Belonging To Christ

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you. I mean that each of you is saying, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17)

Our second reading is one we should all hear in the interest of our Nation’s future and that of our democracy.   Our Republic continues to suffer from “us versus them” attitudes that tear at and rip the fabric of our society.

Our government has never been easy; that is, criticism of our government whether led by the Democratic or Republican Party always is necessary and justified and can lead to polarization and tribalism.  It’s inevitable.  But vilification of either side is not justified and shouldn’t be inevitable, even though it does happen and with ferocity, especially in our time involving impeachment of President Trump and a trial in the Senate.

According to Paul, in the name of Jesus Christ there should be no divisions among us.  We should be united with the same mind and purpose.  That is not happening.

According to Paul, in the name of Jesus Christ there should be no rivalries that split many of us away from Jesus Christ.  We belong to Christ, so we should act like him.   Do we belong to Christ?   Do we accept and follow leaders who belong to someone or something else?

This year with political campaigns in full swing it will be ever more important to ask ourselves, “Do we belong to Christ?   Do we follow him and accept/apply his teachings?  These are hard questions to truthfully answer when politics command our attention and call for our decision and vote.

Deacon David Pierce