Many members of the body of Christ are guilty of the anomaly facing the body regarding boasting in the leader of the assembly they belong rather than boast in Christ. Like Apostle Paul, I am not writing this to shame the body of Christ but to bring to attention that though we might have ten thousand teachers in Christ, it doesn’t mean that we have many fathers. It is only in Christ Jesus all believers are begotten through the gospel. (1 Cor.4:14, 15) The bible forbids one to boast in men. It says, “therefore let no one boast in men.” (1 Cor.3:21a)

There is no doubt that boasting in men is one of the reasons for the creation of various assemblies which has become a threat to the Body of Christ. The history of many of the assemblies shows they broke away from one assembly or the other. The division has created different doctrines and teachings which are mostly according to the wisdom of the leaders and to suit the ungodly world. There is also division within the different assemblies where members pledge loyalty to different leaders just as in the case of the Church at Corinth where some expressed their loyalty to Paul and some to Apollos. The irony here is that there has been no visible effort by the current leadership to correct the anomaly the way Apostle Paul did. (1 Cor.3:21-23) They seems to be enjoying the euphoria. Not only did Apostle Paul openly corrected the saints in Corinth, he also openly condemned similar gesture when he and Barnabas were treated as God at Lystra. (Acts.14:8-15)

The body of Christ urgently requires coordination as done in the time of the early apostles when they compare notes amongst themselves to ensure uniformity of the Gospel message, (Gal.2:1,2) and openly criticised and corrected wrong conduct. (Gal.2:11-13) Gospel message should be Christocentric. Message that teaches faithful living, addresses the goal of pointing others to God through godly lifestyles and the hope for the future salvation that awaits believers at the revelation of Christ.

Believers are Christ’s and Christ is God’s. According to a popular saying, “the best of men is still a man” There is no reason to boast in any assembly leader because one does not know his or her heart, only God does. While the writer of the book of Hebrew encourages believers to remember those leaders who have been faithful as worthy examples of preserving faith, he advised against being carried about with various and strange doctrines that does not profit the heart. (Heb.13:7, 9) One should not glory in the wisdom of religious leader in this ungodly society. (1 Cor.3:19, 20) Assembly leaders are gift to the Church, they are to serve the Church. All Christian belongs to Christ and Christ belongs to God. (1 Cor.3:21-23) Assembly leaders should emulate the action of Apostle Paul when they observe division in their assemblies to save the unity of the Church and they should ensure that only the message of the gospel of Jusus Christ is preached.

Shalom

Evangelism The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. It is in Jesus one can have pure wisdom. He is the wisdom of God.

Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre