“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” - 1 Corinthians 1:1-19
Reflection by Brenda White
The first nine verses of 1 Corinthians 1 are Paul’s introduction to the entire letter. In these verses, we have been told that Paul is the author and that he is accompanied by Sosthenes (chief ruler of the synagogue at Corinth). Paul moves on to reiterate the call to Christian unity and then points out the ways in which this unity has broken down in the Corinthian church
Is it possible that as members of St. James’ Parish we all speak the same thing and that we can be “perfectly united” in our opinions and judgments? Surely it would be un-American for us all to have the same opinions. But this is precisely what Paul is pleading for.
Paul calls for no “divisions.” The Greek word for divisions is schismata, from which we get schism. The figurative meaning is “to tear or rip.” As it would be applied in this passage, it means to have a difference of opinion, or a division of judgment. This was the kind of thing that Paul was arguing against.
Our lack of unity will also severely hinder us in our mission to the world. People will not be drawn to any church where there is disunity reflected in many agendas. If there are people all going in different directions with no common mission which they share together, people will be put off. Conversely, people are attracted to a place where there is a common vision, where people sacrifice for the shared goals.
This kind of unity must be worked for, chosen, purposefully undertaken. I do not believe that this kind of unity simply happens. This kind of unity must be a decision of the will. This is precisely why it is a command.
