Division in the Midst of a Pandemic

Philippians 2: 1-11
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus  ⁶ Who, being in very nature God  did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;  ⁷ rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place  and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Corinthians 1:10-17
 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. ¹¹ My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. ¹² What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”;⁾ still another, “I follow Christ.”  ¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?  ¹⁴ I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom  and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.