Majoring in the Minors
Greetings and God's peace be with you as we delve into today’s difficult topic.
The text we have from the apostle Paul today lays the foundation for what will come in the rest of his letter. He begins by marking a distinction between minor frictions and conflicts in the church which can be remedied by loving one another, and true divisions which must result in a church dividing.
First read the text!
Now in giving this instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. Indeed, it is necessary that there be factions among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you. When you come together, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For at the meal, each one eats his own supper. So one person is hungry while another gets drunk! Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you in this matter!
1 Corinthians 11:17-22
As we have noted before, Paul is writing in response to a letter he has received from the Church of Corinth. They have asked for his direction concerning issues they are facing as a congregation. Some of the issues would fall into the area of minor conflicts. But Paul states there are “factions” which will cause full and complete separation. He is preparing to address those in the words which will follow our text today.
The difference is seen in the meanings of the two words Paul uses, divisions and factions. I will be the first to say that the English does not do justice to the meaning of the text. The Greek word behind divisions is the word schism. The Greek word behind the English word factions is the word heresy. They are in no way comparable. Here is a simple definition.
By definition and meaning, the difference between heresy and schism is that heresy is a doctrine held by a member which is at variance with established accepted beliefs, especially dissension concerning the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. A schism is a formal division or split within the body of the church.
Paul is about to move into areas where he confronts the heresy being taught in the church. But today's text deals with schisms in the body, those things which are dividing the members but are not doctrinal issues. We have all seen churches get sideways for a lot of reasons, but generally speaking when there is a schism, if we would allow love to prevail in the way we treat one another most obstacles could be overcome.
The issue at stake in our text today is the way the members of the church are treating one another. The easiest way we can understand this is that there were the “haves” and the “have nots.” The Church of the 1st century was a mixed body of people who had been brought together around the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In a wealthy city like Corinth, there were those who because of their great wealth lived lives of extravagance. This would include many servants/slaves who took care of their every need but who also were brought into the Christian faith.
There were of course many members of the church who were common middle class type people who did not own slaves but were present in worship. And there were slaves whose masters were not Christians but who themselves had come to faith, and who worshipped when they had the opportunity.
So, what you have in the Church of Corinth are those who gathered for worship and spent the day together, while others came when they could, to experience part of the worship taking place. These servants or slaves must do their master's bidding before they had the freedom to come to worship.
Another aspect of the culture which we do not readily understand is that because worship was an all day affair, they basically had a Sunday potluck every week. People would come bringing food for themselves and to share. They would spend the day in fellowship, worship, and prayer. It was the custom that from all the food which was brought, a portion would be taken from the bread and the wine to use and celebration of the Lord's supper.
What we see taking place is that those who were well to do gorged themselves on food and wine, while those who came later receive the scraps of what was left over, if anything. In many cases there was not even enough left for those who came late to receive the Lord's supper.
So, what do we have taking place? There are those in the church who, because of their status in society, are inconsiderate of those who are in the church who are not like they are. How many times have we seen this play itself out in a congregation in our world today. We think because of who we are and what we have accomplished in this world that we are something, while others are less than us and nothing. Oh, how far we have fallen from the understanding that we are all beggars at the foot of the cross.
Paul makes a very bold statement which we would do well to spend some time meditating on. He says, When you come together, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. What is the purpose of worship? Is it not to celebrate Jesus and receive the gifts He gives to us of forgiveness and life? And what greater gift can He give to us than Himself which He declares to be exactly what He's doing in the Lord's Supper when He tells us to take and eat for this is His body and blood.
Paul then admonishes his readers with the words For at the meal, each one eats his own supper. So one person is hungry while another gets drunk! Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? When he says they are humiliating those who have nothing he is indicating exactly how far their loveless attitudes have taken them.
So, with regard to this text, this is not a doctrinal issue, but a relationship issue. And what is the answer to this division within the body? Love one another and place the needs of others ahead of your own. Humble yourself and seek to exalt others and not yourself. Jesus died for the wealthy as well As for the poor and we stand equal before him. Let that be the focus of your relationships with one another in the Kingdom of God.
We're about to delve into some more difficult topics in the weeks to come, so hold on and pray that God will guide us.
Pastor Russ
The text we have from the apostle Paul today lays the foundation for what will come in the rest of his letter. He begins by marking a distinction between minor frictions and conflicts in the church which can be remedied by loving one another, and true divisions which must result in a church dividing.
First read the text!
Now in giving this instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. Indeed, it is necessary that there be factions among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you. When you come together, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For at the meal, each one eats his own supper. So one person is hungry while another gets drunk! Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you in this matter!
1 Corinthians 11:17-22
As we have noted before, Paul is writing in response to a letter he has received from the Church of Corinth. They have asked for his direction concerning issues they are facing as a congregation. Some of the issues would fall into the area of minor conflicts. But Paul states there are “factions” which will cause full and complete separation. He is preparing to address those in the words which will follow our text today.
The difference is seen in the meanings of the two words Paul uses, divisions and factions. I will be the first to say that the English does not do justice to the meaning of the text. The Greek word behind divisions is the word schism. The Greek word behind the English word factions is the word heresy. They are in no way comparable. Here is a simple definition.
By definition and meaning, the difference between heresy and schism is that heresy is a doctrine held by a member which is at variance with established accepted beliefs, especially dissension concerning the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. A schism is a formal division or split within the body of the church.
Paul is about to move into areas where he confronts the heresy being taught in the church. But today's text deals with schisms in the body, those things which are dividing the members but are not doctrinal issues. We have all seen churches get sideways for a lot of reasons, but generally speaking when there is a schism, if we would allow love to prevail in the way we treat one another most obstacles could be overcome.
The issue at stake in our text today is the way the members of the church are treating one another. The easiest way we can understand this is that there were the “haves” and the “have nots.” The Church of the 1st century was a mixed body of people who had been brought together around the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In a wealthy city like Corinth, there were those who because of their great wealth lived lives of extravagance. This would include many servants/slaves who took care of their every need but who also were brought into the Christian faith.
There were of course many members of the church who were common middle class type people who did not own slaves but were present in worship. And there were slaves whose masters were not Christians but who themselves had come to faith, and who worshipped when they had the opportunity.
So, what you have in the Church of Corinth are those who gathered for worship and spent the day together, while others came when they could, to experience part of the worship taking place. These servants or slaves must do their master's bidding before they had the freedom to come to worship.
Another aspect of the culture which we do not readily understand is that because worship was an all day affair, they basically had a Sunday potluck every week. People would come bringing food for themselves and to share. They would spend the day in fellowship, worship, and prayer. It was the custom that from all the food which was brought, a portion would be taken from the bread and the wine to use and celebration of the Lord's supper.
What we see taking place is that those who were well to do gorged themselves on food and wine, while those who came later receive the scraps of what was left over, if anything. In many cases there was not even enough left for those who came late to receive the Lord's supper.
So, what do we have taking place? There are those in the church who, because of their status in society, are inconsiderate of those who are in the church who are not like they are. How many times have we seen this play itself out in a congregation in our world today. We think because of who we are and what we have accomplished in this world that we are something, while others are less than us and nothing. Oh, how far we have fallen from the understanding that we are all beggars at the foot of the cross.
Paul makes a very bold statement which we would do well to spend some time meditating on. He says, When you come together, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. What is the purpose of worship? Is it not to celebrate Jesus and receive the gifts He gives to us of forgiveness and life? And what greater gift can He give to us than Himself which He declares to be exactly what He's doing in the Lord's Supper when He tells us to take and eat for this is His body and blood.
Paul then admonishes his readers with the words For at the meal, each one eats his own supper. So one person is hungry while another gets drunk! Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? When he says they are humiliating those who have nothing he is indicating exactly how far their loveless attitudes have taken them.
So, with regard to this text, this is not a doctrinal issue, but a relationship issue. And what is the answer to this division within the body? Love one another and place the needs of others ahead of your own. Humble yourself and seek to exalt others and not yourself. Jesus died for the wealthy as well As for the poor and we stand equal before him. Let that be the focus of your relationships with one another in the Kingdom of God.
We're about to delve into some more difficult topics in the weeks to come, so hold on and pray that God will guide us.
Pastor Russ
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