Politics in the church

https://odb.org/2024/08/25/space-race

It is common to have politics at the workplace as different groups of individuals align themselves with certain leaders. Sometimes, it is inevitable because a business division needs to achieve its business objectives and thus need to work closely with other business divisions, and as a result, some of the business leaders are politically aligned. But at the very top, the CEO or Group CEO will tell everyone, don’t compete internally as the customer is out there in the market. Internal competition weakens the organisation as the time and resources spent competing with one another would have been better spent acquiring new customers and growing existing ones. Usually, the progress of one division is impeded or blocked or even sabotaged so as not to outshine the other or no help is extended for the smaller one to grow, especially if it’s a startup business.

Sadly, a similar situation may exist in the church when we identify and align ourselves with certain leaders or personalities within the church. In the process, we may create divisions within the church when the enemy is out there in the world. In fact, such a pattern of conduct was prevalent in the church at Corinth two thousand years ago, and Paul had to call them carnal or worldly. This is because politics led to divisions and then envy and jealousy, all negative traits that may eventually destroy the brethren if allowed to fester and grow. Paul had to teach that in the end, it is God who brings forth the fruits and the growth. We are all just sowing the seed and watering the plants.

1 Corinthians 3:3-7 NKJV:

3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

The message this morning is that we must be watchful for politics in the church and the resultant division, envy, strife, and jealousy. We will still be carnal and baby Christians and can only be fed with milk. In verse 2 of the same chapter, Paul wrote: “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able” (NKJV). In other words, politics in the church will make us weak and unable to grow the same way politics at the workplace weaken the organisation. Always remember that we are all co-workers in Christ, and it is God that will give the increase.

Our objective in church and as individual believers is always to grow in the Lord so that we are progressing in maturity to become the person God wants us to be, fulfilling His will and plans for us for the seasons of our lives.