City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

1 Corinthians 3:1–4

Reflection

If you are an introvert and you have been hanging in there on this Community for Introverts series, I’ve good news for you: the heavy lifting is over. The advice I have for you today should be easy. Today, I’m going to suggest you leverage your socially reticent nature by not speaking, at least not about a specific subject, to certain people.

In the passage above, Paul is reprimanding the Corinthians. It’s a dressing down. Paul calls these Corinthians “fleshly.”  He calls them spiritual babies. And, in perhaps the most damning indictment he calls them “merely human.” The reason? They had elevated the following of a particular teacher over the unity of the Body of Christ. 

The Paul/Apollos thing is just one example of what first century baby Christians elevated over Church unity. Let’s talk current-day U.S.A., where the hot-button issues are not Paul/Apollos but Charlie Kirk, DEI, or critical race theory.

It’s tempting to sacrifice Christian unity at the altar of politics. Politics promises immediate change and only requires our vote, campaign contribution, or time putting up signs or handing out flyers. 

Making disciples is a slower slog. It requires we take risks personally, socially, and sometimes vocationally. As a result, baby Christians can be quicker to argue politics than to talk about Jesus.

Application

This is where you, as an introvert, can easily manifest mature Christianity. If you are tempted to talk with other church people about immigration or the government shutdown and you are not sure where they stand politically or where they are in the Lord, then resist the urge because it may result in unnecessary division. Why compromise the mission over the de minimis?

If you are talking with a mature brother or sister—someone who clearly puts making disciples above politics—then your risk of offense is lower. My closest Christian friends and I occasionally discuss politics, but I know they care more about making disciples than remaking the government. 

We are called to be mature and spiritual, not merely human. We should not elevate the things which are important to mere humans—politics, wealth, approval—over the Kingdom, the King, or His Church.

Prayer

Lord, help me to always be careful to preserve the unity of Your Church. Amen.