Saturday, September 16, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 1:1–19

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind — just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you — so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” (NRSV)

Reflection
I think we often think of Paul’s letters as eloquent passages of high theology addressed to the early church. There cannot be more moving and engaging language than the love chapter in 1 Corinthians 13. No wonder it is read at about every wedding that I have officiated at over the past forty-three years of my ministry! But this earlier passage that launches us into the letters to the church at Corinth is far from an ethereal treatise on romantic love. Paul is addressing a real problem, as is the case with most of his letters. Two aspects of these words penned by the apostle take us into sticky territory — division and arrogance.

The church at Corinth was in a tangle. Paul had been with them, launched their ministry, and then left them in what he saw as good shape. Great leaders in place? Check. Worship brimming? Check. Preaching inspiring? Check.

But everything that seemed so set was now coming apart, including the faith community. They were divided into camps. Their loyalty to leaders, preachers, and powerful and compelling philosophical minds landed them in deep trouble. And these very educated Greeks exhibited arrogance — something like “I know what the deal is and everyone else is so, like, small-minded.”

So what is Paul to do? He has one of those tough-talk discussions, through a letter written from a far-off place. “Get it together, folks” is the message. Mend your community, knit it together, be of one mind in Christ, for heaven’s sake! Because what you see as so brilliant and so worthy stands under the mercy of the cross of Jesus. What seems laughable to the world’s eye is the ultimate vulnerability and holds it up as the supreme power.

Are there days when you awaken to your good work, your steady planting of deep and respectful relationships awaken to life that seems to be coming apart? Are there divisions in your family, in your community, in our political and social life? I suspect you are nodding your head. And you are not alone! But when you may be ready to give up, to write off this whole project of human discourse, congregational life, and family relationships, Paul reminds us that the stitching together of that which seems torn is God’s work through you and me and this congregation! May it be so.

Prayer
Your grace, your trust, and your power to heal and hold us through stormy patches, O God, is a blessed assurance! Thank you! Amen.

Written by Lucy Forster-Smith, Senior Associate Pastor for Leadership Development and Adult Education

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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