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Reflection

“Whose side are you on?” is the theme for our reflection. Being on someone’s side is demonstrating or showing support or allegiance to one person, especially when juxtaposing two or more people. “Whose side are you on?” is an appropriate question in the sphere of multi-party partisan politics. We shall proceed to reflect on the following facts

1. The question “Whose side are you on?” will be irrelevant if Christians understand who they are and who they represent in the world.
2. The unity of Christian leaders can render the question “Whose side are you on?” moot in the church.

First, the question “Whose side are you on?” will be irrelevant if Christians understand who they are and who they represent in the world. Is it appropriate to ask a fellow Christian “whose side are you on?” in the Church? The question already indicates that there is division in the Church, especially among leaders who are supported by their sympathizers. It was for this reason, in addressing the issue of division in the Church of Corinth, Paul wrote “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 Paul indicates that anytime the question of “whose side are you on? surfaces in the Church then we have reduced the Church to a mere human enterprise. In other words, we are not different from those who are into partisan politics. We are no longer being led by the Spirit of God hence the Church is totally lost and misguided because of our jealousy, quarrelling and allegiance to mere mortals and not to God our creator. Believers or Christians owe their allegiance to God and not their church leaders. We must not allow our love and allegiance to church leaders to create division or political affiliations in the Church of Christ. We come to Church because we have offered ourselves to God as living sacrifices and not to our church leaders, “therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2) God’s will must be done in every situation including eschewing division in the Church. It is sad to note that sometimes Church leaders themselves do not intend to establish any form of division but because most members of the Church are carnally minded or merely in the flesh they bring partisan politics into the Church and infect others with the political virus thereby leading to the disease of division. This was the case in the Corinthian Church. The only way we can overcome divisive tendencies and tension in the Chuch is to ask the questions ” Who are we and who do we represent in the world? Dear friend, we are Christians or disciples of Christ and not the disciples of our Pastors, Bishops, Moderators or any church leader, therefore, we represent Jesus Christ in the world. The unity of the Church was soo important to the success of God’s mission that Jesus prayed of it, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. (John 17:20-22) We must be watchful so that we do not become mere human beings or political animals in the Church thereby becoming agents of division in the Church of Christ.

Secondly, the unity of Christian leaders can render the question “Whose side are you on?” moot in the church. The question “whose side are you on? can only surface in a situation where one party represent the light and the will of God and the other party represents darkness and evil but such a question is totally irrelevant or rendered moot when we are all involved in the Mission and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul explains to the Church of Corinth that “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-9) In other other words, we cannot be on anyone’s side because we have been called into different ministries to fulfil one Mission. Put in another way, we are servants with different assignments but serving one Master, God. There are divisions in many Christian Churches because of unhealthy competition among church leaders. Some church leaders are competing with one another in the ministry just for popularity and to win the sympathy and support of church members. This has led to rumour-mongering, slander, gossip, vindictiveness, backbiting and conspiracy among church leaders in some churches. Division among church leadership has led to major schisms among other issues. Paul again reminds us that “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6) Every Church leader must always have the unity and progress of the Church at heart and regardless of tension in the Church remain loyal to Christ and faithful to his or her calling. Every Church leader must continually reflect on these powerful words from John the Babist about Jesus “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends to the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:27-30) Shalom

In summary, we have meditated on the theme “Whose side are you on” In our reflection, we identified that the question “Whose side are you on?” will be irrelevant if Christians understand who they are and who they represent in the world. Again, the unity of Christian leaders can render the question “Whose side are you on?” moot in the church. May Holy Spirit help us to work towards the unity and development of our churches. Shalom

PRAYER

As a church member have you taken sides leading to a division in your Church? As a church leader have you influenced members to side with you leading to a division in your church? What are the divisive tendencies or activities happening in your Church currently? How are you going to maintain unity and peace as a disciple of Christ?

Holy Spirit, empower us to worship God in truth and Spirit and may our speech and actions lead to the unity of the body of Christ. Amen.