Puryear Church of Christ

Preacher's Page

November 26, 2017

PARTISAN POLITICS, SECTARIANISM, AND THE BODY OF CHRIST

The term “partisan” in politics and the word “sectarian” in religion refer to the same mindset—a biased, emotional allegiance to another person or group, which is only a part of the whole.  Partisans and sectarians approach every situation as a zero-sum game—either we win and you lose, or you win and we lose.  There is little intelligent discussion.  Instead, the factions look for “talking points” which can be used against the other side. In partisanism and sectarianism, the discussion often degenerates into an assault on the person, rather than a discussion of the merits of the case.

I am afraid that both partisan politics and religious sectarianism are here to stay.  In fact, the two are often intermingled.  Neither should have any place in the life of a professing Christian:  “I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?” (1 Cor 3:2-4, ESV).

When I discount anything positive about another person or group and anything negative about myself or my group, then I am either a partisan or a sectarian—and frequently both, as the mindset that produces the one will produce the other.

We expect partisanism out of the Washington bunch, but it should grieve us deeply when we see Christians with a partisan spirit and it grieves us, even more, to see Christians with a sectarian spirit.  When it comes to sectarianism, no one group has a monopoly, because it is a mindset. 

In his rebuke of the sectarians spirit at Corinth, Paul did not single out those who professed to follow Christ for commendation. He said, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Cephas,’ or ‘I follow Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor 1:10-13, ESV).  ++

It is quite possible that those who said, “I follow Christ” were doing so with the same sectarian mindset as those who said they followed Paul.  This much we know:  He did not single them out for commendation or hold them up as an example.  Even if this is not the case at Corinth, it is true today of some who profess to be Christians only, but pontificate that one cannot be a Christian and vote for any candidate for public office, but their candidate. [DC]

Thought for Today

THOUGHT FOR TODAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2017: The Call of the Ordinary

When God called Moses, he was tending sheep.  When God called Gideon, he was threshing wheat.  When God called Elisha, he was plowing. When Jesus called Peter and Andrew, they were fishing.  When Jesus called James and John, they were mending nets.  When Jesus called Matthew, he was collecting taxes.  The only theologian Jesus called was Saul, but he did not call him out of a seminary—from the feet of Gamaliel; he called and conquered him while he was on a missionary journey for the devil.

God calls those who are doing, not the idle who are doing nothing, nor the idealists who only philosophizes about doing.  Solomon was speaking of the ordinary affairs of life when he said, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Eccl 9:10).

God calls ordinary men and women who are doing with their might whatever their hands have found to do.  God shapes and polishes them for his service.  God called Jim and Donna Faughn from the high school classroom.  God called Bill Brandstatter from behind the microphone of a disc jockey.  God called Arlen Campbell from behind the wheel of a school bus. None of these entered into adulthood with plans to preach or to be in demand as a speaker at women’s day activities.  None of them are household names outside the small circle of their influence.  But God has used all of them to do ordinary things to his glory—if one can call leading others to Christ and strengthening them in the most holy faith “ordinary.”

Think of the “ordinary” people God has used to bless you in ordinary and unordinary ways.  Thank God for them—and thank them if they are around to receive your gratitude.