Author: C. Yvonne Karl

Based on 1 Corinthians 1  (by Yvonne 2001)

TARGET PRACTICE

Words, words, words!  Nag, nag, nag! Put them together and their voice, intensity, and tone interpret their message. Fiery darts are often verbal arrows designed to pierce your soul, shatter your confidence, wound your emotions and grieve your spirit. We understand them better when we define these darts as criticism, or judging others. 

My husband and I came from different sides of the Atlantic Ocean, but we had very similar church backgrounds. Soon after we became engaged he encouraged me to bleach my hair blonde. That was a major request. I knew the change would meet with criticism from some relatives and was fully aware that some Christian friends would view it as courting worldliness. Nevertheless, I loved this man and knew him to be a godly man who loved the Lord. Changing my hair color seemed like a little thing to do to please him. 

A few months after we married, we attended a conference together where our paths crossed with a Pastor who was a longtime friend of my family. At first he didn’t recognize me with blonde hair, but when he finally did, he spit at me, hissed, turned on his heels and walked away. In his eyes, I was a sinner. It was the last time I saw him and I was left with the impact of the fiery dart. I felt his disappointment in me and his rejection of me. Did it hurt? Of course it did. But he was neither my husband nor my judge. It was my responsibility to forgive him. It was important for me to be grounded in my relationship to Jesus so as not to be wounded or impaired by this encounter.

This pastor was in the same category as some people in the Corinthian church. They judged others by the opinions they held and then had “target practice” where they openly supported their favorite preachers and hissed the groups who dared differ with them.

Over the span of my life, I have lived in two countries, six states, and ten cities, participating in church life in all of those places. Everywhere (except where I am now), I have encountered the same problems Paul addresses in the book of 1 Corinthians. In one church, the division was so great that the two groups actually sat on opposite sides of the auditorium when attending the services.

FLAMING MISSILES IN THE CHURCH

As you listen to people comment on the various preachers of the day, you hear a variety of opinions about them. One person expresses displeasure with preachers who shout their sermons. “We’re not deaf,” they say. Another person expresses displeasure with preachers who speak quietly as if in conversation. “They’re not anointed,” they say. One group of people doesn’t want to listen to preachers who read their sermons. “It’s from his head, not the Spirit,” they say.  Another group of people doesn’t trust the preacher who speaks spontaneously, “He’s not prepared,” they say. 

Like it or not, Christians are more divided over the methods of delivery than over the message. Different people respond differently to different personalities, methods, and techniques. However, what matters should not be the method but the message, not the personality but the principles.

The disciple John came to Jesus one day and said, “Master, we saw a man driving out demons in Your name, and we commanded him to stop it for he does not follow along with us” [he’s not a member of our group]. But Jesus told him, “Do not forbid it; for whoever is not against you is for you” (John 9:49-50).

Paul put it this way: “Do not go on passing judgment (criticism) before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God (1 Cor. 4:5).

Paul wrote something similar to the Philippians: “Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, CHRIST IS PROCLAIMED; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice” (Phil. 1:15-18).

So let’s stop sending off those darts of criticism because we don’t relate to the “style” of a preacher, or because he wears a different label, denominational name, or hairstyle.

Stop and think about it. We’re all different. We have different personalities. We’re each attracted to different kinds of people. Perhaps this is what prompted Paul to write, “It pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believed” (1 Cor. 1:21). The Greek word translated foolishness means absurd. Each group of Christians in Corinth thought the preaching preferred by the other groups was foolish. They each had their favorite preacher, thus there was divided allegiance in the church at Corinth and the fiery darts of criticism were flying. It seems these preferences were based on the personalities of the preachers. This was brought to the attention of the Apostle Paul who wrote a letter admonishing the Corinthian Christians to listen to what they were saying and stop being so foolish.

 “I urge and entreat you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you be in perfect harmony, and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you… For it has been made clear to me by those of Chloe’s household that there are contentions and wrangling and factions among you. What I mean is this, that each one of you either says, I belong to Paul, or I belong to Apollos, or I belong to Cephas (Peter) or I belong to Christ. Is Christ, the Messiah, divided into parts? Was Paul crucified on behalf of you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?… So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate and threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future; all are yours and you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s”  (1 Cor. 1:10-13, 3:21-23, Amp.)  In other words, STOP HURLING THE FIERY DARTS!

“I am a follower of Apollos”

Who was Apollos? He was a Jew from Alexandria who had been converted to Christianity. Earlier he was received in Ephesus as a “cultured and eloquent man, well-versed and mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24-25). He taught diligently and accurately what he knew about Jesus Christ. He was a humble, teachable, man who allowed his new friends, Aquila and Priscilla, to take him in and “expound the Scriptures more fully to him.” The people in Ephesus loved to hear him preach and gave him glowing recommendations to the church in Corinth. As we can see in the scripture above, Apollos was welcomed with open arms and dearly loved by a number of the Corinthian believers. They enjoyed identifying with a handsome, cultured man who gave a polished sermon. They hurled their fiery darts of criticism at people who weren’t as cultured as they.

 “I am a follower of Cephas”

Who was Peter? Peter was actually a Greek nickname Jesus had given him from petros which means rock. His real name was “Cephas” which comes from the Aramaic word “kepha” meaning rock. He was not cultured like Apollos, but was a rugged outdoorsman, a fisherman from Galilee who was chosen by Jesus to be one of the twelve disciples. Peter was the spontaneous one—always questioning and always offering to do things for which he had no understanding. Yet, after the resurrection, it was he whom Jesus called first to preach the Gospel. On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell upon those assembled in the Upper Room, it was Peter who took charge and fearlessly preached on the streets of Jerusalem about Jesus, the Messiah, crucified and risen again. There were 3000 souls who repented, were baptized and began meeting for teaching and fellowship. In the Church at Corinth, Peter no doubt kept their attention by relating his travels and personal experiences with Jesus. He didn’t need any notes. When he got to the part about the Upper Room and speaking in tongues at Pentecost, his faithful followers were sitting on the edge of their seats. Yes, Peter was definitely their man!  They hurled their fiery darts of criticism at those who liked a more formal eloquent sermon.

 “I am a follower of Paul”

Who was Paul? Paul was born into a proud and strict Pharisee family and given the Jewish name, Saul. He had the highest education possible in his day and had great concern for keeping the Law. Paul had seen the threat that believing in Jesus as the Messiah would bring to Judaism. He was present at Stephen’s stoning after which he requested and received permission to persecute Christians. On his way to fulfill his plan, the Holy Spirit came in power and might and Paul had an encounter with Jesus, who changed his name to Paul. This supernatural experience effected an immediate change in him and from that day on, he was an ardent follower of Jesus Christ and became a missionary taking the Gospel to the world. So great was his intellect, combined with his experience of knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, that groups of Christians everywhere longed to have his input on their situations. He answered their, “Dear Paul….” letters under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and explained the relationship between the Torah and The Way, between the Law and the Spirit. A group of Christians in Corinth rallied behind Paul as their apostle and prophet. They delighted in the freedom and grace Paul preached and hurled their fiery darts of criticism at those who still had their religious lists of “do’s” and “don’ts”.

AND THE HURLING CONTINUES

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians did not resolve the problem. Through the centuries that followed, believers continued to divide. People began to follow a particular preacher because they liked (understood, appreciated, embraced) his style and his message (not always sure which comes first). Sometimes it was the result of an honest revelation from God’s Word; sometimes it was merely an emotional response to a leader. Each group became exclusive—ostracizing those who were not like them. Preachers caused further division by warning their followers not to fellowship with those of another denomination. This was usually motivated by jealousy because the preacher wanted to keep all his followers as his own. One of the ways to accumulate a group was to develop “Tenets of Faith” to which members must adhere, and a set of rules to follow whereby the followers would hold some practices in common and thus would be distinguished from other believers. This gave them opportunities to hurl “fiery darts” at those who were different.

DIVISION WAS THE TARGET

During the first half of the twentieth century worldliness and holiness were defined in terms of apparel, and today this belief is still held by some religious groups. In some denominations, men were prohibited from wearing neckties and jewelry. Women were required to wear long hair gathered in a modest style, together with the absence of cosmetic enhancements and jewelry. When I was a child my local church had distanced themselves from these external proofs of godliness, but my parents chose to adhere to them in order to maintain fellowship with some dear friends. If my girlfriends wanted to come to my house to play with me, they had to wear a dress or they were turned away. This was in response to the Scripture that says a woman should not wear man’s clothing (Deut. 22:5). They didn’t know that men and women both wore robes in those days; just the undergarments were different.

I well remember the first necklace I owned. It was a strand of pearls purchased from the Dime Store. The first time I wore it to church I was fully prepared for some older brother in Christ to pull it right off my neck. One night several years later, when my mother returned to town after being away on a nursing assignment, I was unpacking her suitcase and out fell at least a dozen assorted necklaces. That was the moment I realized she abstained from wearing jewelry because of someone’s expectation—not because of personal conviction.

I also remember the first time I wore nail polish. My aunt had been staying with me and she polished my nails—clear polish. My mother knew but said nothing. That night when I went with a friend to her church she commented on my nail polish indicating her surprise and disapproval. Feeling a bit guilty, I lied and told her I spilled glue on my nails. Of course she knew better (that was a pretty dumb lie—but then all lies are dumb!). There were other incidents before I discovered the true meaning of Peter’s words which are so often misconstrued: “Wives, let your adorning not be just that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:1-4).  If Peter was telling women not to braid their hair or wear jewelry, he was also telling them not to wear clothes! How ridiculous! He was exhorting them to have godly character as their motivation for everything in life. If all there is to you is what can be seen on the outside, you are empty and worthless in the Kingdom of God.

Some adults who grew up with this list of “do’s and don’ts” hurl fiery darts at their parents and the church. They choose to be bitter and use the rigidity of the past as a reason for not serving the Lord today. When they come face to face with Jesus, it will be what’s in the heart that counts—not what’s on the face, or around the neck, or the judgment that other people have pronounced. “Man looks on the outside, but God looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). In fact, Paul exhorts us as believers to maintain the customs of those with whom we worship (! Cor. 11).  He says, “Although I am free in every way from anyone’s control, I have made myself a bond servant to everyone, so that I might gain the more for Christ.To the Jews I became as a Jew that I might win Jews; to men under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though not myself being under the Law, that I might win those under the Law. To those without law I became as one without law, not that I am without the law of God and lawless toward Him, but that I am especially keeping within and committed to the law of Christ, that I might win those who are outside the law. To the weak I have become weak that I might win the weak and overscrupulous. I have in short become all things to all men, that I might by all means—at all costs and in any and every way—save some by winning them to faith in Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 9:20-22).

Paul says to the Corinthians: “Some of you are putting on a good show dividing the church, lining up people against each other over petty things and preachers’ personalities—but what’s hidden in your heart is about to be exposed” (1 Cor. 4:5). This division continues today. Some say, I am of Luther; I am of Knox; I am of Billy Graham; I am of Calvin. I am of __________. A number of pastors have been thrown out of their denominations for fellowshipping with “others.” Some groups quote the motto: “We reach our hands in fellowship to every bloodwashed one…” then begin to point out exceptions. How ridiculous and contrary to the Word of God! How cunning in divisive techniques! They mask their “distinctions” in “religious” language but really their criticisms are simply hurling “fiery darts.”

One well-known pastor said: “If the Pentecostal wants to jump over the pew and the Baptist wants to sleep in the pew, they should have the freedom to do so.”  Pertinent to this subject, Paul continues his advice column to the Corinthians: We are fellow workmen—joint promoters, laborers together—with and for God; and you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation; you are God’s building. “No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One… If the work which any person has built on this Foundation—any product of his efforts whatever—survives this test, he will get his reward… So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours, and you are Christ’s” (1 Cor. 3:9,11,14,21,23, Amp.).  “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to exceed what is written, in order that no one of you might become arrogant in behalf of one against the other” (1 Cor. 4:6, NAS). 

CRITICIZING OR JUDGING?

It doesn’t matter what you call it. Paul spent a considerable amount of time, ink, and papyrus to communicate to the Corinthians the need for unity. They were all believers in Jesus as the Christ—they just had differences of opinion as to how they should worship, who was the better preacher, and some nitpicking variations on doctrine. Paul was totally fed up with the rivalry and division. He said in no uncertain terms: “As for me personally, it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. Learn to think of men in accordance with Scripture and not to go beyond that which is written; that none of you may be puffed up and inflated with pride and boast in favor of one [minister and teacher] against another. You behave as if you are already filled and think you have enough” (from 1 Cor. 4:3-8).

It is obvious here that Paul is talking about criticizing the methods and personalities of the preacher. He warns them not to judge because the time will come when God will expose the INNER attitudes of everyone. 

FIERY DARTS

Judgment and criticism are really “fiery darts” thrown in the form of words. They are hurled with the intent of “burning” each other. They are originated by the enemy (but often come through the voice of Christians) to stop believers dead in their tracks and keeping them from advancing in their faith and ministry.  Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “Take the shield of faith with which you can quench all the fiery arts of the wicked one” (Eph. 6:16). He put up this shield of faith when he told the Corinthians that it really didn’t matter one little bit what they said about him. He refused to let it “burn” him. He would continue to fellowship with Apollos, Peter, and all the other brothers and sisters and make no criticism of any of them. If he had anything to say he would discuss it with them individually and not make criticisms behind their backs. They could not accomplish God’s purpose in their lives if they continued to criticize and compare leader with leader, preacher with preacher. Well-intentioned Christians are using the enemy’s tactics when they hurl criticisms at each other because of their “style” or “personality.” 

SLINGSHOT FAITH

What all believers need is “slingshot faith.”  While the leaders of Israel sat around criticizing each other and feeling defeated because of the intimidations hurled at them by their opponent, David picked up his slingshot and sent one stone forward. It intercepted the advance of the Giant Goliath and his Philistine army saving the whole nation of Israel from defeat. David, though the youngest among them, was the one with the answer. He refused to wear the ill-fitting armor of the present ruler. He had the wisdom. He had the maturity. He had the faith. He hurled his stone IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.

Instead of sitting around hurling criticisms at each other, believers should begin to see this as the work of the enemy. Instead of wearing the same ill-fitting attitudes and behaviors of others in controlling positions, believers should begin to see them as deterrents to winning their battles. Faith is a missile interceptor. Put faith in your slingshot and aim it at those who would hurl fiery darts at you. Not only is faith aggressive to defeat an attack of the enemy, it is a protective cover to keep you from “feeling” the burning. Paul knew this when he wrote, “It really matters very little to me what you say about me…” (1 Cor. 4:3). 

There may be people who think I won’t get to heaven because for many years I bleached my hair blonde. They forget that “Man looks on the outside, but God sees the heart.” Even when it comes to matters of doctrine, we should be able to discuss them, study them together and worship together. More and more we are seeing evidence of believers willing to reach out to one another in fellowship. We must agree on the person of our Lord Jesus Christ: “… how Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). 

All over the world today, Christians are beginning to come together across denominational lines for conferences and “unity” services. There always will be those who refuse to “reach their hands in fellowship” because they feel they have to “guard their doctrine.” Doctrine will not get a man to heaven. Only if he has accepted the blood of Jesus as a sacrifice for his sins will he gain entrance to eternal life with Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. Christians can meet with people of other religious persuasions in political gatherings but the only basis for Christian fellowship and worship is the person of the risen Christ. Among those who call Him Lord, there should be no dissension.

GIVE ME YOUR HAND

(Origin unknown)

As an army we’re marching toward Heaven

So it’s best that together we stand

We may not have the same rank or title

But we’re soldiers so give me your hand.

Oh, I care not what church you belong to,

just as long as for God you may stand.

If your heart today is as my heart,

you’re my brother so give me your hand.

You may not come to our great cathedral

but belong to some small praying band.

But if you love my Christ, the Redeemer,

you’re a Christian, so give me your hand.

We are bound for that beautiful city

where before the white throne we shall stand. 

And we’ll all be as one there together.

Hallelujah! So give me your hand.   

You can’t see now, but there are no walls in heaven. There will be no divisions there. No one will be trying to keep his little group together over in one corner so another group won’t influence them. There will be no hurling of the fiery darts of criticism. There will be people from every kindred, tribe and nation, yes from every Christian denomination, giving glory and honor and praise and worship to their Savior and Lord, JESUS CHRIST! 

CALL A CEASE-FIRE

Calling a “cease-fire,” withdrawing the “pointing of the finger,” or refraining from criticism of personalities and petty lists of Do’s and Don’ts does not preclude the necessity of “preaching the Truth.” After the Apostle Paul corrects the Corinthians in their attitudes and expressions toward each other, he very succinctly begins to lay out the Truth about the doctrines over which there was controversy in their midst. Preachers are commissioned to preach and believers are responsible to embrace the Truth of Jesus Christ. It is not milk-toast and marshmallows. It is for the mature—for those who get past personality characteristics of the messenger to the meat of the message.

© V16N04Y2001 © C. Yvonne Karl,  yvonnekarl@gmail.com