You follow Calvin? Well, I follow Christ!

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (ESV)

Sectarianism Is Sin

10I appeal to you, brothers,[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no(Q) divisions among you, but that you be united(R) in the same mind and the same judgment. 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is(S) quarreling among you, my brothers. 12What I mean is that(T) each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow(U) Apollos," or "I follow(V) Cephas," or "I follow Christ." 13(W) Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you(X) baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except(Y) Crispus and(Z) Gaius, 15so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16(I did baptize also(AA) the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and(AB) not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Sectarianism is what Paul's talking about in this passage of scripture. Sectarianism, can be described as Denomination zeal, or a devotion to a certain party. Paul is urging us in this passage not to be Sectarian for the sake of unity.

So where does this passage come in on the topic of Calvinism or Arminianism?

I don't believe it does.

I know of many people (including myself not too long ago) that refuse to carry the title of "Calvinist" or "Arminian" because of this passage of scripture.

But let's look deeper in to this passage.

Verse 10 - Paul is strictly speaking about Doctrine in this verse, not spiritual unity of the Church as a whole. Paul is saying that we should all agree with the same Doctrine. Without a strong commitment to Biblical Doctrine inside the Church, the Church will weaken. We should also be united with the same mind and judgement. (Phil 3:15-16.) We are to be unified in our beliefs, convictions, standards, and in applied principles of living. (Acts 4:32; Eph 4:3)

Verse 13 - this verse is stressing that no human leader should receive the praise or Glory of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Paul hated the idea of receiving more glory then God.

So the question is, does this passage apply to the Calvinism-Arminianism debate?

No.

Christ, Chloe, Paul, Apollos, and Peter all had the exact same theology.

So on the issue of Calvinism or Arminianism, we have to understand that one of two theologies is wrong... because they both have completely different Doctrinal stances.

So if I were to call myself a Calvinist, it's because I believe Calvinist theology is Biblically correct... as opposed to Arminian theology, which I believe is Biblically incorrect.

Now lets look at verse 10 again.

10I appeal to you, brothers,[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no(Q) divisions among you, but that you be united(R) in the same mind and the same judgment

Now, if we're supposed to be united in mind and judgement... and believe in the same Doctrine.... should we belong to a Church that holds to a theology different from our own? I don't believe so.

Check out this video. (if you're reading this on facebook.... go to my actual Blog)

-josh