No Fancy Recipes

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."

- 1 Corinthians 16:13

Been discouraged about church lately?  Do you feel like it's three steps forward and two steps backward? We've all been there.

It's easy to get lost in the American business mentality of let's build it bigger and better. Healthy church - effective church - successful church....it's simply a matter of finding the right "model" or the right "recipe" and mixing it into the experience of church life.  We forget that church is not a business.  Church is ten times more complicated than any business.  The equilibrium in any church is subject to disruption from a variety of things and, settling things down is often much more complicated than a simple corporate announcement or a stern word from management.  Consequently, getting romantic about what we think church can be versus what it really is can set us up for a free fall into disillusionment, anger, anxiety and a host of other emotions.

But what are we to do?  

Each time I read the Corinthian letters four thoughts come to mind:

1. I am reading an apostle’s response to a dire situation.
     And, he was bringing his “A” game.
2. Considering their short timeline (50 -57 AD), how did they deteriorate in such a short amount of
      time?
3. Did everybody sit still for the reading of this letter?

4. Poor delivery boy! Did he have to do the Q and A after the reading? Not light work in the least. I can
     only imagine the banter that followed!

Paul spent approximately 2 years in Corinth.  I wonder how many lessons he taught?  How many conversations did he have with people, leaders and house churches?  When he taught them the gospel and nurtured them in the same, did he make it clear enough?  Several times he tags a theological reminder with "as you know" or with the question "do you not know?"  He says, "I delivered to you as of first importance..."  Paul taught them the gospel and nurtured them (1 Cor. 4:15-18).  Point?  They knew who they were in Christ and how they were supposed to live.   

Paul visited them on two other occasions and did more teaching and nurturing.  2 Corinthians 13 indicates that he is coming for a third visit which he isn't looking forward to in the least (2 Cor. 12:19-21).  

Interestingly, there is no indication in the letters that the church was evangelistic.  If they were teaching among themselves and behaving as the letters indicate, how in the world did their ministry leaders bring a credible word to the streets? 

Their assemblies were borderline chaotic.  If a guest were to happen in among them he might think they were crazy people (1 Corinthians 14).  Not a great testimony to the gospel.

They were ashamed of the gospel (1 Cor. 1-3) and the teaching of the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15 - too much Plato influence!). 

Some of them possessed miraculous expressions of the Holy Spirit (i.e., healings, tongues, miracles, etc…) The fact that they had the evidence (miracles) of the presence of the Holy Spirit did not convince them to live “in the Spirit…in sanctification" (1 Cor. 3:1-3, 16-17).

The fact that a powerful leader was among them for two years had not change their hearts completely.  A significant number of them had reverted to their pagan ways (2 Cor. 12:19-13:5).  What is more, he reminds them that the signs of a true apostle were worked among them with signs, wonders and mighty works (2 Cor. 12:12).  They witnessed some amazing feats of power from Paul's hands via the Holy Spirit and yet...hmm.

Their current ministry leaders (1 Cor. 16:13-16) were largely disregarded.  They were told to be “nice” to Timothy when he arrived (1 Cor. 4:16ff).  What's that all about?

If Chloe’s people had not tattled who knows what would have become of them (1 Cor. 1:10f.).

There is no "upward trajectory" in the picture.  It isn't romantic by any standard.  And yet, interestingly, Paul does not pull a new rabbit out of his ministry hat.  He does not bring up anything new per se.   He takes their "needs" and wraps theology around them – theology they were taught again and again.  Why?  Because that was his only recourse.  He knew more miracles wouldn’t lead them deeper into spiritual maturity.  Israel proved that.  Jesus called his generation adulterous for seeking miracles every fifteen minutes.  No, he calls them to move more into the realm of the Spirit.  Why?  Because they are the "church of God at Corinth, saints by calling" (1 Cor. 1:1-2).

As you have already guessed the point in all of this isn't simply to rag on the Corinthian church.  Not hardly.  It is an appeal for us to listen between the lines. Their letters provide us with some much needed insight into how we can regain our bearings on the other side disorientation of one kind or another. 

God’s people have always needed theological reflection and the stimulation that comes through theological reflection.  We make a mess of our lives and church in general when we put distance between ourselves and the Word.  It’s an historical fact.  For that reason Paul reacquaints them with how to think about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  And he asks the question at various turns, “You are still interested in that aren’t you?” Their baptism assumes it but doesn’t guarantee it (1 Cor. 10:1-2, 12; 2 Cor. 13:5).  

We need this same discipline in today's church.  We, too, can "lose ourselves" a hundred different ways the moment we stop thinking rightly about who God is and what it means to live together in the Spirit.  We simply think about "doing church" as our primary task instead of thinking about ourselves as the "church of God" and taking our cues from the latter.  When our life together becomes disoriented and governed by our subjective whims, it is easy for us to grow numb, disinterested, angry or discouraged about church.  We shift into "let's push on a button and fix whatever" mode instead of asking the question "who is us?"

We need to read the first 9 verses of First Corinthians.  It's all right there.  Paul invites the Corinthian church out of the trenches of daily life and takes them to 30,000 feet.  "Look at yourselves," he says.  "This is who you really are.  Don't you remember?"  Here is what he says:

  To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints   

  together with all those who in every place call upon 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 was given you in Christ     

 Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the  testimony     about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as  you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the  day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son,  Jesus Christ our Lord.

The first nine verses are sewn into every syllable of 1:10 through the 16:24.  The "health pill" Paul offers them is reflection on and surrender to who they "already are" in Christ.  That was his appeal and hope for them (1 Cor. 16:13).  And, I bet it would do a world of good for us, too.  

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas