Is Christ Divided?

The work of God is not a business but rather a Calling. it is not carried out by techniques, methods, or the way of the world, but rather by the Leading, Guidance and Empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's number one office in the church is the work of conviction on the hearts and lives of those He touches and deals with in making us what we ought to be in Christ, as well as drawing the sinner who don't know Christ, to a loving knowledge of saving truth that can set the soul free from sin. We live in a haughty, loveless and exclusive spirit in the modern church world today that has literally "divided" Christ into so many fragments that those who don't know Him are confused at best but turned off at worst from the Savior because of those who claim to represent Him. The Apostle Paul in addressing the Corinth Church asked the question this writer hopes the Holy Spirit will help him ask you and answer today - "Is Christ Divided?" The answer to that is a solid "no," but at the same time, with the reality being, as wrong as it may be, "yes," in that He is divided all over the landscape of the modern church.

By Chris McDonald

TEXT: 1 Cor 1:10-13 - Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul

The work of God is not a business but rather a Calling that is not carried out by techniques, methods, or the way of the world, but rather by the Leading, Guidance and Empowerment of the God the Holy Spirit. The church world in most circles has forgotten this as it by and large for the most part has rejected the true source of it's power and strength, the Holy Ghost. The  Holy Spirit, whose number one office  is the work of conviction on the hearts and lives of sinners He seeks to draw to Christ, also is at work daily in the lives of believers who have come to know Christ when they were "Born again," by the Spirit of God. We are predestined to be made into the image of Christ once we get saved; the ONE who Alone can transform us into the image of Jesus is the Holy Spirit.

Let me tell you friend, all the self-help programs in the world cannot set one sinner free or transform one believer into Christ's image! All the philosophies, the new age nuances, the manmade techniques, the self-help books, and humanistic based programs and theories we've come to embrace in this modern 21rst Century church atmosphere hold nothing in comparison to the power of one touch by the Holy Ghost.

The modern church today has literally "divided" Christ into so many fragments that those who don't know Him are confused at best, turned off at worst, from the Savior Alone who can save them and set them free from their sins; it's sad when those who represent the Lord become the greatest stumbling block to those wishing to KNOW the Lord! When we reject the operation and moving of the Holy Ghost, the church world does just that!! There is no salvation in the church, let the writer be clear on that. I don't care how "great" we think our church is or how "wonderful" the programs we offer the public may be. There is NO salvation in the walls of the institution; salvation comes from the LORD! Salvation comes through faith and faith ALONE in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, as simple as that statement may sound, millions do not grasp it nor care to grasp it within the confines of modern Christianity. Because of apostasy, the church has left the preaching of the Cross and as a result, we've wound up with a Christ-Less gospel that saves no one, delivers no one, heals no one, empowers no one and sets not one single solitary captive free! The preaching of the Cross is FOOLISHNESS to them who perish, but unto us who BELIEVE, it is the POWER OF GOD!

Those are the words of the Holy Ghost through Paul who, when addressing the Corinth Church, asked the question within the confines of that declaration,  "Is Christ Divided?"

1 Cor. 10: 13c....and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul

The Holy Spirit is asking the modern church that question today and I pray with His help this writer can answer that question for the reader in this journal. In simple terms, the answer to that question is a solid "no," but at the same time, with the reality being, as wrong as it may be, "yes," in that He is divided all over the landscape of the modern church.  Before we get into this message let me take a moment to lay a foundation about the city, church and people at and in Corinth itself and the purpose why the Holy Spirit had Paul write such a provocative and stern letter of rebuke and correction to one of the largest churches the Apostle ever established.

In two letters, the reasons Paul wrote to Corinth can be summed up in three reasons why the letters were necessary:

1. To draw the church back together in a spirit of unity as one body in Christ. The church was severely divided and split, feuding and arguing and forming cliques.
2. To deal with moral laxity in the church.
3. To answer certain questions the church had requested Paul to answer: questions concerning marriage, Christian liberty and rights, public worship, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection from the dead.

Corinth was the capital of Achaia, located at the southern tip of Greece. It appeared almost like an island, lying on a narrow strip of land only four to five miles across. Its shores provided two natural harbors, one on the east coast and the other on the west coast. With all shipping from East and West harboring there, Corinth was a commercial paradise. All commercial traffic traveling by land from North and South also chose to pass through the city. The city had a large population, a real mixture of nationalities including Greeks, Latins, Jews, Egyptians, Syrians, and Asiatics. The large population and material prosperity made the city a sports minded center. The Isthmian Games, considered the most important athletic events next to the Olympics, were held in the city.
 

Despite it's prosperity and large population, Corinth was morally bankrupt. Material prosperity and traveling tradesmen made for a spirit of partying, drunkenness, and all sorts of immoral living. The city’s very name, “Corinth,” became a by-word for such as even the worship of the local residents centered around the great goddess of love, Aphrodite, whose temple housed 1,000 sacred prostitutes. Despite being an intellectual and cultural center,  personal development, self-help philosophies and pleasure were the pursuit, whether pursued culturally or recklessly and immorally. There was little recognition of law, save the law of men’s desires.
 

With a population of more than a half-million and a morally bankrupt culture, the city desperately needed the gospel. If the gospel could make an impact for morality in a sinful cesspool like Corinth, the message could be heard around the world. Corinth is a picture of what America needs today as a nation! We are one of the most blessed nations in the world as Corinth, yet we are without doubt the most morally bankrupt nation in the world when considering the blessings and affluence the Lord has afforded us. Having one of the larger populations of any nations in the world, America's pursuit, like Corinth's is pleasure and selfishness. Everything done today in this nation from our government down is about what people can do for themselves.

The worship of Self is the new idol of the nation AND in the American church which has caused millions to stop seeking the good of the Kingdom and doing all things for the gospel's sake, in exchange for building man-made kingdoms, empires and movements. Entire ministries build themselves around the worship of their leader who is usually a control freak who seeks to control every minute detail of what goes on and demands loyalty of their subjects instead of leading in the Spirit of Jesus.

That statement on the surface may sound strange on the surface, but hear this writer. You have entire movements and groups of people by the millions worshipping a man instead of worshipping CHRIST! The Purpose Drive Life crowd acts like Rick Warren was the one who hung on a cross, but let this writer assure you of this - RICK WARREN DID NOT DIE ON THE CROSS! And because Rick Warren was not the one who secured my eternal salvation I don't place my allegiance and trust in him and never will do so in any of these cell-group based churches built upon Mr. Warren's module of growth. I believe in accountability but I don't believe in stupid submission to some cell group leader who in many cases are not even born again themselves! My allegiance and worship goes to the  ONE who DID die on the Cross 2,000 years ago - the Lord Jesus Christ.

Neighbor, hear this writer. There is no salvation in the church and there is no salvation in the Purpose Driven Life or Church modules of ministry. I don't care how much that ruffles your feathers if you're reading this. We have been catching literal "below" over the past few months from folks mad at us at what we write on this website. I don't care whether what we write is making you mad, glad or sad to be honest even though we don't mean that in an offensive way. What I DO care about is that you realize that we recognize as well there is no salvation in this website, no more than there is salvation in any other institution, movement or fad out there. This website is to point you to the TRUE SOURCE OF ALL SALVATION - the Lord Jesus Christ and faith in the Cross! It's the CROSS, the CROSS, the CROSS that paid man's debt and set him free. Christ is NOT divided neighbor! Christ is not divided! Christ is not divided!

Millions have their faith in an experience, a church, a denomination, a BOOK, looking to such things thinking they are saved. Millions work and go great deeds thinking that somehow those deeds justify them in the sight of God and because they do these things they are saved. Millions confess their sins to a priest thinking that priest somehow has the power to forgive sins and cleanse them of their guilt before God; these same folks think they're saved. Millions attend Pentecostal and Charismatic churches and may be even speak in tongues; but just because one speaks in tongues does not mean one is saved! I'm not opposed to speaking in tongues; this writer speaks in tongues every day and sometimes several times throughout the day; but my faith rests in the CROSS when it pertains my salvation, not in the fact I speak in tongues!

Let me state it another way. I'm not saved because I speak in tongues, I speak in tongues as a result of me being born again AND filled with the Spirit after I got saved! I'm saved because I've placed my faith and anchored in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and have taken up the CROSS and denied my life to take HIS LIFE and identify with HIM! I'm saved today not because I have done this or done that, but I'm saved by the GRACE of God through FAITH, not of works lest ANY man, or woman, should boast! Hear me neighbor. Hear this writer. I'm asking you today off the bat in this journal. Are you saved? Where is your faith anchored? What are you trusting in to get you to heaven? Who are you trusting in to get you to heaven? You need to ask yourself that question today. Millions have not asked those questions and unless they repent and find true saving faith they will die and miss eternity with God. How many are in hell today wishing they would have not only asked that question but found the right answer to such question?

I read a comment the other day about a well known lady preacher who is nothing more than a self-help life coach seminar teacher running around the country claiming she is anointed by God to preach. I'm not against women preachers so don't send your emails saying that's what we're stating here. As I was researching some apologetic issues her name came up on several websites where one editorial was praising her left and right stating, "well she is not one of those who beat people over the head with the Bible." The inference is that her self-help garbage she is pushing as the gospel is much more appealing to the masses than Holy Ghost filled preaching laced with Holy Ghost filled conviction that sets captives free and changes hearts and lives!

Let me tell you something neighbor. You better pray to God someone beats you over the head with the Bible and shakes some sense into your backslidden, sin darkened heart before it's too late! The Bible is the only answer to this backslidden, sin controlled world's condition. I can assure you this website will not make the top ten list of sites that seek to win friends or influence people. We don't write till our hands literally ache at times into the wee hours of the morning pouring out our heart in these journals so we can appease the wicked sinful flesh of men, especially religious men and women. Someone wrote us the other day and put "move on the next topic," in the subject of their email. I thought at first look at the email, "move on to what?" We only write about the Cross, the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ. Is there anything else to write about? My Lord that last statement makes me want to shout. We don't have anything else to move on to neighbor.

I have told my wife Lisa that If the Lord tarries and takes this writer home before the rapture, I pray she or whoever in my family takes this site over will continue to write the truth no matter the cost!! I told her I pray the Lord burns the website down if we do any less, at least with my name on it. We preach Christ Crucified, we preach Christ Crucified! If what we're writing is making you mad that means we're writing something of value! If it's piercing your heart, then maybe you need to check your heart neighbor and see why these words piece your heart! Maybe the feeling of your anger is not anger at us but the result of Holy Ghost conviction tugging at your heart's door warning you things are not right!

I'm glad someone hit me over the head with the Bible years ago when I was running from the Lord, got in my face, and said, "if you don't turn around you're going to lose your soul!" That is why my brother did and in doing so saved my life. He didn't pat me on the hand and say "brother, you need to find a rehab center and let them help you get things right." He said you need to repent!

How many of the millions in hell today wished someone would have hit them over the head with a Bible and said the same in love? How many millions who are in hell wished that they had had a preacher who was not some new age guru in a tie with soothing words and used car salesman's smile easing their conscience on Sunday by cracking a joke at the beginning of his sermons then telling them everything is going to be alright as long they have the right "purpose," in life or they have the right "bank figure" in your account. This same preacher incidentally charges hundreds of dollars for you to come and hear him in city wide auditoriums. God give us preachers who have Holy Ghost fire in their belly and soul and preach the Words of Almighty God and the truth of the gospel?   Knowing "about" Christ is not the same as personally KNOWING Christ and having faith in His Finished work on the Cross! Is Christ divided? NO! America needs the gospel, America needs the gospel, America needs the gospel, America needs the gospel! And Corinth needed the gospel!

The Church At Corinth

It was the strategy and work of the Holy Ghost that sent Paul there to preach Christ and Him Crucified! The church of Corinth

Acts 18:1
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

When Paul entered Corinth, he entered “in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Cor. 2:3)— apparently discouraged, a feeling we all have had at one time or the other. He had faced severe opposition in his three ministries immediately prior to Corinth as the Judaizers had run him out of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. Even in Athens, he had experienced little success and now facing Corinth, he was confronting a culture steeped in hedonism of self worship that had begun to influence a church within a city of diverse population that was proud, intellectual, and busy, yet grossly immoral and lacking spiritual power. With Silas and Timothy having remained in Macedonia to minister, Paul was, so to speak, at the mercy of God alone.

Let me tell you something neighbor. Whenever we're alone, we're not really alone! At times when we stand and no one is standing beside us, God is standing beside us! When we search our hearts and as much as humanly possible remove all self-motivation and proclaim the TRUTH of Jesus Christ, angels stand at attention to come along side to help! Not only angels, but we have a power within, let me change that, we have a PERSON within - the HOLY GHOST- who stands with us in this fight against the apostate system most call church today which is controlled by the powers of darkness. God always has people in place to encourage us when it seems all have left. When one door gets slammed in your face, the Lord opens another. When those who you think are your friends turn out to be those who were never truly your friends but secretly doing everything against you privately to tear you and your ministry down,  and in reality were your enemies, God has other people in place to come on the scene and stand with you!

Days after Paul's arrival the Lord brought two believers across Paul’s pat, Aquila and Priscilla, who were tentmakers by profession and stood by the Apostle during some dark times in Corinth. These two godly Jews had been expelled from Rome along with all other Jews by the decrees of Emperor Claudius (Acts 18:2-3), but were in Corinth at the right time in God's leading in having Paul pen this great epistle. Silas and Timothy also returned to him soon afterwards, bringing news that the Thessalonians were standing firm against persecution (Acts 18:5), thus, encouraged and pressed in the spirit, Paul immediately entered the synagogue and began his ministry, testifying that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 18:5).

Acts 18:2-5
And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. [3] And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. [4] And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. [5] And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

Despite Paul's anointing and message, he was forced out of the synagogue in Corinth by hostile Jews, which speaks to us today that the true gospel message will always be met with hostility. It's not we deliberately seek to offend folks but there is an offense to the message of the Cross! If you preach the gospel man of God, get ready, the devils are coming out of the wood work and many of them will be leaders of other ministries and carrying bibles!  Preach this self-help feel good garbage of the hour and believe me, you won't feel any hostility but be asked to speak at their meetings day in and day out. I'd rather sit home without an invitation with a clear conscience that I poached the gospel and heaven was pleased with my faith than to be asked by every single church in the city simply because I'm uplifting and preach a gospel void of conviction, power and truth. God help us!

Afterwards, he moved next door to the synagogue into a house owned by Justus, which became his base of operations and apparently to prevent further discouragement, God gave Paul a vision assuring him that many people in that city were to be reached for Christ (Acts 18:10). His ministry lasted eighteen months, the longest of any ministry other than the three years he spent with the Ephesians Church.

Acts 18:10
For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

The converts at Corinth paint a clear picture of the kind of success Paul experience because of one reason and one reason alone - he preached the gospel i.e. the message of the Cross and Christ Crucified!  So far as is known, the only Jewish converts under his personal ministry were Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue (Acts 18:8), and his household, yet as was the case in other cities, the largest number of Paul's converts were Gentiles, who had earlier become attracted to the Jewish religion because of its stress upon high morals and belief in one God. Judaism was especially attractive to women, especially well-to-do women since most were citizens of an immoral world that gave no rights to women; thus, they found great security in a religion of high morality. However, most Gentiles, despite their attraction to Judaism, were repulsed by Jewish nationalism and rites, such as circumcision. It was these who turned a ready ear to the gospel of Christ, who were by far the greatest number of converts.

There were some wealthy converts in Corinth to be sure. Gaius was the host of Paul and the whole church (Romans 16:23); Erastus was the chamberlain (treasurer) of the city; Chloe was probably a lady of extreme wealth with business interests in both Corinth and Ephesus (1 Cor. 1:11). These same believers, though engrossed with prosperity, were engaged in legal disputes and others were attending wealthy banquets. However, the greatest number of converts came from average folk who had come from the most sinful backgrounds imaginable. This speaks to us today of the power of the gospel! It would be to the former thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers and extortioners in Corinthians the Holy Spirit would say, "such were some of you, but NOW you are washed, justified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!"

1 Cor. 6:10-11
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
 

In a city where the cesspools of immorality existed on a grand scale, the gospel of Jesus Christ was preached and done so without fear or favor! It was foolishness to most but those who embraced the gospel were set free by the power of God! Let me tell you neighbor. This modern candy cane cotton candy gospel today can not set ANY man free! These modern feel good and uplifting social hall pep talks most get on Sunday morning may make man's flesh tingle with excitement and glee but it's sending MILLIONS to hell in a hand basket! Paul didn't come into Corinth with a seminar in mind on how the wealthy in Corinth could become more wealthy and streamline their earnings. He preached Christ Crucified! He preached the mighty message of the gospel of Jesus Christ which included the baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. He preached the gospel with signs and wonders following that set captives free, healed sick bodies and changed hearts for all eternity! He preached the gospel of the Cross, which can only be preached through the office and ministry of the Holy Ghost! You can't separate Christ from the Cross and you cannot separate the Cross from the Holy Ghost! 

The Holy Spirit through Paul spoke in Corinth that “...not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Cor. 1:26-29). All of Corinth's riches would not save or hide the bankrupt nature of the city's soul! Corinth as a city  needed CHRIST and the message of the Cross to bring it out of its moral oblivion. And every single city in America needs Christ too! There is no other answer to the ills of our cities than the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ! Let me say it again. America today needs the CROSS and the Message of the Gospel to bring it out of her moral oblivion! How is this message going to be brought and preached? By Holy Ghost filled preachers who are truly born again and have the fire of Almighty God in their soul who will stand behind a pulpit, open a BIBLE and not read the Purpose Driven Life word for word to their churches and say "THUS SAITH THE LORD," THUS SAITH THE LORD!  Paul preached the gospel and saw the hand of God move in a mighty way. How shall they hear except they be sent, and how shall they hear except there be a preacher! It's by the foolishness of PREACHING the gospel has always been taken to the masses.

Yet in spite of Paul's great success, sadly the Corinth church was divided.

1 Cor. 1:10-12
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. [11] For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. [12] Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
 

In the midst of this division, the Holy Spirit through Paul asked the Corinthians the same question He asks a divided church today, "Is Christ Divided?" What did He mean by that question? How could a church so grounded and founded by the greatest Apostle in the World, filled with the Spirit, so wealthy and blessed by God become full of such a spirit of schism and division? How could a church which was Pentecostal, sorry about that Baptists, be so divided? These folks were Spirit-filled, tongue-talking, spiritual gift believing type people. They believed in the power of God, yet their church was on the verge of splitting in two!

1 Cor. 1:13
Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 

I ask you neighbor, can Christ be split into different sects and parties? Do we in Christ have two different and opposing systems? Is the Messiah to appear under different persons or is there just One Messiah and One Faith?  As Adam Clarke, the great commentator states: "Paul's assertion that he was not crucified for the Corinthians places the import of the Gospel's proclamation of salvation through the Crucified Christ ONLY as being more important than ALL other activities of the church!" (CLARKE) Don't let the import of that last statement pass you by.

Paul had not poured out his blood as an atonement for the Corinthians, nor had he shed his blood for any other church. Some in Corinth was justifying the division in their midst was some were "of Apollos," some were of "Paul," and others were boasting they were followers of other Corinthian leaders. The LORD JESUS CHRIST and Christ ALONE shed His blood for the church and as such should ALONE be worshipped. No man or movement should be the attention of our affection other than Christ! Yet, the church world's fascination today is on everyone and everything other THAN Christ to our eternal shame. Christ, neighbor, is NOT divided and in HIM ALONE can one find eternal life and true salvation from eternal separation from God! We preach Christ Crucified!

That means sir you're not saved because you're Baptist. That means sir that you're not saved because you belong to the Assemblies of God, Church of God, Foursquare or Pentecostal Holiness. That means sir you're not saved because you have read and memorized the Purpose Driven Life. We get emails from time to time telling us we don't have to be so defensive when it comes to Mr. Warren's book. Whose being defensive? We're not worried one single bit about the Purpose Driven Life because anybody with an ounce of spiritual discernment and maturity can read the book for about 5 minutes and then throw it in the trash can as heresy and false doctrine. Those who embrace it are those wanting to divide the gospel and separate Christ from the offense and message of the Cross! We can't do that and expect the power of God to change lives!

One individual told this writer in person that he was offended we insinuated those who read the Purpose Driven Life were all going to hell. There is no where on this website such stupid assumption has ever been stated. However, we WILL state this without blinking. If an individual has their faith in ANYTHING or ANYONE other than Christ and Him Crucified as it pertains to salvation, that individual is LOST and will spend eternity separated from God. You must be BORN AGAIN. We must have our faith anchored in Christ and the Cross alone. We can't have one hand on Christ and the other hand in Rick Warren's and think that something Mr. Warren has written is going to get us to heaven. His book is filled with so many half-truths, error, flat out lies and distortions of Scripture most don't even recognize it; many have stopped even saying about it anything because most of what is being said in encouragement and exhortation has been rejected by the majority of the modern church who wants a gospel void of the requirements of the Cross! I take no pleasure in stating these things nor having to bring it up constantly through the words of these journals.

The day is coming should the Lord tarry this writer will not be here on earth and all that is left of this ministry will be the words you read right now. I pray this website and these journals NEVER uphold or praise ANYONE other than Christ. I pray if the day every comes when Spirit Journals starts pointing people to self-help programs, rehab centers and any such like foolishness, the entire Internet will collapse and this site taken down. God help us in this last hour to point people to CHRIST and the CROSS. We preach Christ Crucified! We preach the power of the Holy Ghost. We preach there is only ONE way to God and that is through the shed blood of the Lord  Jesus Christ that was shed on a bloody cross 2,000 years ago for ALL humanity who will come to Christ in faith. All have sinned and come SHORT of the glory of God! All stand in need of a redeemer. Rick Warren did not die for you Southern Baptists.  The Pope did not die for you Catholics. The Dali Lama did not die for you Buddhists. Muhammad did not die for your sins Muslims. Confucius did not die for you Taoists. To hear some churches proclaim and extol how great some of these men and their philosophies are you'd think some believe that. Let me tell you this - SOMEONE DID DIE FOR YOU MISTER AND HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD, THE ROSE OF SHARON, THE FIRST AND THE LAST, THE FAIREST OF 10,000, THE BRIGHT AND THE MORNING STAR, THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE KING OF KINGS and the LORD OF LORDS! His name is JESUS and He came to save us from our sins!

Matthew 1:21 - Thou shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins

As powerful an influence for Christ the Apostle Paul was, he told the Corinthians that being "his" disciple and not Christ's was impossible; in laymen's terms, Paul was saying, "therefore your being called by my name is absurd; for His disciples you should be, alone, who has bought you by his blood." What part of that do we not get in this modern church atmosphere of seeker friendly hell-sending theology?

Divisive sects and divisions within the church strike at the Person of Christ or His Lordship; at His crucifixion or death; and at the witness of the believer. In Corinth's case the issue was over baptism. Paul asked the Corinthians, "were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" To be baptized in, or into the name of one, implied that the baptized was to be the disciple of him into whose name, religion, he was baptized. As if he said: "Did I ever attempt to set up a new religion, one founded on my own authority, and coming from myself?"

On the contrary, Paul said I have preached one thing and one thing alone - CHRIST CRUCIFIED! It is CHRIST and the CROSS that saves mankind from the sin of the world! It is through CHRIST and the Cross we are called into the fellowship of the Father through the work and power of the Holy Ghost. It is through Christ and the Cross we have restored communion with an offended God who commands ALL men now to repent! It is not through a church, a person, a doctrine, a philosophy or a denomination. And while I am saying this let me just add - it's not through a BOOK that is on the top 10 best seller list of the New York Times. Paul was not called to make disciples unto himself but to preach the gospel and point men to Christ.

We are not disciples of Rick Warren or Joel Osteen or anyone else. I never will forget hearing Ray Boltz during a concert when applause broke out for him  throughout the congregation he stopped singing and shouted, "stop the applauding, I didn't die on a Cross for you - worship CHRIST!" Praise God. Worship Christ, worship Christ, worship CHRIST! As John the Apostle watched the awe inspiring events of the end times to come he wanted to kneel at the feet of the messenger. The messenger's response then is the Holy Spirit's response to us today: WORSHIP GOD!

Rev 19:10
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
 

The way we worship God is through placing faith and communing with Him through the Shed Blood of His Precious Son, Jesus Christ, whose testimony is the spirit of all prophecy. That means if prophetic words and utterances don't point the church to the Cross they are not of God! That means if one is placing their faith in theology that takes men away from the cross they are placing their souls in eternal jeopardy. Christ is NOT divided. Let me state it again - Christ is NOT divided. He is not a "Baptist" Christ, or a "Methodist" Christ or a "Assembly of God" Christ or a "Catholic" Christ! He is the THE CHRIST, the SON OF THE LIVING GOD, the First and the Last, the Rose of Sharon, the Alpha and Omega, the darling of heaven Crucified.

There's within my heart a MELODY, JESUS whispers sweet and low! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know, fills my every longing, keeps me SINGING as I go! All my life was wrecked by SIN and STRIFE, DISCORD filled my heart with hurt and pain! But Jesus swept across the broken strings, stirred the slumbering chords again! Jesus, JESUS, JESUS, SWEETEST name I know! Jesus Christ, the SON of the Living God, ALONE can save sir. Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone is the answer. Jesus Christ is the answer for the drug addict. Jesus Christ is the answer alcoholic. Jesus Christ is the answer prostitute. Jesus Christ is the answer child molester. Jesus Christ is the answer homosexual. Some of you reading this (if you've made it this far) have AIDS and don't know where to turn; your life hangs in the balance and perhaps you have moments, days of months to live. The hurt of the situation you find you in is unbearable and all hope seems lost. There IS HOPE and it's found in ONE NAME and ONE NAME alone - the name above EVERY name - the Lord Jesus Christ!!! He is the One you need to turn to for He alone can set the captive free!

Matthew 16:16 - And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
 

Is Christ Divided?

1 Cor. 10:13c - am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul

The Holy Spirit addressed three problems within this greater problem of division concerning Christ I want to look at briefly before we close this journal. First of all, groups who think they are right, no matter how divisive their position is, always divide Christ.

Growing up we used to call these type groups, "cliques" in the church and they still exist today. A clique always thinks it is right, no matter how divisive on unscriptural its position is; it wants its way—too often at any cost. Let me be clear, I'm not talking about one separating themselves from a ministry or church where false doctrine is being preached or wickedness is being allowed to operate without resistance. A clique dethrones Christ, sets itself up as the Lord, as the persons who are able to judge what is right and wrong for the church. We are allowed to judge RIGHTEOUS judgment, don't get me wrong. We are allowed to stand for truth as long as that truth is CHRIST and the Cross. We are allowed to stand in opposition to groups who deny and denigrate the operation and movement of the Holy Ghost. We don't have to be part of such movements.

Most cliques by their actions divide Christ, or in other words to take Christ over to its side. A clique often claims that Christ supports its position, no matter how unscriptural that position is and that Christ would hold the position and do exactly what the clique is doing. We've seen the results of such a spirit in the many church splits across our nation at the present time. The sad thing is most cliques have such a self-righteous attitude they refuse to submit themselves to the Lordship of Christ and walk in a spirit of humility and fear of the Lord.  As a result, most split off from one church to form another work that eventually "splits!" I've seen this too many times over the years. When one body walks away with an arrogant attitude seeking to start another church that other body usually ends up splitting over time as well. Why? Because the spirit of arrogance, pride and sectarianism is in the DNA and once that is in the DNA until there is repentance the cycle never will stop!

Note the question asked by Scripture: Is Christ divided? Is part of Christ over here with this group and part of Him over there with that group? Who rules the church? Who is Lord? Who has the right to judge and say what is right and wrong, the Lord within the church, or cliques within the church? Jesus Christ cannot be divided. There is only one Lord, only one Person who is called the Lord Jesus Christ. He is not two persons. He nor His will can be split into two divisive cliques. He is one Person and He has one will.

Ephes. 1:22
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Ephes. 4:4-5
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; [5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Col. 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
 

I remember my first pastorate which was actually a split. The group of people I was called to lead had stayed while another group had split off and went up the road less than a mile, built a church, and started a new work. Being a snot-nosed kid preacher I didn't know how to handle the problem to be honest. What I realized however back then is what I know today. There is no "right" and "wrong" side in a split! Both sides need to REPENT and GROW UP into CHRIST! The group I pastored was just as wrong as the group that left. The body of people I lead for two years never admitted any fault whatsoever, neither did any of those who left the church admit fault. That is arrogance and demonic control at its worst!

If one side seeks reconciliation and the other still refuses to return, then the side seeking reconciliation is clear with God. Lisa and I attended a small church a few years ago in the city we live in at the present in the same condition. About 10 or 12 had split off from one of the larger Assembly of God churches in the area and had started a store front proclaiming they were so much more "spiritual" than those church body they had left. The spirit in this little group reeked with as much rank arrogance, pride, egotism, selfishness, vainglory, and self-promotion as anything one could imagine; to be frank it made me want to literally vomit on  a weekly basis to hear this group tear the church they left on a weekly basis and never admit there was any fault in their own camp whatsoever.

There no sense of need whatsoever in this schism formed church to go back to the group they split from and reconcile the issues that had caused the split to begin with. When I told one of the deacons that the small group would never grow until reconciliation and forgiveness took place he just stared at me at first, then got mad and told me it was none of my business since I was an outsider and didn't know what had went on in the other church. I didn't need to know what went on in the other church; that was not the issue.  Yet, as much as this little group "bragged" how much more spiritual they were than the other group, even within their own ranks there was division and never a spirit of true unity within!

Hear me neighbor. I know that sometimes reconciliation may not be possible, but it must be sought after as much as we can! However, even though reconciliation may not be found, repentance and forgiveness MUST ALWAYS BE FOUND! We can never take the attitude we're right and they're wrong and we're justified in acting like a bunch of monkeys in a zoo when it comes to church politics.  If we take such an arrogant attitude and stance, believe me and hear me, I can guarantee you the Lord will not bless  such! I can tell you from first hand experience in both cases, He did not bless either groups involved in these splits we speak of! The church Lisa and I attended gained about 6 families at the beginning of the year but by the end of the year ALL six new families had left the church and it was back to the core that had left the larger church to begin with.

If that small group would have humbled itself and went back to the original body it split from from and said, "look we had our reasons for leaving but we don't want there to be anything between us nor do we seek to be at odds with you all, let's put this under the blood, etc.," then the Lord's blessings would have followed. Instead of humility however, arrogance reigned in this body from the pastor down to the janitor and and the same spirit of division that caused the original schism just followed them to their new location! Neighbor, if a church has division in it's DNA, that church will always have division!  NO ONE IS RIGHT IN  A SPLIT. BOTH PARTIES need to repent!

Secondly, cliques elevate men to be saviors and not Christ! Paul was not crucified for the Corinthians; therefore, he was not the savior of the Corinthians nor of any other body of believers. This is certain: if Paul was not a savior, then no other preacher nor any other leader of a clique is a savior. Believers do not owe their allegiance to preachers and leaders of cliques; they owe their allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ. It was Jesus Christ who died for us, not preachers and leaders of churches. Therefore, we are to obey and follow the will of Christ as dictated in Scripture, and we are to support the servants of the Lord whom He places in our midst to minister to us. The Lord places a particular minister in our midst because he has a unique gift to offer to the church and ministry—a very special contribution that is needed during a particular time.

Luke 2:11
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Ephes. 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Acts 5:31
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

1 Tim. 1:15
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

Christ is the HEAD of the Church, not Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Paula White or any other "celebrity," television has made out of this modern crop of so-called preachers. I can assure you if these men and women would start preaching the true gospel their celebrity status would drop like a lead balloon as well as their popularity!!  When the world applauds a man, let me assure you that more than likely heaven is not applauding that man or woman!  On the other hand, when the world spews their venom and hatred and threats against the true man of God, you can be sure heaven's applause is being heard in the courts of eternity! It's not what the books on earth record about us, but the books in heaven! Heaven's judgment day will be a day when many household names will be turned away in shame for their self-promotion and lack of spiritual backbone that could have produced souls for the kingdom! Millions are in hell today because of the spirit of Hollywood and Nashville that has infested the church!

Finally, cliques make a person men-followers and not Christ-followers. True believers are baptized in the name of the Lord, not in the name of some minister or church leader. We confess our sins and come to saving faith IN THE LORD when we are born again; we give testimony that he was committing his life to follow the Lord. He did not confess loyalty to some man, no matter how great and wonderful the man might be. However, when the person forms or joins a clique, he disassociates himself from Christ and the rest of the believers; he betrays his baptism and commitment to Christ and His church, and gives his loyalty to the leader or position of a divisive clique.

Philip. 2:3-4
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. [4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Proverbs 16:19
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Proverbs 29:23
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Micah 6:8
He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
 

As we've stated already, millions have their faith in an experience, a church, a denomination, or a BOOK, with looking to such things as the source of their salvation. I'm asking you today again as we close this journal. Are you saved? Where is your faith anchored? What are you trusting in to get you to heaven? Who are you trusting in to get you to heaven? You need to ask yourself that question today. Millions have not asked those questions and unless they repent and find true saving faith will die and miss eternity with God. How many are in hell today wishing they would have asked that question? Christ is not divided nor is there any other name under heaven whereby and which we can be saved!

If the greatest Apostle in the entire history of the world, the Apostle Paul, stressed in the most concrete terms that he was never seeking to secure a personal following of believers, then where does that leave us today in this modern "star" atmosphere of the church?  The advent of Christian television has brought on a wave and onslaught of men seeking to get people to follow "them" instead of Christ! And while television is an incredible way to spread the gospel, Christian broadcasting today is a vast wasteland of missed opportunities and to be frank has become a stumbling block to the cause of Christ.   People are looking for authenticity, not hokum. When unbelievers see Christians on TV they need to know we have real human problems as well as practical answers. They don’t need to see religious masks, hear pat answers or be forced to decipher sappy religious lingo.  

The more cheesy, flamboyant or weird you are, the better chance you have at drawing an audience on national Christian television. A well known minister and his wife in said recently responding to a news article questioning why they both had to have plastic surgeries that cost millions in ministry money, "we needed to look the part." Give me a vomiting break. Who are we trying to get people to follow? Does Christ need plastic surgery? Does the image of Jesus need a change? I THINK NOT! But when men seek to get followers after themselves, such stupidity and moronic behavior always follow!

The gospel is timeless and the preaching of the Cross may seem outdated to some, but neighbor it's what got the early through and it's what will get us through today!

Appealing to the masses has nothing to do with slick marketing techniques or laser beams coming out of the ministry sign behind us. We need not and had better not remove the convicting power of the Spirit from ANY presentation we make, yet so many have opted for presentation instead of the anointing!  So many try and "appeal" to the younger generation without understanding the gospel message works for one and all - young and old - black and white - rich and poor - ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God!

Yes this younger generation whom the Devil is seeking to destroy is influenced and wowed perhaps by the advent of MTV and the current rock music culture. Let me tell you this though. One true touch of the true power of God upon your young people pastor and you won't need to hire some "famous" Christian "rock" singer who is a drunk and sings in a bar on Saturday night then get up and claim he's singing for Jesus on Sunday to entertain our youth. Our youth don't need a Christianized version of entertainment, they need a touch of the power of the HOLY GHOST that can set the captives free! They need the power of the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of the Cross!

I realize that some people watch Christian TV instead of going to church, which is a sad thought, but an indictment on the state of many local fellowships throughout our nation. We could much better use the time we have on TV to preach the gospel instead of spending 30 minutes trying to get people to buy "survival backpacks," or "Christian date organizers to help them do their daily planning better," or whatever other foolishness and garbage we're pushing. Neighbor, you can buy all the survival backpacks you like but if you're soul is bound for hell that survival backpack won't do you a bit of good in eternity!

Some Christian programs remind me of those mindless infomercials that air at 3 a.m. to entertain insomniacs. Except in this case, instead of movie stars from the 1970s selling face creams, diet shakes or vegetable storage systems, it’s Christian leaders gathering on the same set, night after night, to preach their favorite prosperity messages to one another and BEG the populous to empty their pockets for "their" ministry.  They jostle to the music, slap one another’s backs and remind the audience that God will free them from debt if they charge a $1,000 love gift on their credit cards. Meanwhile, for effect, studio technicians play the sound of ringing telephones in the background (and I'm not making this up but base that on certain things we've been told by those involved behind the scenes at many of these major TV networks) and they show an electronic board with a rapidly changing number of “available” phone lines. We call that manipulation.

If it works by you sowing it into the pockets of those on TV then it should work if the Lord tells you to sow it elsewhere. Let this writer help you a little bit here about giving. The truth is that sowing seeds financially is a spiritual and BIBLICAL exercise of faith. The Bible is clear that is we sow sparingly, we will reap sparingly. If we sow bountifully, we will reap bountifully. But the Bible is very vague on WHERE we sow, leaving that up to the individual and the Holy Spirit! For a man of God  or so-called man of God to tell you there is a magic formula in you sowing to him and not somewhere else is just plain demonically FALSE! The only people who benefit from that type of sowing is the one begging for it on television, not you!

If the Lord tells you sow the seed in that ministry then do it. OBEY THE LORD in ALL things. But remember this. But if the Lord tells you to sow the seed somewhere else than the ministry doing the begging, you will be just as blessed because you obeyed GOD and listened to HIM, instead of some twit on television whose motive is money and whose end will be destruction. I wished someone would call one of these networks and ask them or tell them the Lord has told them to sow that $1,000 seed into the Kingdom but not their network and just see what they tell you! What they tell you will lay bear the motive of their hearts.

The fact these networks have lost their souls and integrity is not a laughing matter. It's sad and demonic and causing millions to stumble into hell itself. This same network I speak will put any old preacher on the air if he can wow a crowd and raise funds. Never mind that his theology is toxic and is sending countless souls to the pit. Forget that he left his wife and married another lady 20 years younger a week later. He can sure get the people to shout and to open their wallets so I guess it's okay. Neighbor it's not ok. Christ is not divided and He is going to judge these things shortly if we don't repent and clean up our act in the Church. The HEAD of the CHURCH is not going to keep letting His Body destroy His name by their actions!

I could write more but the Holy Spirit says "stop." I ask you today, "Is Christ Divided?" Is He a Pentecostal Christ, a Baptist Christ, a Methodist Christ, a Catholic Christ? The answer to those questions is "NO" He is not! He is the Lord of Glory, the fairest of 10,000, the bright and the morning star. It's getting late neighbor and the church needs to repent and come back to it's senses and start preaching this glorious gospel one more time before the curtains of this age come down and the world is plunged into great tribulation. Souls are dying, men are crying, won't you lead them to the Cross! Praise God.

Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, forgive your church Lord for dividing You. Forgive us for not walking in unity of the faith, not a false unity where we deny all things supernatural then require those who walk with us to do the same. Forgive us for the false unity of claiming we're coming together for national day of prayer events when a majority of those praying don't even believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, yet we claim we have unity. That is not unity Lord, but division and a false foundation. Bring us back to the Cross. Bring us back to Calvary. Bring us back to the preaching of the gospel. Bring us back before it's too late and eternity beckons for millions more lost in sin and without Christ. In Jesus Name, We Pray, Amen.!

Questions, Comments?

chrismcdonald@spiritjournals.com

It's getting late and it's harvest time