All posts tagged Corinthians

Having a Corporate Conscience – I Corinthians 8

by brad on June 21, 2010 in Application Supplement with No comments

Good Understanding (8:1-3)

If there is something we know about Paul, we know that Paul was not anti-knowledge.  If Paul were anti-knowledge he would not have written so many letters with such penetrating insight.  If Paul were anti-knowledge he would not have repeatedly said, “I do not want you to be uninformed brothers (I Cor 12:1 and I Thes 4:13).  So as we seek to make application of these verses, we can safely conclude that Paul was not arguing for a simplified faith.

Paul was writing to a very gifted and proud church at Corinth.  He is countering their tendency to believe that sound doctrine (well-reasoned and clearly articulated) could supersede brotherly love.  Paul agreed with those who were willing to eat meat sacrificed to idols.  There was nothing about the meat that would violate any moral or spiritual principle.  Yet, Paul disagreed with how individualistically the Corinthians thought about their faith.  Paul urges them not to allow their “rights” or “freedoms” to blind them or be an excuse to hamper the walk of their fellow Christians.  Paul followed his advice at significant personal sacrifice (I Cor 9:9-12).

Reflection: How often do you think of the possible influence on other Christians when you are weighing out a difficult moral decision?  When you do think of others do you resent that they may “inconvenience” your decision?  If you do, repent to God for this self-centered mindset and ask God to give you a heart that recognizes that you live as part of the Body of Christ.

Application: Place a picture of your church (building, Sunday School class, church directory) in the locations where you make decisions (dinner table or quiet time location). Having a visual reminder of your church and knowing why you placed it there will help you develop a “corporate conscience.”

Weak Defiled Conscience (8:7)

This passage begs the awkward question, “Can you sin without sinning?”  It gives the even more awkward answer, “Yes.”  To see why Paul says this, let us begin with defining a weak conscience. A weak conscience is one that feels guilt for something that is not a violation of God’s Word or character.  Our modern tendency would be to call this a “strong conscience.”  But Paul cautions us against that label. It would insinuate that our new standard is better (strong usually being an adjective with positive connotation) than God’s standard.

Paul has already said eating food sacrificed to idols is morally acceptable.  His overall stance seems to infer that it was preferable (it was cheaper since it must be sold quickly in the market to prevent spoiling, hence making it good financial stewardship). Yet to eat without a clear conscience would be sin (Paul make the same point on the same subject in Romans 14:23). The sin is not in the eating, but in the willingness to compromise on what you believe is God’s will. In that light, you can sin (willingly compromise) without sinning (violating a moral principle in the particular action).

Application: When giving advice to a friend or younger Christian, you must not only consider what the Bible says, but also where their conscience is.  It is not “faith” to violate one’s conscience.  The appropriate order of advice is to abstain from the activity until one’s conscience is free to engage in what God declares permissible.  God is patient with us in our humanity and “dim mirror” thinking (I Cor 13:12). We show and model God’s grace to one another when we give advice with and submit to that same patience (see previous heading).

Me to We (Marriage & Church)

(BCH_1Cor_8_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

When you marry, you make a covenant that changes (or at least should change) your personal identity.  This change is frequently captured in the phrase, “You move from being a me to being a we.” You begin thinking as a unit rather than an individual.  You become a ya’ll.

In I Corinthian 8 Paul is demonstrating that the same thing happens when you become a Christian. You make a covenant that changes (or at least should change) your personal identity. You move from being a body to being part of the Body of Christ. You are no longer your own (I Cor 6:19-20) and the One who bought you calls you to live as member of His people with a corporate identity.

Before reading any of the application points below, pause and put into words why this concept makes you uncomfortable. What are the possible implications that cause you fear?

Consider the following points that demonstrate having a corporate identity.

  • At least 10% of my income goes to support my church (Matt 23:23).
  • My moral decisions are impacted by the effect on fellow believers (I Cor 8).
  • I confess my sins to fellow believers (James5:16).
  • My prayers devote significant time to other believers (Heb 13:18).
  • I am willing to devote myself to the hardship of others (Gal 6:2).
  • My love for fellow believers should be part of my reputation (John 13:35).
  • My fellow believers should regularly be in my home (I Pet 4:9).

Having a corporate identity is not just for certain types of Christians (spiritual gift or personality) any more than communication and honesty is for certain types of spouses. If you have lived as if this was optional, repent and pray for God to give you what He intended for all His children.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
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BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

Marriage and Divorce – I Corinthians 7

by brad on June 14, 2010 in Application Supplement with No comments

Married to an Unbeliever? (7:12-16)

This is a question for which the delivery is as important as the answer.  Too often this question is “debated.”  When this happens there will inevitably be a “loser” in a situation that is already quite discouraging.  The goal is not primarily a neat theology but a life fully submitted to Christ.  If we (as friend, teacher, counselor) win the debate and lose the person God is not pleased.

I believe Paul models this compassion as he keeps alluding not only to the “rightness” of staying unless abandoned but also the rationale for staying.  You married this person because you loved them.  You probably have children (v. 15).  Your home is now your primary mission field.  Pray that your presence would be used of God to be part of your family’s conversion.

Reflection: Are you this mission-minded?  Think of the spouse married to an unbelieving antagonistic spouse like the missionary working with an unreached people group without any converts.  What would you say to them?  How would you say it?  Between conversations with this missionary friend what types of things would you do for them?  As you reflect over this passage do not think of it as an academic/theological discussion, but as a conversation with a tired, discouraged missionary.

Anxious About the Things of the Lord (7:34)

What happened to the Paul who said “Be anxious for nothing (Phil 4:6)”?  Let’s try this definition of anxiety – an unrelenting focus on trying to obtain a perceived good.  By this definition most anxieties are bad.  We become consumed by lesser good.  We become obsessively committed to our alternative definitions of good.  The unrelenting focus continually takes our attention away from God.  Once we have our good we are unable to relax and enjoy it.

Yet this definition leaves room for Paul’s positive usage of the word anxiety here.  This is something for which we are to have an unrelenting focus. This pursuit is to captivate our mind and imaginations.  We should be energized and stirred up as we pursue this good.  Yet the outcome of this good, as opposed to all others, is that it does provide rest.  As strange as it sounds, you know you have the right anxiety and pursued it correctly when pursuing it gives rest to your soul.

Reflection: Do you think of God as being as satisfying as Paul describes in this passage?  Paul is clearly putting marriage second to God.  We tend to get anxious about those things that are most important to us.  One way to apply what Paul is saying would be – you will not be able to rightly enjoy marriage until you are more anxious about your relationship with God than you are about your relationship with your spouse.  Yet Paul balances this truth, with the reality that you should be worried about pleasing your spouse (v. 33 and 34b).  Therefore, there is no warrant in this passage for neglecting your spouse, only the recipe of priorities for a happy marriage.

Whom She Wishes

(BCH_1Cor_7_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

Is there one person out there that God has for me to marry?  How do I know when I have found them?  What if that person messes up and marries someone else or gets killed?  Have you ever tried to answer questions like that?

There is insight into this question in Paul’s instruction to widows (I Cor 7:39).  A widow is free to marry “whom she wishes, only in the Lord.”  God offers instructed freedom, rather than playing divine match-maker.

Consider these three principles as you grapple with major life decisions:

Desires Restrained by Wisdom: On the matter of marriage Paul only gave one principle – make sure you marry a believer.  On other subjects God offers more instruction.  If you look at God’s wisdom and feel like He is “holding out” on you, then you need to mature before making a decision.  If not, move to the next principle.

Freedom within Wisdom: God gave you interests, passions, abilities, aptitudes, and preferences.  He meant for you to use them and He meant to use them to guide you.  This is why Paul is so free with his words “whom she wishes.”  As you use your desires to guide you within the principles of God’s wisdom, be sure to consult the final principle.

Humility to Seek Counsel: The Christian life was meant to be lived in community.  If you do not have mature Christians who know you well enough to ask about major decisions go back to principle one and find some.  At this stage you are not asking permission, you are verifying that you have covered the basis of principle one and are thinking clearly about principle two.

Hopefully this helps you to enjoy the freedom God has given you and to see more clearly God’s goodness and guidance in how He made you.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

Peace, Change, & Freedom – I Corinthians 6

by brad on June 7, 2010 in Application Supplement with 3 Comments

Why Not Suffer Wrong? (6:7)

I don’t like this question.  I don’t like what it implies.  I especially don’t like it in the context in which it appears.  I am an advocate for fairness and justice.  Anything that appears to challenge these virtues makes me twitch.  But Paul is saying that I should value unity in the church and Christ’s reputation in my community more than fairness and justice.  To be balanced, Paul is not against the legal system.  To the contrary he upholds it as God’s instrument of justice in Romans 13:1-7.  But he says the legal system is no place for two feuding believers.

Paul is clear that the church should adjudicate civil disagreements between believers.  Paul assumes both a level of involvement and competence by the church that would allow the church to fulfill this role.  The reason for the church’s involvement is to protect the church’s reputation and to ensure Christian principles are honored.

Reflection: In order to follow this instruction we would have to value the unity of the church more than our “rights” and trust our church leaders more than the legal process (regardless of the outcome).  That is challenging.  Are you involved in the life of your church in such a way that you would be prepared to follow Paul’s commands?  Does the corporate reputation of the church supersede your personal sense of justice?  This passage challenges our hearts greatly even when our circumstances do not involve possible litigation.

Resource: Peacemakers Ministries (www.hispeace.org) is a parachurch organization devoted to helping Christians and churches settle differences through Christian Conciliation in a manner consistent with Paul’s teaching in I Corinthians 6.

Such Were Some of You (6:11)

We face at least two dangers with sin in modern culture.  First, we have so narrowed the definition of sin that nothing is really sin anymore.  Second, when we do speak of our “issues” they usually define us as a permanent part of our identity.  I Corinthians 6 deals with the second of these dangers.

Paul had a church full of sex addicts, homosexuals, kleptomaniacs, workaholics, alcoholics, and pathological liars.  In our culture, these would have been viewed as permanent conditions, diseases, or personality disorders.  But Paul says “such were some of you.”  This passage is not offering the Gospel as the quick panacea of these struggles.  The profound struggles of the Corinthian church would refute that (5:1).  But Paul does hold out hope for character transformation.

Reflection: One implication of this passage is that our struggle with a sin does not define us as a Christian.  That is not to say that Christians do not struggle with substance abuse, same sex attraction, strong lust, or urges to deceive. It is to say that Christians struggle with these things, it is not “who” Christians are.  It is wrong for a Christian to say “I am gay” or “I will always be an addict” or “This [sin] is just who I am.”  These struggles may be aspects of the flesh that an individual battles to put to death their whole life – we are never fully sanctified in this life.

Reflection: What sin are you tempted to define yourself by?  You can usually identify this by asking when you do speak of sin in terms of “I am…” or “I have…”  This passage is both comfort and challenge for you.  By the grace of God you can overcome and need not “be your sin.”  At the same time, this passage challenges you to fight this sin tenaciously – to surrender to our sin is an indication that we have not inherited the kingdom of God (see also I John 3:9-10).

I Will Not Be Enslaved

(BCH_1Cor_6_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

God’s children are not meant to be slaves.  In I Corinthians 6:12 Paul is discussing “lawful” things.  Specifically he discusses food, but we could add alcohol, recreation, work, Facebook, video games, “guy/girl” time, acceptance and many other “lawful” things. 

The question is, “How do I know if I have become ‘enslaved’ to some good thing in my life?”  Before looking at some criteria to help you make this assessment, make a list of the things that you are potentially enslaved to.  If you cannot make a list of 3-5 things, you need to be more honest with yourself.

  • When you get home what is the first thing you want to do?
  • If you are running late, what will you do anyway?
  • Even if money is low/absent, what will you still do?
  • Where do you turn for comfort more naturally than God?
  • What do you use to escape when life is hard?
  • What do family members complain is more important than them?
  • If you cannot do this you get very edgy or irritable?
  • What do you lie about doing to minimize time/money spent?
  • What do you get defensive about in conversation?
  • What do you daydream about?
  • Have you told yourself you should probably cut back?
  • Do you feel guilty about it and use it to forget the guilt?
  • Has it ever interfered with your work performance?

Remember Paul does not say these things are morally bad.  He says it is wrong to be enslaved to them.  His main point is “you were bought with a price, so glorify God (6:20).”  When we seek refuge, hope, or pleasure in these things to the degree they have become “non-negotiable” they have become our functional god.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

Stewardship in God’s Family – I Corinthians 4

by brad on May 31, 2010 in Application Supplement with No comments

Stewards of the Mysteries of God (4:1)

As you reflect on this verse consider “The Parable of the Talents” in Matthew 25:14-30.

A good “steward” is someone who skillfully manages a commodity according to the owner’s intentions.  When you leave your children with a babysitter, that babysitter is a steward of your children.  You may have left instructions about completing homework, forbidden foods, or a bedtime.  If these instructions were followed, then the babysitter was a good steward and faithfully served you.

In I Corinthians 4:1 Paul says that we are to “serve Christ” by being “steward” of the mysteries of God (the Gospel and revelation of Scripture).  God left detailed instructions about how to carry out this stewardship – Matthew 28:18-20 most succinctly.  God also left instructions regarding when the job is completed – Revelation 7:9.  The only question is whether we will be found as faithful servants and good stewards.

Reflection: Do you feel free to disregard this assignment?  If we are honest, we all would have to say that we answered yes.  The question is, “What do we use to deceive ourselves into believing our ‘yes’ answer?”  Fear of rejection.  Pride and autonomy.  A plea of ignorance.  Spiritual ADD and forgetfulness. Believing it is less important than God says.  A lack of concern for those around us.  As you evaluate your answer, imagine it was given to you by the babysitter of your children after the babysitter’s neglect could have been the peril of your children.  How would you respond (both emotionally and in content)?  How do you imagine God responds when we treat the children/people He longs to adopt in that same neglectful manner?

Our Hearts Revealed (4:5)

Have you ever had the fear that other people would be able to hear your thoughts or watch your dreams?  This is the kind of thing that Paul says Christ will do when He returns.  Yet Paul does not say this as a threat to intimidate us away from cognitive sin.  Rather Paul uses this truth to promote patience, grace, and humility in relationships.

Paul says we do not have to guess at the motives of others, because God will make those motives clear.  Often many of our conflicts are like two school children arguing over who has performed better on a test before the teacher has graded the exam.  They each get worked up over what is said, thinking that if they convince the other, then they will have won the argument.  All the time the teacher is grading and their argument is useless (but passionate!).

Reflection: In what circumstances are you most prone to assign motive to the actions or words of another person?  Business, ministry, family, school, peers, authority figures, politics.  When you do this what are you protecting yourself from or what advantage are you trying to gain?  If your objective is good/necessary, is the discussion of motive necessary to accomplish your objective?  Most often when we focus on what are not called to do, we create an unnecessary distraction from the work we are called to do.

Relating as God’s Family

(BCH_1Cor_4_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

In I Corinthians 4:14-21 Paul uses many family roles and images to discuss the church and instruct the Corinthians.  This is a passage that should be put along side Ephesians 6:1-4.  In Ephesians Paul is trying to talk about family and realized he’s talking about Christ and the church.  Here Paul is trying to talk about church life under Christ and winds up talking about the family.

What are some of the lessons we should glean from this passage?

  • We must not confuse shaming with correcting our children (v. 14).  Statements made to belittle a child are an abuse of parental authority.  Venting our hostility at the expense of our children’s dignity is wrong.
  • The role of instructing our children is uniquely, although not exclusively, given to parents, particularly father (v. 15).  It is not the church’s job to disciple our children.  Parents come to church to be equipped to disciple their children (Eph 4:11-16).
  • Our primary tool of instruction is our example (v. 16).  Patience is only seen in the presence of an irritant. Courage is only seen in the presence of a threat.  In the same way, faith is truly seen in the response we give to the daily challenges of life. That is when we “incarnate” what we have been instructing.
  • Our children should teach their younger siblings (v. 17).  We should put our children in a position to teach what they have learned.  We should look for opportunities to point to their example and use it as a point of instruction, thereby, affirming their growth.
  • We must be consistent (v. 18-20).  If our children do not believe we will follow through on our instruction we will embolden their resistance.  Words alone do not soften the hard hearts we all have, even our sweet little children.
  • Our instruction should accentuate the choices our children make (v. 21).  A big theme of parental instruction is simply “choices matter.”  If we do not highlight this in our interaction with our children, we merely teach them to obey (good but temporary) to not think.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

Unity Through Humility – I Corinthians 1

by brad on May 24, 2010 in Application Supplement with 2 Comments

What Do You Seek? (1:22)

It is what we are “seeking” that keeps us from “seeing” Jesus for who He is.  The Jews wanted a powerful Messiah king who would come and throw off their oppression.  The Greeks desired a wise sage-philosopher who would wow them with answers to their questions.  Jesus did amazing things and stumped the intellectual elite of His day, but it was not enough.

Why?  Because humans in the first century were like humans in the twenty first century.  Jesus’ power did not eliminate the problem the Jews were focused on and Jesus’ wisdom did not answer the questions the way the Greeks liked.  So the Jews dismissed a man who calmed storms as weak and the Greeks rejected Wisdom Himself as a fool.

Reflection: What do you want Jesus to be?  What problem do you tend to “grade” God on based upon the progress or outcome?  Until we acknowledge these desires and submit them to God, they will distort our view of God.  Consider the following modern updates to this verse.  The Romantics seek their needs being met.  The Thrill-Seekers demand entertaining worship. The Social Group demands tight knit fellowship.  The Successful seek prosperity.  The Morally Lax demand grace.  Like the Jews and Greeks God is all they want (and more), but we miss the destination because of our love for examining the signs.

 

Marks of Humility

(BCH_1Cor_1_handout for Printable PDF Handout)

The theme of the first chapter of Corinthians is a call to unity in the church through the humility of its members and simplicity of its teaching (1:17).  This is hard for us.  We think being right is always best, so we quarrel (1:11) and identify with certain teachers (1:12).

Consider the following marks of humility as you seek to promote unity through humility.

  • A full recognition of your constant need for Christ (I Tim 1:15).
  • Able to forgive because you know how you were forgiven (Luke 7:47).
  • Consider others more significant than yourself (Phil 2:3).
  • Recognize your need for fellow believers (Heb 3:12-13).
  • Display your authority in meekness (II Cor 10:1).
  • Motivated by opportunities to serve (Gal 5:13).
  • Able to teach the obstinate patiently (II Tim 2:24).
  • Willing to get close in personal relationships (II Cor 2:4).
  • Accept your fault without blame-shifting to other’s faults (Matt 7:3-5).
  • Use your failures to instruct others (Psalm 51:12-13).
  • Take the initiative to restore broken relationships (Matt 5:23-24).

As you reflect on these traits of humility and brainstorm others, reflect on Proverbs 3:34 which is quoted twice in the New Testament, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

 

Boasting in the Lord (1:31)

Pause and make a list of the things you have vocalized your appreciation for in the last week (foods, household products, sports team, people, or movements).  Think of the different ways that you identify yourself as a “fan” of these things.  How much do you know about these things and how did you learn it?  How do you defend them when a friend enjoys a “rival” thing?

Chances are as you made your list the items on the list did not have much to do with you.  My list consisted of fettuccini alfredo, wheat grass juice, the thing that cleans my shower at a push of the button, Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, several close ministry friends, and Biblical Counseling.  From this you learn I’m hungry, I’m lazy, where I am from, who I like, and what I do.  For the most part this list reveals my needs, weaknesses, and identity more than my pride.

Reflection: When we understand our faith we will “boast in the Lord” in the same way.  We needed a Savior (Jesus Christ).  We have weaknesses to be refined (sanctification).  Our identity is rooted in God (adopted children of God) and His people (the church).  When we see ourselves in this way we will interact with our culture as Paul was instructing the Corinthian Christians to do.  As they interacted with the Jews and Greeks and heard them speak of power and wisdom as the “rival” answers to life, the Christians were to talk about the simple hope they had in Christ.  The offensiveness of this boasting is not “obnoxious fanhood” (sorry Wildcat Nation, but we’re guilty sometimes) but radical implication of simple, humble hope.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG POST: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

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