Labor In Union

Posted : 1 Sep, 2010 05:25 PM

I Cor. 3:1-11



This month we celebrate Labor Day. This is a national holiday as everyone knows. This holiday evolved purely from a labor union celebration. It grew out of a celebration and parade in honor of the working class by the Knights of Labor in 1882 in New York. Later several states declared the first Monday of September as an official state holiday. Then, in 1894, Congress passed a law recognizing Labor Day as an official national holiday. Labor Day is unique in that it is the only national holiday that does not honor any man in particular or any memorial of war dead. It is for working men and women who make up our country�s labor force.



There is another labor force, albeit, it is not propelled or represented by labor unions, but by a labor in-union. From the scripture verses listed, Paul identifies three sources of deadly conditions in the Church and Christians in general that prevent labor-in-unions.

1. Thoughts � Prov. 23:1, Mt. 15:19

One�s thoughts are actually measurement of the state of a soul. Envious thoughts are one of the problems that faced the early church and Paul is saying this type of thinking will lead to something worse.

2. Words � James 3:2-16

The creation of strife is in the words that are spoken which are generated from our stinking thinking.

3. Deeds � I Cor. 1:12-13

The deep divisions which began in Paul�s day have plagued the Church into our day. The Church is deeply divided in many, many ways and these divisions are represented by the deeds which have been institutionalized and propagated by the very words of the different factions.



The Church is the body of Christ according to Chapter 1 of Ephesians. Accordingly, church membership is not in buildings, congregations, or denominations. That is because the Church is a spiritual organism. When we give our hearts and lives to Christ, we are baptized into one body by the Holy Spirit and we are being built into a holy habitation for the presence of God. It is not dependent upon our social standing, church affiliation, race, culture, or anything really except our faith in Christ for our salvation, redemption, reconciliation, and yes, even Church membership because Christ�s body, the Church, transcends all of the afore mentioned barriers. Therefore, the Church is God�s spiritual building in a sense. If we are divided (and not IN-UNION), we are dividing God�s building, Christ�s body, and the Holy Spirit�s bosom (habitation). In order for us to be a labor-in-union, we must recognize there is a



I. Sovereign Builder

�Except the Lord Build the house, they labor in vain that build it...� (Ps. 127:1)



II. Special Building Plan � Great Commission

Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47, John 20:21, Acts 1:8, Matt. 28:19-20



III. Sure Building Foundation � Christ Jesus

Is. 28:16, I Cor. 3:11



IV. Selected Labor Force � We are Laborers Together with God

I Cor. 3:9



In order to build upon Christ and make God�s building sure according to His pattern and will, we must be...

1. Under submission to those in authority who are held accountable by a local board of presbyters

2. In step with the Holy Spirit of which is the divine dynamic at work in the earth and in the church

3. On site in the work of the ministry of Christ � preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, teaching the doctrines of His Word, and healing sickness (spiritual and physical) Matt. 9:35, 16:24

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