Key Verse: Verse 3 – “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
Key Words: For ye are yet carnal
Have you ever considered why churches have problems? Now, I don’t know that I know all of the reasons, but let me name a few of them for you, using the church of Corinth as an example.
First of all, they loved to use human wisdom (I Corinthians 1:22). Human wisdom has three ingredients. According to James 3:15, it is earthly (not spiritual). It is sensual, pleasing the flesh rather than pleasing God, and devilish (deceitful rather than honest). So the church at Corinth reached conclusions and made decisions, not based upon heavenly wisdom, but by using human wisdom.
Secondly, the church at Corinth had a sin problem because they focused on themselves rather than others. They were taking one another to court for selfish reasons (I Corinthians 6:1, 7). They were focusing on their liberties rather than their testimony (I Corinthians 8:9-10). You see, I am free to go where I want to go; but I need to be cautious that my freedom doesn’t enslave my testimony. They were only concerned with their individual gain, not the gain of others (I Corinthians 10:23-24, 33). They all wanted to speak in tongues while leaving out the other spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 14:1-4). They were selfish in their financial giving (I Corinthians 16:1-2).
Lastly, the church at Corinth had a sin problem because they did not live to please God. They refused to deal with sin in the church because of sin in their individual lives (I Corinthians 5:1-2). They made a mockery of communion (I Corinthians 11:28-29). They did little to bring glory to God (I Corinthians 10:31).
So the church had numerous problems because of human wisdom, focusing on self rather than others; and because they did not live to please God. The church members at Corinth sacrificed their testimony on the altar of lustful pleasure. I trust that will never be the case of our churches.
What to do:
✞Every church member should dedicate themselves to be a peace-maker, not a trouble maker. A problem solver, not a fault finder.
Dr. Mike Rouse
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