Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-15
Christianity in its development fol-

to dwell together in unity
! Psalm 1881.
| lowed the course of history. The rec
| ords of human progress teach us that
the hour of triumph has always been
the starting point of another conflict.
| Some one has pointed out that this is
| due to the fact that every tidal wave
| of human progress enfolds the latent
seeds of some new form of evil" The
church established in Corinth, which
we considered in last weeks lesson, was
no exception. The character and ante
cedents of the Coripthian Church men,
bership made it necessary for Paul to
exercise the greatest vigilance over the
development of the church in that cos
mopolitan and commercial center noted
for its infamy, immortality and intem-
perance. It's morals had become by
word among the nations.
The influence of that goddess en-
vironment was seen in the church es
tablished by Paul five years previous
to his writing this, epiStle. Although
we speak of this communication as his
| first letter, we know that he sent them
at least one message previous to this
epiStle, to correct the social evil exist
| ing in its membership. In that mes
sage he warned them against the dread
full peril of immortality that had swept
| back some of the disciples into the vor-
tex of sin. He sent the first epistle in
an effort to keep the church free from
| the corrupting and demoralizing system
of pagan religions and Corinthian
| ideals.
This letter was sent in reply to the
| church's request for assistance in Solv-
| ing some of the problems that had
emerged in the transaction Of their af-
fairs. Paul brought to their attention
on his own initiative other conditions
| that called for warning. The Corin-
THAN Church members were evidently
unconscious of some of these serious
conditions that were sapping the
strength of its membership by the di-
visions, differences and disputes. caused
by their partisanship, that had been
built up around the personality of
preachers. While Paul penned this let
ter to meet the emergencies of that
hour, it has a tremendous value for
modern churches and Christians.
Destructive Party Spirit.
Party spirit was strong among the
Greeks, so that the membership of the
church did not realize the seriousness
of the condition that had developed.
While the delegation from the church
sought advice upon the question of
marriage, the use of meat offered to
idols, spiritual gifts and the resurrec-
ton. Paul pours out his soul with a
passion and purpose to remove the de-
structive party spirit. The followers of
the Lord Jesus had allowed hero wor-
ship to supercede the worship of God.
Nothing is more detrimental to spiritual
service than for Christian church to
be divided into cliques and party groups.
The converts whom Paul had won for
Lord Jesus and His kingdom were at
tracted to the Christ and His church
from pagan and Jewish homes. They
lived in a VIGOROUSLY wicked city and
the Apostle found it difficult to recon-
Struct their habits. Some of the con-
verts had been thieves, liars, idolaters,
adulaterS and some had been guilty OF
breaking all the moral laws. They had
not completely learned what was re-
quired of them when they became fol-
lowers of the Master.
Nothing is more destructive of Spirl-
tual life than for the spirit of faction
to enter into competition with the spirit
of faith. 1t is not at all improbable that
1
:s,rences in Paul and Apollos. They
differed in style and training. Paul
was more scholarly and gripped the
people by his intellectual power. Apollos
was more of an orator and popular
speaker. Under no circumstance would
he be party to diViSion Paul
ApolloS and Cephas became popular
idols with the church members, and sc
partisan did they become that 1t may
well be questioned if the thought OF
God was ever in their hearts. 1t was
not due to theological differences, for
both Paul and Apollos preached the
same gospel. We have no evidence that
Cephas, or Peter. was ever in Corinth
Although it Is quite possible for him
to have preached there without the
knowledge of his service in Corinth ever
being handed down to us. It Is quite
probable that when the Judaizera found
that the church was split over Apollos
and Paul that they drove in another
wedge, using the claims of Peter. Some
had the discernment to see that preach
; erS are secondary, while Christ is su-
preme in the church, but, alas, these
, lacked the spiritual discernment of true
followers of the Christ and constituted
themselves into a fourth party within
the church" These four factions broke
Paul's heart for he considered their
intense partianship to be sinful anc
destructive of their power to win Co.
rinth for the Lord
j Christian Cooperation Commended.
In an effort to restore the spirit OF
, harmony in the Corinthian church Pau
begged them, as brothers in Christ
=. to drop their party cries" This is 6
=, message that Is needed today. The
apostle did not seek an outward mani
festation of union, for they pro-
= fessed membership in the same body o.
believers. 1T is one of the browning
ironies of history that every great truth
} of Christianity and every institution
which it has brought into the world t
I be a great welding and uniting bono
t for humanity has been perverted a.
some time or other into a divisive part,
I cry" that has crowded out the dis
: tinctive Christian virtues. The exist
t ence of party spirit within and Chris
:. tan communion is positive proof tina
). the spirit of the Lord is absent Pau
i summoned the brethren and sisters t,
= realize that owning Christ's name, the.
= should possess His spirit. He callet
e them back to the spiritual tie tina
= united them in Christian fellowship
5, their love for the Lord Jesus. Chris
|, tians are one in Him. The unity o
;. the faith in the Saviors love shoult
!. promote Christian unity and co-opera
e ton in His service.
p Paul set before them the fact tina
:. both he and Apollos were partners Il