House Divided

Here Paul addresses a perennial problem in churches, namely, the difficulty that comes when often well meaning and talented teachers or leaders begin to influence people so much that factions devoted to their leadership develop in the church. Soon, people are following their favorite teachers and patterning their lives after their principles, sometimes even in opposition to church leadership. How do we deal with this? It’s certainly a problem, and even more so today because of the wide array of Internet voices that influence Christians. Paul here gently reminds believers to be aware of the possibility of division, and to unite around the Gospel and the Scriptures themselves as primary points of confidence. Paul was speaking here as someone who knew that Pastors and Elders had been assigned by God to every local church, and that they should have primary influence over the believers there, not gifted teachers, no matter how sincere they may be.

Dear Lord, as we live in our local church, help us to be discerning about the influence of influential voices on our spiritual lives. Help us to place the Pastors and Elders that you’ve given to our church into a primary position of influence in our lives. May we be faithful to You and Your leading in our lives. In Jesus name, amen.