But in the following instructions, I do not commend you, because when you come together, it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
If Paul was able to believe that contentious factions within a congregation indicated varying degrees of belief, what must our 30,000+ denominations, many of which will not speak to each other, indicate to the secular culture. Paul read the situation in Corinth correctly; there were some whose faith was genuine. The world does not understand nor even care about our turf wars over minor and arcane points of doctrine.
Today's readings in the Psalms:
Morning: Psalm 46
Mid-day: 119:57-64
Evening: Psalm 122
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"Voices Together" is available as an annual daily devotional and can be purchased at theFellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. A weekly edition, formatted as a bi-fold insert and suitable for distribution can be downloaded at https://www.ailbe.org/resources/item/7251-2016-voices-together-weekly-format. The next edition is available by Thursday of the prior week.