Who ya Votin for? 1 Corinthians 1

Introduction/Scripture

1 Corinthians 1:10–13 NIV

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Pray.

Several years ago….

Cite the research - Fear and Loathing Across Party Lines: New Evidence of Group Polarization (Standford Research piece from 2015)

Research: “Our evidence demonstrates that hostile feelings for the opposing party are ingrained or automatic in voters’ minds, and that affective polarization based on party is just as strong as polarization based on race.”

1960 survey: who would you be most upset about your child marrying?

I would be most upset if my child married someone from a different religion or race.

Now, I would be most upset if my child married someone from another political party.

Pew Research Center and Public Research Religion Institute:

24% of all Americans believe “Washington will get it right”

58% of all Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction

So a majority of America believes Washington will not get it right and we are headed in the wrong direction.

Americans disapprove of the established parties - They barely get double digit approval rates

And yet we double down…actually in a more polarized way.

I was reading a book on exploring Wesleyan Political theology in which former White House Press Secratary, Michael Mccurry, a Methodist, makes the case that the center is failing and we, as Christians, must stand in the gap. Essentially, hold the center. And I think I have to disagree. My opening story, might have been a successful holding of the center. Holding the center looks like some attempt to be an independent…sprinkling in some Democrat policies and some Republican ones. But that is not our calling. Our calling is not to be a copacetic blend. It meant to be something completely different.

Villodas: The church is not to be found at the “center” of a left/right political world. The church is to be a species of its own kind, confounding left, right, and middle, and finding its identity from the “center” of God’s life.” - Pastor Rich Villodas

Church in Corinth

The Corinthian Church is the biggest mess. Probably Paul’s biggest pain…honestly, the thorn in his flesh in 2 Corinthians, might be this church, haha. God is moving in incredible ways there.

The church in Corinth, as described in Paul’s letters, was a vibrant yet deeply troubled Christian community. Located in a bustling, diverse, and morally challenging city, the church struggled with divisions, immorality, and confusion regarding spiritual gifts and worship practices. Paul’s letters to the Corinthians address issues like factionalism, sexual immorality, lawsuits among believers, abuses in the Lord’s Supper, and misunderstandings about resurrection. Despite these challenges, Paul acknowledged their spiritual zeal and encouraged them to pursue unity, love, and holiness while relying on Christ as the foundation of their faith.

And one of the biggest issues based on the very beginning of this letter is their pursuit and maintaining of factions.

Nothing new under the sun. That is why you should read the bible. It is actually a comfort to me. Oh man the world is so messed up. The church is so messed up. Then I read Scripture and go…ok that makes me feel better.

So there are these factions forming in Corinth:

Some follow Paul, some follow Apollos and another Cephas, and another Christ.

Paul: should have made him feel better, but it didnt.

Apollos: Vibrant preacher and leader in the church

Peter: Some are like yeah we follow the Rock. Not Dwayne The Rock Johnson. The rock of the church.

Christ: What is this about. Why is this thrown in here in a negative light? I think it’s probably because there are some that are claiming and pure and moral high ground. And typically what happens in this is that we follow the Christ of our own creation.

Indicator: instead of humility and confession, there is pride and heard-heartedness. Us and them mentality.

This is a mirror for the church. This kind of fracturing exists as the church divides itself based on leaders it decides to follow. Everyone has a platform today to say what they want to say. Social media gives us a platform and addiction to this very thing. Everyone has access to technology so we are seeing in real time and intensified ways today. Today is not any different in the level of hatred and fighting….its that we can see it all in real time. So Paul is going to say…I want you to be united.

1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

How can we be united? Well this does not mean that we all vote for the same person in American politics. We are formed in different ways. We have different political priorities (and we should hold them loosely) but I am not suggested there is a right way in our American politics. We can be united by one thing or rather one person. That is Christ.

Were these people crucified for you? Were you baptized in them? No. It is about a primary allegiance to Jesus above all things. Paul is trying to get them to see that Jesus Christ is Lord.

NT Wright and Michael Bird:

Thesis: We believe that the Church’s answer to the global crises of our day is, in sum, the kingdom of God. The Church’s message and mission rest on the notion that God is King, God has appointed Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords, and the Church’s vocation is to build for the kingdom. Our working hypothesis is that the kingdom of God is not from this world, but it is emphatically for this world. The Church’s kingdom-vocation is not only what it says to the world, but also what the Church does within and for the sake of the world.

To say that Jesus is Lord, is to say that Ceasar is not. And personally, it means we are not either.”

The democratic party is not Lord

The republican party is not lord

this candidate or that candidate is not lord

I am not Lord

Our allegiance before flag, country, any leader, or ourselves. Is to Jesus the Christ.

So how do we do that? Many of us probably would answer this on a quiz.

7 Marks of faithfulness to Jesus in this season:

Non-anxious presence (not never anxious, but not parlyzed by it)

Hopeful (Lesslie Newbigin: I am neither optimist or pessimist, Jesus Christ is resurrected from the dead.)

See our politics through the lens of Jesus. See friends one of my goals in the coming weeks is to help us see politics through the lens of Jesus….NOT JESUS THROUGH THE LENS OF OUR POLITICS! We cannot annoint a candidate or party as God’s own party.

We are confessional (limits, blindspots, sin) Story of being with friends in London. Disagreement. I could be wrong on this.

Our ethics are Jesus’s ethics (sermon on the mount)

Pray for those we disagree with

Discipled by Jesus (this means more than digital discipleship)

Conclusion:

WWJD was all the rage when I was in high school youth groups. It was funny because our youth leaders would push this. Whenever you find yourself in a difficult situation ask yourself WWJD. I remember being very cynical about this. Oh I am alone with my girlfriend. What would Jesus do…well I am pretty sure Jesus didnt go to the movies with some girl freshman year of high school.

Think Christianly. It requires our allegiance first, then our abiding/surrender.