The church’s honeymoon period did not last long. Within a few years, Paul was publicly admonishing Christians to quit fighting and sort things out. In his letter to the Church of the Philippians, he calls out two women in particular, Euodia and Syntyche, pleading with them “to be of the same mind in the Lord.” Unfortunately, we never find out if they listened. Instead, we’re left with the impression that, while those who call themselves followers of Christ may invoke the name of the same Lord, from nearly the beginning they’ve followed him in all different directions and fought over how to
...more
