Too much of our approach to too many things is tied up in personalities. One of the questions used in polling for candidates for President of the United States actually asks which candidate you’d prefer to have a beer with. This is supposed to “measure” the “likeability” of a candidate. Granted, we’d prefer to vote for someone we feel good about as a person, but perhaps the point ought to be less if we like their personality and more if we think they’d make a good president, regardless of likeability. But this seems to be the way we work, regardless of the particular reason we’re considering someone.

This seems to be a dynamic in our church life too. It certainly seems to have been a dynamic in the church in Corinth, although it might not have been entirely about personalities. Paul writes this letter to a church that has disagreements, perhaps even factions—it seems that some are “followers” of Paul, some of Apollos, some of Peter, and some of Christ. I suspect all really followed Christ (or intended to), but there clearly were groups who claimed their loyalty was to one of the leaders of the faith who had influenced them and whose particular set of beliefs or practices—and maybe even personality—they preferred. Not certain it was the leader they’d prefer to have a beer with, but there were clear preferences, and those preferences were getting in the way of the unity IN Christ that the church is supposed to be founded on.

I gotta give Paul credit here. After all, it must have been flattering that he had those who clearly preferred him, whatever that meant. But Paul doesn’t let how flattering that might have been get in the way of what he affirms as the real heart of the matter, that it’s all about Jesus. “Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13) Their involvement in the church isn’t to be because of the leader—it’s because of Jesus, crucified for them.

He continues, “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7)

Different leaders have different gifts, and each offers their gifts at a different stage of the growth of the church. Paul planted, Apollos watered—each fulfilling what was needed at the time they engaged the people. But neither is finally responsible for what God brings about—and it is indeed God who brings it about.

I am not seeking to draw an analogy that I am Paul or Apollos. But during my time at McKnight I pray I used the gifts God has given me faithfully. My predecessor did also, with the gifts he has. My successor will also, with the gifts they have. But liking a pastor or not liking a pastor is not the point—the point is what God brings about, through and in spite of who leads.

The work of the church continues, under whomever leads—and it is God who brings the growth to our lives as disciples of Jesus.

NEW TESTAMENT 1 Corinthians 1:10, 12-13; 3:5-9

10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, ‘I belong to Paul’, or ‘I belong to Apollos’, or ‘I belong to Cephas’, or ‘I belong to Christ.’ 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each.9 For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.