We’ve discussed before some of the ways the Bible is characterized as the most unique book in history. Aside from its construction (the Bible was written on three continents in three languages over 1,600 years by over 40 authors) it has been treated uniquely as well. It was the first book ever translated (about 250 BC) and is the most translated book ever (over 1,200 languages), it was the first printed book and the most expensive book (for one of those first printings by Guttenberg). It was the first book read in space and now we can add it is among the first books to be stored in five dimensions.
Now let’s do a Tarantino and backtrack, let’s go back to chapter 9.1-10.13. Paul begins chapter nine by addressing the important social issue of foods sacrificed to idols, then launches into a rant regarding his treatment by the implausible church at Corinth and their deplorable lifestyle. It’s the later of these two that we turn our attention to. What spurs Paul’s rant? What is behind this outburst? The issue of personal rights. Though the Corinthians thought it their “right” to eat at occult ceremonies and he encouraged them to deny their rights for the sake of others. Paul is about to relate that he has put up with mistreatment from them for their benefit.
If singleness is to be preferred, what about marriage? For hundreds of years marriage and family life have been crowned the norm for Christian life and this teaching turns that on its head. Though Paul clearly teaches that singleness has benefits to the kingdom above marriage, he carefully points out that marriage is not a sin (.2, .36, .38) and that in point of fact, in a sexually immoral culture marriage may be the best way a man or woman can please God (.2, .9, .36). As such, he gives many guidelines to married couples to make their marriage better:
“Jesus said ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11.28). I am so thankful that Jesus did not call us to a list of rules or a religious agenda or even to church. He called us into a relationship with Himself.” So states Rich Blum, pastor of Bethel Community Church in Washougal, WA. Each Sunday Think-Biblically.com is bringing you sermons from Pastor Rich to assist you in your worship of God and to grow in your relationship with Jesus. Sermons also aired on KPDQ-FM AM 1130 in Portland, OR.
“Jesus said ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11.28). I am so thankful that Jesus did not call us to a list of rules or a religious agenda or even to church. He called us into a relationship with Himself.” So states Rich Blum, pastor of Bethel Community Church in Washougal, WA. Each Sunday Think-Biblically.com is bringing you sermons from Pastor Rich to assist you in your worship of God and to grow in your relationship with Jesus. Sermons also aired on KPDQ-FM AM 1130 in Portland, OR.
It happens all the time. You’re relaxing in the back yard when your neighbor fires up his grill and soon you smell the sweet odor of mouthwatering steaks and hear their siren call in the form of sizzle. You call across the fence and compliment the aroma and his obvious skill with the grill. Next thing you know you’re invited over and a juicy ribeye is placed before you. Your about to dig in when he tells you, “enjoy! This is the best steak and the meat was originally sacrificed to Asclepius.” Don’t you hate it when that happens?
The division marker in chapter seven verse one is impossible to miss: “Now for the matters you wrote about…” Whereas the last six chapters were in response to the oral report the messengers brought, Paul now turns his attention to matters that were pressing on the minds of Corinthian believers. There were at least two such issues: marriage (addressed in chapter seven) and food sacrificed to idols (chapter eight). It is unfortunate that both Paul’s first letter, and the message brought to Paul from Corinth, have been lost. No doubt they could shed light on a few tricky passages.
Years ago host David Letterman on the Late Show once took a swig out of his coffee mug and offhandedly remarked, “I don’t think there’s a man, woman or child alive that doesn’t enjoy a tasty beverage.” But what happens if, say, a church goer gets a piping hot cup of coffee in his Sunday school class and spills it all over himself? Does he sue the church? The Sunday school teacher? The one who made the coffee? Hopefully not, but it wouldn’t be out of character for a Corinthian. Or for one of us in today’s litigious society.
“Jesus said ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11.28). I am so thankful that Jesus did not call us to a list of rules or a religious agenda or even to church. He called us into a relationship with Himself.” So states Rich Blum, pastor of Bethel Community Church in Washougal, WA. Each Sunday Think-Biblically.com is bringing you sermons from Pastor Rich to assist you in your worship of God and to grow in your relationship with Jesus. Sermons also aired on KPDQ-FM AM 1130 in Portland, OR.
One rarely hears mention of divorce from the pulpit today, which is alarming considering 50 percent of Christian marriages end that way. The silence on this matter is stranger still when one considers all that the Bible has to say about the matter. This is a sure testimony to our continued selfishness, and one more thing the modern church has in common with Corinth. As we will see, Paul addresses the issue in a mostly straightforward manner, though the first mention of the topic in chapter seven verse 10 has caused some to question and even debate the teachings herein.
The prevalence of sexual immorality in Corinth was astonishingly widespread and can only be compared to our modern times. First Corinthians may be the most applicable book to modern readers in all of Scripture. Along with sexual openness came proverbial, well, proverbs -- or slogans -- that excused such behavior. For those who think “If it feels good, do it” or “I should be able to do whatever I want as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone,” needs a history lesson. These mantras have excused sinful behavior for thousands of years. Don’t believe me? Try comparing them to some of Paul’s examples:
At the start of chapter five we are introduced to a pair of ghastly sins. The first is an appalling case of incest (5.1), and the second is the church of Corinth’s proud tolerance of such behavior (5.2). In our culture incest still has a shock factor, even so there are similar problems in the modern church. Some congregations flaunt their acceptance of gay, lesbian and trans-gender behavior. While we ought to accept sinners as our equals (since we too sin and need God’s grace), we ought never condone or promote sinful behavior. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves now.