Church Is Messy: Church in the Wild - Fences and Ladders
Rick and Svea discuss 1 Corinthians 1, focusing on how the human desire for acceptance creates division in the church through “fences” (in-groups and out-groups) and “ladders” (status and hierarchy). They show how the Corinthian church split around admired leaders like Paul, Apollos, and Peter, driven more by Roman culture’s obsession with prestige than by real theological differences. The episode draws connections to modern Christian identity, emphasizes unity and equality in Christ, and encourages humility, community, and finding true acceptance in God’s love.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Topics discussed in this episode:
- 00:00 Intro
- 01:11 Diving in to 1 Corinthians chapter 1.
- 02:01 Fences (acceptance) and ladders (approval).
- 04:52 There are no fences in Christ. The only fence is our sin. The only gate is Jesus.
- 08:40 1 Corinthians 1:12 - I follow Paul, I follow Apollos... Attaching to human figures, not Jesus. Stupid games lead to stupid prizes. Their prize of petty competitiveness and fractured relationships.
- 11:57 We do this too. We can't define ourselves by what people or groups we agree with or disagree with.
- 13:36 Thinking of spiritual formation, how do we avoid falling into the trap of attaching ourselves to and aligning with a singular spiritual leader with whom you agree and saying, "I'm a so-and-so Christian?" Be in community with other believers.
- 19:21 We tend to apply our need for acceptance and approval in dysfunctional ways. What's the God-given underlying foundation for wanting acceptance and approval?
- 23:30 Advice for those who are ready to live without fences and ladders, but you see fences and ladders all around you.
