At the Table | Who's Right?

10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you be knit together in the same mind and the same purpose.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NRSVUE)

Early birds versus night owls. Dog people versus cat people. Kentucky versus Louisville. Coffee versus tea. These might seem like harmless preferences, but if you've ever been in a room where people are passionately debating any of these topics, you know how quickly friendly differences can create division.

We live in a world that seems more divided than ever. Political parties that can't find common ground. Social media echo chambers that reinforce our existing beliefs. Families split over everything from vaccination policies to social justice issues. Churches fractured over worship styles, theological interpretations, and cultural questions.

It's tempting to think this is a uniquely modern problem, but division has been part of human nature since the beginning. The church in Corinth that Paul wrote to was deeply divided. They had factions claiming different leaders. They argued over who was most spiritual. They looked down on each other over dietary choices and spiritual gifts.

Sound familiar? We may not be arguing over the same specific issues, but we're still finding ways to create "us versus them" categories. We still struggle with the human tendency to define ourselves by who we're not like rather than by what we share in common.

But here's what's fascinating about Paul's appeal for unity: he doesn't ask them to pretend their differences don't exist. He doesn't suggest they all become identical. Instead, he points them toward something bigger than their differences. He points them toward their shared identity in Christ.

When we let our preferences, opinions, and even deeply held convictions become more important than our unity in Christ, we miss the point of what it means to be the church. We become just another divided group arguing about who's right instead of a community transformed by God's love.

Personal Application: What differences tend to create division in your relationships, family, or church? How might focusing on your shared identity in Christ change how you approach those differences?

Prayer: God, we confess that we often let our differences divide us instead of letting our unity in Christ unite us. Help us see past the things that separate us to the love that binds us together. Teach us to disagree with grace and to find our identity in you rather than in our opinions or preferences. Amen.