loving those who don't seem to love us and we show them in tangible ways. Which will you follow today, to feed the flesh or the spirit? Keep in mind that one of these will not live on.
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