Community and Fellowship: Clement of Rome on Harmony in Community

Clement of Rome, writing around 96 AD (1 Clement), addressed a divided church in Corinth with an extended appeal for harmony. He wrote: "Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that we are members one of another?" Clement saw division in the church as literally tearing apart the body of Christ.

Clement used the example of the Roman army -- where each soldier knows their place and serves the whole -- and the example of the human body -- where each organ serves a function no other can replace. He urged: "Let each one be subject to his neighbor, according to the special gift bestowed upon him."

Practical application: If there is division or tension in your church or small group, take the initiative to pursue reconciliation. Do not wait for the other party to make the first move. Clement teaches that in the body of Christ, every act of reconciliation repairs a wound that weakens the whole community.