The Truth About Agreement (Part V)

Many people equate unity with agreement, which causes the pressure to be in agreement with others to avoid disunity. The Bible shows us that we can be in unity with others and not always agree with them.

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;  for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?  For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.  So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 1Corinthians 3:1-9

Paul and Apollos were both working in unity with one another in advancing the Kingdom of God. They were in agreement as to what needed to be accomplished among God’s people. In the above passage, Paul reminds the Corinthians that, even though he and Apollos were well-loved and respected, Jesus should be the one whom they are following. Paul was not looking to be popular and create a celebrity mentality among God’s people. He didn’t want people to follow their favorite leader and create schisms in the body of Christ. He knew that anything that puts the focus on man is carnality.

Furthermore, Paul understood and acknowledged the significance of Apollos’ work among the people in the church of Corinth. Paul explained that he planted and Apollos watered, but God brought the fruitfulness. Paul did not use the opportunity to put himself and Apollos above others.

I wonder how many of us can handle maintaining healthy relationships amid success in ministry!? Paul understood each of them had a role to play, and they each accomplished their God-given roles without becoming unhealthy or incestuous. Paul did not expect Apollos to plant, and neither did Apollos expect Paul to water what he had planted.

We can in agreement on the goals of ministry but have different ways of going about doing what God has called us to do. People tend to seek to be like others thinking that being similar is unity and agreement. Unfortunately, that leads to external conformity or incestuous relationships, but it does not necessarily bring agreement or unity.

While Paul and Apollos were in agreement in helping people to grow in Christ, they knew that the Lord is the ultimate vinedresser.  They were just fellow workers in God’s field. This must have kept Paul, Apollos, and others from creating unhealthy relationships among themselves.

Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time. 1 Corinthians 16:12

While Paul and Apollos were fellow workers in the Kingdom, they didn’t always see eye to eye. The above scripture is a very important passage for all of us who feel compelled to be in agreement with other leaders. Paul had urged Apollos to visit the brethren in Corinth, but Apollos was unwilling to do it at the time. Interestingly, Paul did not state that Apollos was being rebellious or prideful. They just did not agree on this point. Paul wanted him to do the visit sooner than later, but Apollos was not willing to do it. Paul did not seem offended, and neither did he pressure Apollos to follow his advice.

Can you imagine if we were in that position!? Most people would have felt compelled to obey Paul. They would have reasoned that God must be speaking to them through Paul and that they needed to do what Apostle Paul urged them to do. However, Apollos was courageous and healthy enough not to go along with Paul’s request.  We don’t know why it was an inconvenient time for Apollos, but it doesn’t appear that he did missed God’s timing by not going right away. He felt the freedom to say no to Paul, and Paul did not place an ungodly burden on him.

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