Before I left on my family ski trip, I had a wonderful sermon written for this day. One that spoke to our unity in this a time political transition. Yet my computer decided that sermon was not the one to be preached today, because it was lost somewhere between 0s and 1s. And yet here we are, two days into a new administration and we need a word of hope. This is not about who you voted for, but for the unity we need as a country because we are divided. As I looked at the passage for this morning I was taken back by the fact that lectionary focused on this division in the church in Corinth. A church that Paul formed and loved, but that had a time of quarreling. They seem to be fighting about who they belong to, which team they are on, which part of the faith resonates with them.
So I started thinking about this idea of belonging. When we are in Junior high belonging is everything. How we fit in, see ourselves, and which group accepts us is all part of shaping our impressionable identity. Now most of us would not choose to go back to that emotional roller coaster and yet belonging still plays a vital role in defining who we are.
If you look up the word belonging it has two primary definitions: relating to property and membership. The car belongs to him or she is a member of that club. One might say I belong to Rotary or Lyons. Another might claim membership in St. Andrew or Resurrection Church. Many of us identify as a republican or a democrat. Even sport teams can offer a sense of belonging to their fans as some people are die hard and faithful even when their team is on the longest losing streak. Where we belong says a great deal about who we are. But there is also a third sense of belonging one that shares an intimate relationship, like who you are “together with.” We might say a spouse belongs to their beloved, or a child belongs to a family. Belonging creates close relationships.
Recently a person shared with me they felt right at home the first time they visited our church, they had a sense of belonging. Meanwhile a friend of mine told me that she will need counseling when she retires, because she will need help adjusting when she no longer belongs to her profession nor finds purpose through her vocation. Belonging has far reaching ramifications.
So I ask you to what do you belong? Do you define yourself by you civic, church or political affiliations? Are your relationships or your job your defining factor? We have all experienced how political affiliations can separate friends and family, especially in our current political environment.
Well Corinth was having its own political rivalries. Some were saying, “I belong to Paul” while others claimed they “belonged to Peter.” Their rivalries are not about red and blue, rather it is about who you follow, Paul, Apollos or Cephas, also known as Peter. I can just imagine each of these men having their own Facebook page. I imagine Paul’s Facebook page claiming his transformation from being Christ’s greatest persecutor to the one proclaiming the risen Lord. He also can be credited with founding many churches. But then Peter replying with a post, I actually knew Jesus, followed him and served with him, and I am the one on whom Jesus will build his church. Maybe he even made a plea for those who have denied Jesus that he understands, having denied him three times himself. Apollos might just say, “I will make things great!” But of course, these imaginary posts remind us that when all is said and done we can follow any number of people, but as Christians we are to follow Christ and Christ alone.
But the world seems to pull us in many directions- asks us to follow so many people, practices and principles. Especially now with our nation, politics and our media so divided.
Trying to get behind the divisions Paul asks, “Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” Of course not! Paul says I didn’t baptize, I came to proclaim the cross. But these people who say they belong to Apollos or Peter are being gripped by the particular ideas of the person, rather than the truth of Christ. The truth is that Christ died for our sins, that we are given new life in the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus. Because Christ willingly hung from the cross and died for your sins and mine we are saved by the power of God. Paul testified to this truth, and called the people of Corinth to unity. We can find unity even when we are surrounded by discord.
It may feel like our divisiveness and turmoil is worse than ever. But let’s keep in mind that over 2,000 years ago, people were fighting over who belonged to whom and Paul was calling for unity in the face of discord within the church; just as we are searching for unity within our nation. Moreover, over 9,000 years ago, the prophet Isaiah spoke of “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (9:2). The political situation of that time was of fierce fighting in Syria, the middle east plagued by civil wars and treaties and alliances being challenged all in the pursuit of power. Does that sound familiar? Yet God’s light prevails, God’s purpose will endure.
The page has turned the transfer of power has happened. No matter which party you belong to, which candidate you voted for, the power of our democracy will prevail. The same way that the power of God through Christ prevails in the Church.
So when we say we belong to Christ it is not just following Jesus because he is a good teacher, or asking ourselves what would Jesus do? Rather Christ died on the cross so that you belong to Jesus in all three ways of belonging.
You belong to Christ in that God has claimed you as his own: You belong to God, through baptism.
You belong to Christ in that you have membership in this precious body of Christ:
You belong to the church.
You belong to Christ because you have an intimate relationship with God through the grace and love of Jesus Christ. You belong to Jesus your partner, friend and Savior.
The power of our belonging comes from the power of the cross, not our human will to get along. Our unity comes from our unity in our baptism with Christ.
So let us pray for our nation its unity, its future and its purpose as we faithfully follow our one true Lord, Jesus the Christ in whom we live, move and belong. Amen.
