1 Corinthians 1:10-17, TOLERANCE vs. prejudice. (2)

          We are looking for ways that the different types of people in the Body of Christ are to be alike.

iii)      Philippians: Paul is writing from prison.  He is in prison because of his “defense and confirmation of the gospel” (1:7). 

(1)                        1:27: Though some believers criticize him (1:15-16) and there are disagreements in the Philippian church (4:2) he calls them to stand fast in “one spirit.”  That’s a defensive position.  Then he calls them to “strive together” (that is an offensive position) in one “soul” (this is the actual word here, the Greek psuche) for the faith of the gospel.  He wants them to be the same as he is in terms of the gospel, regardless of differences.

(2)                        2:2-4: He again calls them to be “likeminded” (having the same mindset or doctrine, used twice in v2) and the same love for each other, being of “one accord” (again, this is a form of the word psuche; it is likeness of the soul).  This comes through a humility, as v3-4 describe.  Remember: we are talking about “tolerance.”  Meditate on this.  We are called to not only accept people who are different than we are; we are called to help and encourage and love them.

(3)                        3:14-15: In this passage we are encouraged to have the same “mind” in terms of our life goal.  How can an electrician, a teacher and a politician have the same life goal?  If they are believers in Christ, their occupation is not the source of their motivation; it is the goal of likeness to Christ.  How can it happen?  When they have set their minds on the same “goal” or “mark” which is Christ.

iv)   1 Peter 3:8-9: Again, the “sameness” is being the same mind or thought.  That thought, as with Paul in Phil. 2, involves compassionate love for other brothers and sisters that “tolerates” a lot (not returning evil for evil, etc.).

c)    This deep “likeness” or “oneness” is impossible without an attitude of tolerance.  When we walk into a room of people (whether they are familiar or not) our tendency is often to begin to look at them and form opinions based on outward appearances.  We might say to ourselves “that person is way different than me” or “that looks like someone I could get along with.”  That kind of thing doesn’t bode well for a person (like me or you if you are a believer in Christ) who has been called to love the brothers and make disciples of all nations.  Let’s close today with two thoughts on “tolerance.”

i)      1 Peter 3:9: We are called to tolerance (and forfeit His blessing without it.)

ii)   2 Peter 3:9: God has set the pattern, with His long-suffering attitude toward unbelievers, because He does not want them to perish.