About the time “Cast Away” with Tom Hanks hit the theaters, there was a story going around about another castaway. This castaway had been on an island for many years and was only discovered because a plane veered off course and the pilot spotted the man’s call for help that he had written in the sand. As the pilot was landing the plane to rescue the man he noticed three huts on the island.
The pilot was curious about the huts and asked the man to explain the significance of each. The man walked to one hut and said, ”This is my home; this is where I live.” He then walked to a second hut and said, “This is my church; this is where I worship.” But the man clearly ignored the third hut, so the pilot asked him what it was for. To this the man looked distastefully at the hut and said, “That was my old church, but I didn’t like it there.”
This story makes me laugh even to this day. But it also makes me think. I have known people who have left “perfectly good churches” because of something one person said that hurt their feelings or because some church committee chose blue carpet for the sanctuary when they would have preferred purple.
Don’t misunderstand, there are valid reasons for changing churches, but what is sad is when someone leaves a church over some insignificant difference of opinion. I knew a man who left a church because he thought he should head up a particular committee but someone else was selected for the position. And, I knew a woman who left because they changed her Sunday school teacher and she didn’t like the new one.
In 1 Corinthians 11:18-34, Paul addresses a disagreement among the members of the church in Corinth. This particular passage is just one example of minor bickering within the body that can steal a church’s focus. I’m sure Paul had to deal with others, but he’s making a universal point with this one situation. What matters is that we all have the same core beliefs; we all know and believe the Gospel. Paul is telling us to avoid petty squabbles with our brothers and sisters in Christ because they damage the fabric of a church and they do serious damage to the faith of other believers.
In Psalms 133:1, David writes, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” You see, the triune nature of God (the Trinity) exemplifies unity. And since we were created in God’s image it makes sense that we should strive to live with our brothers and sisters in that same unity. After all, if it’s good enough for God, it’s reason enough for us.
Thom Fishow
July 25, 2010