The reasons why you have to speak out

This letter from Paul to the church in Corinth came about because of a letter from the church (1 Cor 7:1) but also because of a group pf people that travelled to see Paul in Ephesus. They were from Chloe’s household. Chloe must have been wealthy and she was most probably the house church leader making up part of the Corinth Church. It had not taken long since Paul had left for these house churches to become divided over loyalties and other major problems which we will eventually get to.  In all of them we have to keep the first 9 verses in mind as we now go through the letter. It was like Paul saying, ‘This is who you are, this is what God has done for you, so why on earth are you behaving as you are doing?” Clearly Paul is upset. So let us get in to what he says.

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. ¹¹ My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. ¹² What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1 v 10-12)

Chloe had trained her people to speak up. It was part of their values of the house church. They were not wanting to see division. They were against party politics. They didn’t like what they were seeing in the Church. This wasn’t the Church that Paul had birthed nor the Church that Jesus died for. Sound familiar?

So they spoke up. And so must we. These are the reasons why I think we should.

• Dissatisfaction

If they had not spoken out then dissatisfaction would have been silenced. Their dissatisfaction was a cry for help. They were not arrogant enough to join in the fight and become as divided as the others. Their dissatisfaction led them to the right person, the authoritative voice who could bring about the change that was needed.

• Transparency

If they had not spoken out then perhaps it would never have been addressed. Paul had a letter from the ‘Church’ (7:1) but it wasn’t about the divisions, rather it was about questions over behaviour and doctrine. Sometimes the Church likes to focus on certain aspects and be blind to the important matters of love (something Paul majors on later in the letter).

• Love

If they had not spoken out they would have denied their own genuine love for a united Church. What you love drives you.

• Responsibility

If they had not spoken out they would have been disobedient to all that Chloe had taught them to be or ordered them to say. They would have turned their back on their commission and for that moment in time, their calling and responsibility.

• Higher purpose

If they had not spoken out then it would have shown they had not understood the vision of the church which was to ultimately glorify God and spread the gospel.

They had to speak out and so should we.