MARCH 10th, 2024 PASTOR DON PIEPER
The Corinthian Complex 1 Corinthians 9:1-6,11-12; 19-27
“PAUL'S CREDENTIALS & PRINCIPALS ”
1 Corinthians is a letter the apostle Paul wrote in response to a number of questions that they've asked him, but here in chapter nine, Paul responds to those questioning him. “Am I not an apostle?” he rhetorically asks. “This is my answer to those who question my authority...” (1 Corinthians 9:1,3)
Ever have anyone question yours? Anyone ever parent a teenager? Bingo! There's a film in which King Arthur is so challenged. Growing impatient with some peasants along the way he orders them to be quiet, to which one of them asks, “Order, eh? Who does he think he is?”
“I am your king?” Arthur asserts. “Well, I didn't vote for you,” she responds.
Arthur responds: “You don't vote for kings. The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest, shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosum of the water signifying by Divine Providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. That is why I am your king.” (pause)
'Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses not from some silly, aquatic ceremony!'
Actually, that muddy peasant has a point. Certainly, divine apostolic authority is not derived from some strange, pagan, aquatic ceremony. It comes by a person being called by God's Son. So it is that Paul re-establishes his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ based on three criteria.
One, he was called in person by Jesus himself. Two, their faith, and their church, exists as a result of his efforts, as led by the Holy Spirit. And three, like Jesus, he gave up his rights in so doing.
So first, they can be confident of his apostolic authority because it came directly from Jesus himself. “Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes?” (1 Corinthians 1:1)
Here he revisits how, having been confronted by Jesus in person on the way to Damascus, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and told, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.” (Acts 22:14-15)
As he testified in Ephesus: “My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News of God's grace.” (Acts 20:24)
Second, their faith in Jesus, is further testimony to his credentials as an apostle of Christ. As he asks, “Isn't it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? Even if others think I am not an apostle..., you yourselves are proof that I am the Lord's apostle.” (1 Corinthians 9:1-2)
He's reminding them of the incredible circumstances that their church exists at all, in such a stronghold of Roman paganism, evidence alone that he was sent to them by Jesus. Look around you and within you, he's saying, you are living proof of my claim to be an apostle of Jesus!
And third, he reminds them of the way he gave up his rights to live in their homes, eat their meals, travel with a wife or be paid for his efforts as further evidence of his apostolic credentials. It echoes the actions of Jesus himself, who “gave up his divine privileges and came as a servant to all.” (Philippians 2:7)
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And Paul, for his part, mirrors that calling as an apostle: “Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.” (1 Corinthians 9:19)
By the way, he offers here a fascinating historical footnote: “Don't we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers do, or as Cephas (Peter) does?”
(1 Corinthians 9:5)
Apparently, the apostles' wives, including Peter's wife, regularly ministered..., further evidence of the critical, primary role, that women played as movers, shakers and leaders in the early church!
And so, having confirmed his apostolic authority, Paul presents his apostolic principals – the means by which he effectively fulfilled his calling as one sent by Jesus to show and tell others about the saving work of God through the person, ministry and Spirit of Jesus Christ. He writes this, not only as affirmation of this third evidence of his credentials, but to model for them/us to imitate.
Are you ready? Here's principal # 1: Find common ground with those you contact.
Paul puts it like this: “When I am with the Jews, I live like a Jew to bring them to Christ.... When I am with the Gentiles, I live as they do to bring them to Christ. When I am with those who're weak, I share their weakness in order to bring them to Christ. I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do whatever it takes to spread the Good News.” (1 Corinthians 9:20-23)
I remember well sitting in on a conversation a peer of mine had with a mutual friend who was a non-practicing Jew, by the name of Clark. Clark loved to laugh and the conversation began with a lot of laughter. Clark told a joke at one point about three people at the pearly gates. After we all laughed, my friend asked Clark if he believed that's where life led, to an encounter with God after death. Clark affirmed he did. Knowing that Clark was part of the theatre group my friend quoted Shakespeare..., and asked Clark where on the stage of life he felt he was. Before I knew it my friend was talking about Jesus to Clark. Clark didn't convert that evening but he did consider anew the gospel of Jesus Christ, that by his own admission, he had long ago discounted. A seed had been planted.
It all began by my friend seeking common ground. In the words of one of my literary mentors, John Burke: “Paul was a visionary church-starting entrepreneur, who sacrificed dearly to dive into the mess of a culture foreign to him. Sadly, today we're at risk of just 'playing church' in which many seek to consume the goods off whichever church shelf will “feed me” or “puff me up with more knowledge.
But we can't afford to stand on the cliffs high above the cultural mudslide, chastising people for not climbing out of the mess to come up to higher ground. No, it's time that we, tethered to the Spirit of God and a community of faith, gather up courage and plunge into the swirling mess of the cultural flow. Just as Paul did in Corinth, we must try to find common ground with everyone so that we might bring some to Christ, who dove into the sewer of life himself in order to save those drowning.” (John Burke)
So again, Paul's Principal # 1 is: Find common ground with those you contact.
And Principal # 2: Avoid a know-it-all attitude and embody Christ's acceptance.
As Paul put it in chapter 8: “Knowledge puffs up but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much. Be wary then of your “superior knowledge”. (1 Corinthians 8:1-2, 11)
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Humility is such a key quality for those who want to make an impact for Christ. Nothing is more off-putting to those who as yet do not follow or even believe in Jesus then “Christians” who come off as if they've got it all figured out and never struggle. One of the things we tell those who serve as team members on Alpha is that at the beginning of the course, it's more important to share one's struggles or failures in life and faith than, your successes or profound God changing moments.
When Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman at the well, he didn't judge or condemn her for the fact that she'd been in and out of numerous sexual relationships and was even now, living in sin. It was actually the fact that he didn't do that, that opened her soul to the living water he offered her.
So it was for Tia. She'd been invited to a women's small group at a friend's house. She listened intently as others opened their hearts about personal struggles with dark lies. Lisa, not yet a Christian, shared of the pain of rejection caused by her ex-husband's affair. Christy shared how God's truth in Christ led her to a liberating freedom from approval addiction. In the weeks that followed, Tia's mind slowly began to wrap around God's grace as experienced by women risking transparency only to find acceptance and love and support from others on a journey towards who God intended them to be.
Eventually, Tia cut off her bisexual relationship as she found increasing hope for healing. One night as Jaime recounted the release from shame she'd experienced from being molested in her youth, knowing that God had not rejected her, Tia found herself yearning for the embrace of the same Savior.
Pushing down the lump in her throat, Tia began to tell her story. She, too, had been grievously hurt and had bought into lies about her person and about God. That night began a healing work in her heart as she experienced Jesus loving her, accepting her, comforting her, grieving the evil done to her, speaking words of affirmation and truth he intended her to hear long ago, now voiced thru his Body...
Creating a culture where people are free to be themselves, warts and all, is the soil in which the Holy Spirit brings healing and growth. For this to happen, unfiltered acceptance must come first. It's why we have here at Redeemer long held a vision for creating a come as you are culture, in the hopes that we all, no matter what our background, or perceived 'superior knowledge', may not stay the same.
So first, find common ground. Second, embody Christ's acceptance. Third, practice patience as you witness... It's significant that Paul ends this chapter with the familiar metaphor of running a race. It was common ground for his Corinthian audience as the Isthmian Games, which were held every other year in Corinth, were second only to the Olympics in terms of their popularity and prestige.
The main event at these games was the marathon, a race of patience and endurance. Athletes were required to train for a year in advance. To win, one had to enter with a spirit of perseverance. So it is in the race of faith, particularly as we seek to help others win the prize as well.
As Paul puts it: “Athletes train in order to win a prize that will fade away, (a wreath made of greens that quickly decayed), but we do it for an eternal prize. So run with purpose in every step!” (1 Corinthians 9:25-26)
In this way, Paul reminds us that a person's eternity is at stake – theirs as well as our own. In a time and culture such as ours, when people are not only hostile to the Christian faith, but indifferent to it, we are urged to practice patience as we witness, acknowledging that it will take many of us, working in partnership with each other and the Holy Spirit, to break down the barriers so many have erected in their hearts and minds of the Good News that Jesus brings and embodies.
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Consider the following email Tia later sent to Pastor John following her first time at worship:
“Today, for the first time ever, I felt I'd found a safe place to explore my spirituality where I could be accepted. Thank you! My husband and I have tatoos and piercings and have always felt uncomfortable in traditional churches. You are just what I've been asking for. P.S: I almost used my work email to send this, but then I thought, why use a mask? This is me!”
(from John Burke's book, No Perfect People Allowed)
So First, find common ground. Second, embody Christ's acceptance. Third, practice patience as you witness to Christ, and may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus as you help others pursue an eternal prize! To this end, run with purpose!