Paul just opened up both barrels on the Church. Here’s what he said:
There are at least 4 “hot button” topics that Paul talks about in this passage. I think every single one of them is an issue in the world today, and they have crept back into the church…or maybe they never left. Anyway, here they are:
1. Lawsuits. Paul is saying that the Church is one body, and each member belongs to all the others. It’s ridiculous to think that you could sue your own arm, because it put something in your mouth that your stomach didn’t want. It’s the same for the church. If there are disagreements, we go to wise and mature leaders within the church. They offer insight and guidance that overflows from the Holy Spirit. The secular judge, even though he carries degrees, cannot offer the same. In fact, in our society what God wants to happen is sometimes considered unfair or even illegal by the secular judge.
When we employ the services of a secular authority to bring clarity within the church, we destroy the unity that the church stands for. Paul is saying “you may get your own way, but in the process you are destroying the entire ministry of this part of the body. Wouldn’t it be better to be wronged, and allow the body to continue to be effective?” God is able to bless you when you sacrifice for the greater good. He won’t allow you to be left without inheritance.
2. Sexual sin. Living with someone (intimately) before you are married is popular these days. But it’s still wrong. I can think of several reasons that people offer for living together that make perfect sense to me…but it’s still wrong. There has to be another way, if we want to honor Jesus. Under the same heading is having sex outside of marriage. This will stun the younger generation: God wants you to be in a monogamous, marriage relationship before you engage in sex. This isn’t because God is a prude, but because He designed your mind and body to work in a certain way… and when you operate out of order, you decrease your efficiency, your happiness and your satisfaction. There will be those who deny this to be true, but the Bible assures us that sex after marriage brings greater satisfaction and contentment, and social stability. When society casts off these values, it begins to spiral downward.
3. Homosexuality. It really is a sexual sin, but it has sort of taken on a life of it’s own recently. The popular thought these days is that some people are really “female” spirits trapped inside “male” bodies. Let’s take a look at that. In heaven we are told that we will not get married or have spouses. The original intent for sex was two fold: to procreate and bring pleasure. In heaven there will be no need for procreation, and all of pleasure will be received from being in the presence of God. The things that bring great pleasure and satisfaction today will be unworthy of such honor in heaven. You see someone today who looks beautiful, and it is pleasing to look at them…in heaven they will be many more times beautiful, and you wouldn’t want to see them the way they looked on earth. All of this to say that we won’t be engaging in sex in heaven, I think it’s because we will have left the lower animal natures of our identities as “male and female” behind. We will be more than what we are here on earth. Therefore, to say that your spirit is somehow reversed, and has different desires than your sexual organs doesn’t ring true. Your spirit isn’t driving these urges, because your spirit is more than “male or female”, it isn’t motivated by such base actions. The desire must come from somewhere else, and since that’s the case, it must be from our original, carnal nature. I’m not denying the urge, or the reality of it…but Paul is very clear here. Homosexuality is who you WERE, and now that your are in a relationship with Jesus…now that your body is spiritually connected to His own…you are different. I believe that the Holy Spirit doesn’t want us to remain as we were. You are new in Christ, strive to be more. It will be hard to sit in judgment of angels when such elemental sins were overlooked in our own bodies.
4. I list “drunkenness” as a symbol for all other sins that bring pleasure to self. Sexual sins are in a league of their own, these sins are just as compelling, and just as destructive, but they are identified separately. Greed, gluttony, cheating, lying and being abusive are the few that are mentioned. There are more, but these serve to state the case. At the center of every one of these sins is “self”. Every evil deed listed in this chapter can be removed from our lives when we defeat “self”.
Our “self” cannot be defeated without the help of the Holy Spirit. The powers beyond this world are too much for us, and we cannot resist alone. One lie the devil tells you is that you can “do it yourself, and you don’t need anyone else”. he whispers this to keep you isolated, and more vulnerable. The truth is, you need the Church and the community of believers to surround you and keep you faithful. You need the Holy Spirit to live in you and fill you with His power so that you will remain holy and become more holy. You need to be transformed, and your “self” needs to be removed from the throne in your life. And only Jesus can do this, through the Holy Spirit.
Paul has given the church in Corinth much to think about. He has set the bar of holy living high, as it should be. And he makes no apologies for doing so. Nor do I.
In pursuit of holiness,
PR