Days 280 & 281: 1 Corinthians 1-8

I read today that the famously militant atheist Christopher Hitchens has died. I thought of him as I read this passage:

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

Hitchens was certainly an intelligent man...and he certainly wanted to make sure you knew that. He seemed to take particular delight in doing whatever he could to make believers look stupid. I think he assumed they were stupid simply because they were believers. "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise."

This passage also makes me think about our "celebrity" culture. We get all excited when a famous person is known as a Christian...and has a life that is consistent with his/her profession of faith. Tim Tebow comes to mind right now. We have this feeling that because this person is a celebrity and is a mover and a shaker and has a real influence on our society that it will increase the spread of the gospel. Don't get me wrong, I love to see celebrities known for their faith but "God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." That's really how the gospel is spread.

This passage also makes me think about how we "do church". Hazard of the profession, I guess. I've always believed the church should do things with excellence...still do. However, I think we need to be careful here. I'm afraid that if our motivation is to try to give people an "experience" in church that competes on the same level as the entertainment industry that we miss the point. The point is not to give people a "production" that is so professionally done that people would rather come to church on Sunday than go see a Broadway show or a Hollywood movie or an a-list concert performer. The point is to be the church...to introduce people to a community of people marked by love for God and for one another. When we "do church" we should do the absolute best that we can, with the talent and resources that God provides, knowing that "God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."

Unity seems to be a big theme of 1 Corinthians, as it was in Jesus' prayer in John 17. We will often hear someone refer to the idea that the "body is a temple" to motivate them to healthy living. Notice what Paul does here...

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, emphasis mine)

There are two other verses that I think are worth meditating on today. I quote them here without comment:

My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. (1 Corinthians 4:4)

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9)