THE CHURCH'S ONE FOUNDATION

Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer. Wright was recognized in 1991 by the American Institute of Architects as "the greatest American architect of all time". He was given the challenge of building the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo in 1923 one of the most earthquake-prone cities in the world. Wright's investigation showed that a solid foundation could be "floated" on a sixty-foot layer of soft mud underlying the hotel, which would provide a shock-absorbing but solid support for the immense building. Shortly after the hotel was completed it withstood the worst earthquake in fifty-two years, while lesser buildings fell in ruins around it.

A few years ago scientists noticed that the 810 year old The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy is going to fall. Although intended to stand vertically, the tower began to sink after construction had progressed to the third floor in 1178. This was due to a mere three-meter foundation, (10 feet) set in weak, unstable subsoil, a design that was flawed from the beginning.

What is the major difference between these two structures? One withstood the worst earth quake in 52 years and other one began to sink five years after the start of construction? The difference is the foundation. One went sixty feet below and the other was only ten feet below. The church of Jesus Christ has been surviving for the past 2000 years. Why has it survived so long? What is the Church’s one foundation? Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth reminding them of the futility and the dangers of building their lives on faulty foundations such as the standards of this world. Instead they should build their lives on the Church’s one foundation.

BACKGROUND TO CORINTHIANS:
Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians probably in the winter of A.D 55. Located on the Mediterranean, the city of Corinth was a wealthy trading center. It was also a wicked city and was known for that throughout the Roman world. The Church in Corinth was fairly new and it was hard for the Christians there not to act like their neighbors. What prompted Paul to write this letter? The Christians in Corinth were not getting along with one another- they were taking sides. Some of them were living very sinful lives. What was the purpose of this letter? It was written to scold the believers, to teach them how Christians should act and to encourage them to build their lives upon the one sure foundation of the Church; Jesus Christ.

The typical problems that occurred in Corinth were not only limited to that Church. Certain incidents in history grimly remind us that the Church did not always represent Christ rightly in the society. Instead of being an example of love, acceptance and forgiveness at times it became an agent of hatred, separation and violence. For example the Crusades; in the name of liberating Jerusalem; jealous Christians massacred many Muslims and Jews. We are still reaping those consequences. No wonder why today there is such hostility projected by non Christians towards the Church and her sure foundation Christ.

Paul was truly concerned about the state of affairs in the Church of Corinth and he wrote a loving but firm letter to the Corinthian Church. I wonder what would Paul say if he came to our Church today? How different are we from the Church at Corinth? In the beginning of the letter he addressed the Church saying; 1 Corinthians 1:2 “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-- their Lord and ours.”

The true picture of any Church is that it is a gathering of believers sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to live out Holy lives in unity in the world. In other words the Church should be different than the rest of the world. After establishing their true position he addressed some real problems. In fact he was responding to some what of a complaint received from one of the households of that Church. What were the problems that Paul was addressing?

I. GROWING UP IN CHRIST: I Corinthians 3:1-2
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-- mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” These words of Paul must have irked the believers in the Church; nonetheless they explain the exact spiritual condition. As if Paul was saying to them Come on! Stop behaving like kids it’s time you grow up!

Paul could not address them as spiritual but as worldly. That was a heavy statement. What was going on in that Church that made Paul to call them worldly? The Greek word literally means fleshy, belonging to the realm of the flesh, weak, sinful. Often times the word “flesh” represents the old sinful nature. What is the sinful nature?

Paul makes it very clear elsewhere what exactly the acts of the sinful nature are. Galatians 5:19-21 “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; some of you may think well that’s not me, I’m not involved in such gross things. But wait a minute you are not of the hook yet the list goes on…. hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

In Galatians 5: 17-18, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.” In other words; the sinful nature and the Spirit can not go together. How about us today are we compromising with sin? Are we being led by our sinful nature instead of being led by the Holy Spirit? According to Paul if we act immature we are like infants in Christ, then we are not ready for solid spiritual teaching of God’s truth. Sadly speaking some of us never get passed that spiritual infant stage. We may be Christians for years; attend Church regularly; serve faithfully yet lack spiritual maturity and at times behave like infants in Christ. Instead of solving problems in Christ’s way we employ worldly methods.

What are some of the ways of the world? We operate just like the world does when instead of being loving and forgiving we become hateful and revengeful. Instead of serving God’s purposes we serve our own purposes. Instead of shining like stars in a depraved generation, we let the world come into our lives and into Church. Timothy Keller pastor of Redeemer’s Church in New York explains how far the Church has moved from being Christ like; “Church communities seem, if anything, to be characterized by more fighting and party spirit than do other voluntary organizations. Church officials seem to be at least (if not more) corrupt than leaders in the world at large. At the same time there are many non Christian people who live morally exemplary lives. If Christianity is all it claims to be, wouldn’t Christians on the whole be much better people than everyone else?

When I read people like Keller, see our Church and some name sake Christians in the light of God’s word, I can not help but think that we all have some growing up to do in Christ.

II. DISUNITY: AN AGE OLD PROBLEM
One of the major problems Corinthian Church facing was division. There were seemingly four groups in the Church. One group was following Paul another one Apollos, another Peter and still another one was following Christ. Who was Apollos? He was a learned Jew the native of Alexandria who became a helper of Paul in his church planting efforts. (Acts 18, 19). Paul wanted the whole church to be one and only follow Jesus. But to his dismay each one was following their favorite leaders teaching. Hence they were divided in their thought and action. Paul appeals to them to agree with one another so there may be no divisions among them.

Disunity in the Church is perhaps one of the biggest hindrances for the furtherance of the gospel in the world. Disunity is a disgrace in the church; it brings shame, diminishes the power of the cross. Where as unity releases blessings Psalm 133:1-3 “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! …For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”

When we are united we can do any thing. God said of the people who came to build a tower for themselves after the flood, “Genesis 11:6 “The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” Someone said “Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together.” Truly there is power in unity.

Why else unity is important? Unity is important because it is a sure key for evangelism. In John 17:20-21 "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” You and I and all the believers were included in that prayer; that we might live in unity.

Jealously and quarreling were among many other problems that Paul was addressing in the Corinthian Church. Are we entirely free of jealousy and quarreling in our church? Are we jealous when others are given prominence? Instead of rejoicing with other’s success do we envy and become contemptuous? Do we like power and seek to control? Do we quarrel? As parents at times we have to tell our children stop quarrelling otherwise they can truly harm each other if not physically certainly emotionally. Paul like a father was telling the Corinthians to stop quarrelling, why? In Galatians 5:15 we read “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or your will be destroyed by each other.” By the way what is a quarrel? Definition: An un-friendly, angry, or violent dispute. A falling out or contention; what happens when we quarrel? More than often relationships and friendships are broken and relationships are ruined.

A FEW DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF QUARRELLING:
Proverbs 17:14 “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”
Proverbs 17:19 “He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction.”
Proverbs 20:3 “It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
What adds fuel to a quarrel? Proverbs 26:20 “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.”
James 4:1-2 “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight.”

After hearing this message you might be saying to yourself this is real heavy stuff! Well it is; you may not like to hear this but I need to bring this to our notice because of its devastating effects on people. We Christians belong to the light; people are watching us therefore we can not afford to act like those who do not know Christ. For those in ministry of any kind even higher standards apply. 2 Timothy 2:23-24 “Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”

Right relationships are so key for effective and fruitful ministry. How can we say that we love God and at the same time hate our brother or sister in Christ? The Bible says, “Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” I John 3:15

Those who deal with domestic violence would know what causes domestic violence. “Domestic violence may start when one partner feels the need to control and dominate the other. Abusers may feel this need to control their partner because of low self-esteem, extreme jealousy, difficulties in regulating anger and other strong emotions” No wonder God warns us against Jealousy. Proverbs 6:34 “For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge.”

Are we building our lives on a faulty foundation? Do we have to say sorry and make amends in certain strained relationships? Are there certain sins we need to repent and ask God’s forgiveness? A wise man builds his house upon the rock similarly we want to build our lives upon Christ the rock by obeying his Word. May God help us to build our lives on the one sure foundation Jesus Christ our Lord.