Tom writes:

After being re-founded by Julius Caesar 100 years before Paul visited, Corinth had bustled and flourished into the preeminent city in all of Greece. It was “where it’s at, man”. And the church - like most churches - mirrored both the good and the bad of the culture in which it was planted. It was growing through baptisms, was bustling with experiences of the Spirit and was rich in speech and knowledge. But it was also proud, selfish and had lost sight of the big story. The church thought they were “where it’s at, man”. And that’s a big problem. So Paul, through gritted teeth (I’m not angry… I’m just disappointed), pens this letter to show them the most excellent way. Right from the start we see his correction coming into sight. He mentions God or Lord 15 times in the first 9 verses. And then he riffs hard on the foolishness and weakness of him and his mates. In doing so Paul sets up a comparison between the calling, empowering, wise and strong God and... everyone else. Even a self-obsessed Corinthian couldn’t fail to get that point. It is not about us. We may be smarter and slicker than the church down the street. We might be more righteous than the unsaved sinners around us. But all of us are dumb and weak and grubby compared to the God who called us.

I wonder if we really do believe that? I feel that my vision of God is still so woefully small. If even the most impressive saint compared to God is like a candle compared to the sun then why am I so obsessed with the candle? Why am I (to my shame) still so prone to competing with or copying other Christians? Why don’t I compare myself to God more, copy him more, even “compete” with him more? I have no real explanation… except for my pride; I must still think we are “where it’s at, man”. In this letter Paul will lead us and the Corinthians to the pattern of life that Jesus lived. Paul has already described Jesus as the one we are called into fellowship with. On this ship of faith the central “fellow” is Jesus. And, as we wait for his revealing, we look to him, boast about him, serve like him and love like him. We copy the pattern of the cross. We become happy to be thought of as scum if it enables others to know God’s power. We become happy to be thought of as foolish if it shows the love of God. O Jesus, become bigger in our eyes in this book.

Question for reflection

How could you think about God more, and yourself less?

1 Corinthians 1 - Thursday 16th May