Those Who Are Genuine Among You

I've studied this passage many times before, but this time, a verse that's easy to overlook jumped out at me: “…for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized” (1 Corinthians 11:19).

Paul is addressing the way the Corinthian church observed the Lord’s Supper. As you probably know, it was a mess. Divisions were rampant in that church. They were divided by personality cults and beliefs over food offered to idols. When it came to the Lord’s Supper, they experienced divisions according to socio-economic class.

The more well-off in the congregation left the poorer members out of parts of the meal, and they didn't seem to care. Some were even getting drunk by the time that others in the church showed up. It seems that each person was more concerned with satisfying their own hunger and thirst than coming together as one to celebrate. The divisions at the meal celebrating the Lord's Supper made a mockery of its purpose, and Paul wasn’t happy.

In the middle of this, Paul says something that I haven't paid much attention to in the past. Their division at the Lord’s Supper had one benefit, he wrote. It revealed the genuine believers in the congregation.

This teaches us something important. Divisions in the church can be part of God's sifting process. When a church is unhealthy, those who desire God's glory stand out. Conflict in a church reveals what is in our hearts.

One purpose of division and conflict is to reveal those who have God's heart, those who are genuinely his. It also reveals those who will one day stand under his judgment. Division in the church is undesirable, but God uses it to reveal who truly belongs to Him. God reveals the veracity of those who not only hold correct beliefs but also reflect the truth of the gospel in their behavior.

As John Calvin says:

For in this way hypocrites are detected — in this way, on the other hand, the sincerity of believers is tried. For as this gives occasion for discovering the fickleness of those who were not rooted in the Lord’s Word, and the wickedness of those who had assumed the appearance of good men, so the good afford a more signal manifestation of their constancy and sincerity.

Division is never a good thing, but through his providence, God can use even this for his glory. Through church conflict, he reveals those who are truly his.

This is such a good insight for pastors. I can think of a recent conflict. It was tough for the church, but it had one benefit: it revealed those who were spiritually mature. They stood out. They became known as people in whom the Lord was at work and who could be examples for others.

I hate church conflict; I hate when believers don't act as they should. God uses church conflict for good. It reveals the godly and it reveals issues; it shows people who are not who they appear to be.

We shouldn't be surprised by conflict; we should expect it. And we should also look to what God reveals through periods of conflict. I'm so grateful that God uses even negative things in the church for his glory and to show those who are truly his.