In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt you have to have differences among you to show which of you has God’s approval (1 Corinthians 11:18-19).

In case you missed it, Paul is not big on division in the Church.

He’s kinda mentioned that before.

Way back in Chapter 1, he chewed on the Corinthians for breaking into factions.

Remember, “I follow Paul…I follow Apollos…I follow Cephas”?

Apparently that was only one of the things they divided over.

But what about this second part, the “No doubt you have to have differences among you,” line? When I first read that, it sounded like Paul was approving of these divisions. But notice, Paul says that divisions were bound to happen, not that they were a good thing. The Corinthians keep missing the point of the Church, as we will see in the next passage. They are so far off the mark in so many areas that it’s a given that they would fracture, some groups closer to the truth, and some farther away.

Beloved, what causes division in your church? In your friendships or your family, for that matter? May I suggest that, more often than not, it comes down to pride?

Pride tells us that we are always correct, even when we’re not.

Pride tells us that there can be no compromise, because those who do not agree with us are wrong, and that’s that.

Except that is rarely ever that.

Pride makes mountains out of molehills, and builds strongholds on the flimsiest of foundations.

Pride is not of God.

“Blessed are those who quibble over minute points of doctrine they don’t even understand” is not in Scripture, but

“Blessed are the Peacemakers” is.

Happy Monday, Beloved