Yes, believers should not focus on following a specific leader because it causes divisions and detracts from Christ and the Word.
Les Feldick teaches that in the Corinthian church, divisions arose because believers attached themselves to specific leaders—Paul, Apollos, Peter, or even Christ. This caused bickering and disunity. The solution is to set your eyes on the Word of God and the crucified One, not on any human leader.
1 Corinthians 1:12 — This verse directly mentions the divisions where believers claimed to follow different leaders.
1 Corinthians 3:4 — Paul asks if they are not carnal when they say they follow Paul or Apollos.
The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, directly addresses the problem of believers focusing on specific leaders. He writes, 'Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ' (1 Corinthians 1:12). This reveals that the Corinthian believers had divided into factions based on which leader they preferred. Paul then confronts this carnality: 'For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?' (1 Corinthians 3:4-5). He emphasizes that these leaders are merely servants through whom they believed, not objects of devotion. Furthermore, Paul asks, 'Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?' (1 Corinthians 1:13). This rhetorical question underscores that no human leader deserves the allegiance that belongs to Christ alone.
Les Feldick emphasizes that believers should never get "hung up on one man" because it is not scriptural (Clip 1). He explains that in the Corinthian church, divisions arose because some followed Paul, some Apollos, some Peter, and some even Christ, leading to constant bickering and disunity (Clip 2). The problem was not doctrinal but personal—people were attached to personalities rather than being united in the Word. Les warns that the same danger exists today; churches can become so attached to a pastor that they fall apart when he leaves. He teaches that believers should not set their eyes on men but on the Word of God and on "the crucified One, the One who died for you and rose from the dead" (Clip 2). He also notes that even those who say they follow Christ alone can be in error if they reject Paul's epistles, since Jesus' earthly ministry was to the Jew under the law (Clip 3).
According to the evidence, the Corinthian church had four factions: those who followed Paul, those who followed Apollos, those who followed Peter, and those who said they followed Christ (Clip 2). These divisions caused havoc and bickering, preventing the church from functioning in unity (Clip 2). Les Feldick notes that these divisions were centered on individual men, not on doctrine (Clip 2).
Apollos was an eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures, from Alexandria (Clip 1). Pilgrims and Aquila instructed him more accurately, and he used the Old Testament plus what he learned to convince Jews publicly (Clip 0). Paul, on the other hand, was the founder of the Corinthian church and had led them from idolatry. There was no doctrinal conflict between them; the issue was personality preferences.
Les Feldick advises believers not to focus on any man but to set their eyes on the Word of God and on Christ (Clip 2). He warns against getting "hung up" on any teacher or pastor (Clip 1). Instead, believers should be united in the truth of the Word, not in loyalty to a person.
Priscilla and Aquila Instruct Apollos
Les describes how Apollos, though eloquent, needed to be more accurately taught by Priscilla and Aquila, showing that even great leaders are not above growth and correction.
Danger of Getting Hung Up on One Man
Les explicitly says believers should never get hung up on one man because it is not scriptural, and he introduces Apollos as an example of an attractive leader.
Divisions Centered on Men
Les summarizes the four factions in Corinth and warns that believers should set their eyes on the Word and on Christ, not on any man.
Following Christ Alone Misguided
Les points out that even those who claimed to follow Christ were in error because Jesus' earthly teaching was to the Jews under the Law, not to the Body of Christ.
Carnal Puffing Up
Les explains that believers who boasted of following a specific leader were infantile and carnal, puffed up against one another.
Divisions as First Problem in Corinthians
Les mentions that the first problems Paul addressed in Corinthians were divisions, with some following various leaders, and that Paul had to defend his apostleship.
Constant Defense of Apostleship
Les highlights that Paul had to constantly defend his apostleship because some considered him a fake compared to Peter who walked with Jesus, showing how personality preferences led to rejection of legitimate leadership.
Paul's Foundation Not Personal
Les notes that Paul, as a wise master builder, laid the foundation but did not claim to be the foundation, emphasizing that the focus should be on Christ, not on the builder.
1 Corinthians 1:12: Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
This verse directly identifies the factions in Corinth based on loyalty to different leaders.
1 Corinthians 1:13: Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Paul argues that no human leader deserves the allegiance that belongs to Christ alone.
1 Corinthians 3:4: For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Paul equates such divisions with carnality, showing that focusing on leaders is a sign of spiritual immaturity.
1 Corinthians 3:5: Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
This verse reminds believers that leaders are only servants through whom they believed.
Les Feldick teaches that it is dangerous to get hung up on one man. While appreciating a teacher is fine, making them the object of loyalty can cause divisions and distract from the Word of God and Christ. The focus should be on the content, not the personality.
The danger is that it creates divisions and disunity among believers, as seen in Corinth. When loyalty is to a person rather than to Christ and His Word, the church suffers from bickering and an inability to function in unity.
Believers should see leaders as servants through whom they believed (1 Corinthians 3:5). No leader should be the object of devotion; that place belongs to Christ alone. Les Feldick emphasizes that we should set our eyes on the Word and the crucified One, not on any man.
Watch the Teaching: Why Christians Are Divided — 1 Corinthians 3 Explained Verse by Verse