day no. 13,422: division multiplying problems‏

1 Corinthians 11:16

But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.

Paul begins this chapter by explaining that the distinction between men and women is very important  Dudes should look like dudes and ladies should look like ladies. 

Paul then goes on to explain that there should be unity in the church and that divisions should be dissolved by Christian humility and setting ourselves aside.

The current temperature of our cultural context provides ample evidence of the NEED of this teaching to hit home.

We are daily being bombarded by opportunities that BLUR the distinction between men and women.  The push from Paul here is to work hard to DISTINGUISH one from the other as different categories with specific data points for identification.

We are also daily bombarded by opportunities to DIVIDE and DISTINGUISH ourselves from other Christians over matters which DO NOT matter.

The call here is to rightly DISCERN.

There ARE things that REQUIRE distinction and division and there ARE things that REQUIRE dying to one's self in order to reconcile division and distinction.

Some things are different and should STAY that way.

Some things are different and should BE RECONCILED.