Building Bridges: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 - Fifth Sunday of Easter

I have not been to a movie theater since before the pandemic. It is not because I’m afraid of getting sick; there just haven’t been any movies I’ve wanted to see.

But one movie caught my attention, and I won’t be going to see it, either, because it’s too scary. That movie is The Civil War.

It’s a haunting vision of a dystopian future for the United States, which has become so divided that rebel factions have begun waging war against each other and the federal government. Its main characters are a group of journalists, embedded with a separatist militant group called the Western Alliance that has set its sights on destroying Washington, D.C. and executing the president.

What makes this film so scary is that it feels entirely plausible. That’s likely the point: to tell us a cautionary tale so that we change our ways before it’s too late.

Image by 12019 from Pixabay

Paul writes his first letter to the Corinthian Church for a similar purpose. Conflicts and controversies were tearing the church apart. The first controversy is one which is as pathetic as it sounds: a power struggle based upon who baptized whom.

There were also conflicts over doctrines, morals, and worship practices. Some spiritual gifts were held in higher regard than others.

Meanwhile, false teachers were leading believers astray. The Roman gods constantly tempted Christians with their promises of wealth and pleasure. Persecutions were breaking out all over the Roman world. Still, the biggest threat to the Corinthian Christians were themselves.

This remains true for 21^st century American Christians.

For an institution founded on the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself, we expend unimaginable energy fighting with each other over beliefs, doctrines, teachings, and traditions. There are far too many loud voices proclaiming that if you don’t believe a certain way, live a certain way, worship a certain way, or vote a certain way, then you’re not really a Christian. We’re quick to crucify each other with labels like “woke” or racist. People will say that they’re fighting for truth, but I think most conflicts have more to do with power and control.

No wonder an unbelieving world sees the Church as power hungry, self-righteous, and judgmental.

As destructive as conflict can be, a lack of conflict can be just as dangerous. When getting along takes precedence over following Jesus, no one’s growing. No one’s being challenged. Nothing is changing. Nobody asks questions. No one feels comfortable sharing their true feelings. No one feels important enough to know that their voice matters. The body either becomes subject to its loudest voices, or it becomes oblivious to the world outside of itself. The church dies a quiet but needless death.

We shouldn’t treat conflict like abnormal. Conflict is healthy in relationships when managed in a spirit of love. People can be so judgmental towards those who see things differently than they do. But when you listen without judgment, when you disagree with respect, you build trust. Relationships are born and strengthened through mutual understanding. Transformation and growth happen.

Anymore, there are few institutions within our society that you can go to and be loved and accepted unconditionally. But that’s what the Church is called to be.

In a nation as divided as ours is, we are a witness to Christ in how we worship together, work together, and serve together even though there are differences in how we vote and even differences in what we believe. You don’t have to leave your individuality at the door when you come to church. Come as you are, with your questions, with your doubts, with your beliefs. But be prepared to learn. Be prepared to be challenged. Be prepared Jesus to change you. Be prepared for the Holy Spirit to break apart what you always thought to be true and show you new ways of living and believing.

Whether you’ve been a part of the church for a lifetime or a day, you are being reborn in the likeness of Jesus Christ. That’s who you are made to conform to. Not a social or a political agenda, but a person.

We will not make tomorrow better by fighting a culture war or trying to convince the other that we’re right and they’re wrong. Other Christians and other religions are not our enemies. Democrats and Republicans are not our enemies. Death, despair, and the devil are our enemies.

When we are maligned, mistreated, and persecuted, we pray for those people and forgive them as Christ forgives us. Only love can reshape the future; only love can right the wrongs; only love can guide us in the way of truth. If there is anything to fight for at all, it is for love to reconcile us to each other, and join us together in the work of healing and resurrection.