Paul continues to
emphasise the importance of self-control as a mature of Christian maturity
(following on from 9:24-27) by reminding the Corinthians of Israel's Wilderness
wanderings (Exodus - Deuteronomy).
Despite enjoying God's the blessing of presence, provision and
protection, the people still proved to be faithless and were judged for their
idolatry, immorality, unbelief and grumbling. As these were recorded (10:11) to
encourage godly behaviour (v6-7), the Corinthians - and ourselves - are warned
that like the Israelites, we too may be disqualified (v27).
No matter how unique
our circumstances and temptations may appear, we face the same spiritual
struggles that all God's people have experienced throughout history (v12-13).
In His providential mercy, God never lets us be tempted or tested beyond what -
through relying in His strength and in dependence upon the indwelling Holy
Spirit - we cannot handle. Since God has given us what we need to stay
faithful to Him (see also 2 Peter 1:3-4), we have no excuse; we are held
accountable to Him whenever we sin. Our only hope of mercy is found at the
Cross.
Chapter 11 (v2-16)
is another potentially explosive passage in today's world. It concerns wives (not women in general) who
are somehow dishonouring their husbands by praying and prophesying in church
without their heads covered (v5). How
this is to be understood and applied to today's church is much debated! No definitive answers here! However, the church was probably more
free-flowing and less structured and predictable - even to the point of
meaningless chaos (see chapter 14) - than many of Presbyterians are familiar
with. Paul's appeal for a measure of order may well reflect his desire for
loving unity within the broader church fellowship to reflect the pattern of
unity and loving submission God established at Creation (Genesis 1-2 ), which
itself is modelled on the loving relationship within the Trinity.
The sacrament of the
Lord's Table - supposedly an expression of the congregation's common and united
faith as it fellowships together at the feet of the crucified Saviour - had
sadly become a root cause of painful division.
Remember, there were no church buildings; the church met together,
probably on Sunday evenings after work, in the homes of the richer church
members. It's very probable that the
host would have invited his richer friends around to his home for an evening
meal before the rest of the members finished work and gathered for 'church'
(v17-22). They were kept outside until dinner was finished, by which stage some
of the dinner guests had become drunk (!) - not a great way to demonstrate and
cultivate church fellowship; it is in fact a denial of the Gospel that they had
come to remember (v27). This is what
Paul means when he talks about not recognising "the body of the Lord"
(v29). This is not a reference to Jesus' physical body, but to the church,
Christ's "body". They are not behaving as believing brothers and
sisters in Christ ought to behave.
In Chapters 12-14
addresses another source of church tension:
the nature and practice of spiritual gifts. It is the Spirit alone who enables us to
confess Christ as Lord (v3) - this is the mark of true faith and a genuine
relationship with Jesus. But the same Spirit also goes on to give interdependent 'gifts' to
the local church fellowship that enables them work together towards a deeper
unity and maturity (v7).
Throughout chapter
12 is the theme of unity-in-diversity which is reflective, as we have already
seen, of the unity and diversity of the Father, Son and Spirit relationship of
God (v4-6). Push unity too much and we want
everyone to be just like us and to do what can do; over-emphasise diversity, and it leads to unhelpful differences. United together to our 'Head' - Jesus (v27) -
we should honour those with 'lesser' gifts, those not as visible, celebrated or
developed as others, but which, for the good of everyone, are desperately
needed. In a body, nothing - no-one - is
dispensable. All are needed.
Believer, possessed by the Spirit, that means you.
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