Question:

I have a question regarding this verse: "For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord , and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church." (1 Corinthians 4:17)

Does Paul mean that the same thing is to be taught in every church? if so, why do churches interpret and decide to teach differently in the churches today?

Answer:

This is a very good question.  The fact that there are so many different Christian denominations leads many unbelievers to doubt Christianity as true.  I mean why should I join an organization that can't even agree amongst themselves? 

The way I see it, there are three basic reasons why the Christian church seems to teach many different things.  The first is sin.  We are sinful people—saved, but still sinful.  As sinful people, we tend to gravitate toward the things we agree with and oppose the things we disagree with.  Sin clouds the judgment and keeps us from the truth of God, right?  Look at some of the so-called "liberal" denominations.  What could cause some of them to embrace homosexual clergy?  The Bible is very clear on the issue of homosexuality (it's a sin), so the only way you can ordain homosexual clergy is if you claim the Bible doesn't really mean what it clearly says.  And the only way you can make that claim is because you have allowed sin to cloud you thinking.

The second reason is honest disagreement in interpreting the Scripture.  I believe there are portions of Scripture that Christians can have honest disagreements over.  Take for example baptism.  There are those believe (as I do) that the only valid form of baptism is full immersion believer's baptism.  Then there are those who believe in infant baptism.  Another area of honest disagreement is in the area of women pastor/elders.  Based on how one interprets the Scriptures, you can believe in the ordination of women to the role of pastor/elder, or not believe in the ordination of women.

The third reason is disagreement over issues the Bible doesn't specifically deal with.  For example, whether or not the church should play traditional hymns of contemporary praise & worship songs.  The Bible is silent on this issue.  Another example is modes of dress (especially for women).  The Bible gives a principle (dress modestly), but how does one interpret that in out day and age?  Other areas of disagreement are alcohol, smoking, movies, card playing, etc., all things the Scriptures are silent on, but churches have split over.

All this to say, what Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians 4:17 is that he is sending Timothy to Corinth to remind them of the teachings he gave them.  If you look a few verses before the one in question, you will see some clarification:  "I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me." (1 Corinthians 4:14-16).  Paul had spent the first three chapters admonishing the Corinthian believers for the factions that had developed there.  He tells them that they have "countless guides in Christ, but you do not have many fathers."  Meaning, you have many people who think they know something, but you only have one person who brought you to Christ and cares about your spiritual growth.  He further tells them to imitate him.  Pretty bold if you didn't know Paul, right?  Now Paul tells the Corinthians that he is sending Timothy, his faithful protégé, to correct their behavior.  Paul can't be there himself, so he sends trusted Timothy.

The important part of the verse, the part that you have questions over, is the phrase, "to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church."  Paul taught the same thing in every church he planted; which, if you remember Acts 15, was the same doctrine the Jewish Apostles (Peter, James & John) taught as well.  There is only one Christian faith.  Many Christian churches, if you were to examine their doctrinal statement, would surprise you with their overall agreement.  There are certain things that the Bible is absolutely clear on that anyone who claims to be a Christian should agree on:  The Trinity; the deity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit; the gospel message; the authority of the Bible; just to name a few.  There are bound to be slight differences (as outlined above), but on the essentials there should be unity!

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