Can we all agree that sometimes church life can get messy? People don’t always act according to what they say they believe. If you’ve ever gone through a season where there was a sharp, contentious divide in your Christian community, you’re not alone. The first century Christians of Corinth would have understood.
The church in Corinth had all kinds of problems. There were factions fighting with each other, blatant immorality, and a lack of love. Here was a church of gifted believers, but many only cared about their own rights and privileges. Paul sends them a strongly worded letter to try and help them get back on track.
Like the Christians who James addresses in the passage we read yesterday, the believers in Corinth were favoring the wealthy at the expense of the poor. Let’s see what Paul has to say about that.
Read
1 Corinthians 11:17-26 (NIV)
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19cNo doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
How was the Corinthian church abusing the Lord’s Supper?
Reflect
Jesus died to bring lost sinners home. He formed a covenant with us in his blood. By his broken body we find redemption from our slavery to sin and acceptance into the people of God. To remember his sacrifice and recognize our participation in it by observing the Lord’s Supper is a sacred thing. It reminds us not only of what our Savior did for us, but who we are to our Savior. We are his beloved people — each one of us a sinner saved by grace with no reason to boast. Every person is loved enough that Jesus died for them, but also sinful enough that he needed to. How we treat one another should reflect this reality.
In their actions toward the poor at these meals, the Corinthians were acting just like their surrounding culture. Slaves and the poor were casually disregarded. Their lot in life was thought to be an act of fate, and ultimately they were getting what they deserved. But that’s not how people who follow Jesus are to see others. Redeemed slaves have every reason to be grateful and no reason to be proud. Yet the Corinthian church loved their factions. Many scholars think Paul is either being bitingly ironic or quoting a common slogan when he writes, “No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.” In other words, no there don’t.
In our modern world, we still struggle with class differences. How often do you see wealthy people and the homeless gathered around a table? Have you ever seen it? These two groups often move in parallel universes in the same neighborhoods in cities across America. Yet the rich often avert their eyes and pretend the destitute don’t exist, even as they pass by them on the street.
Yet the barriers that divide people extend beyond wealth to factors such as race and ethnicity. In recent times White Americans have been called out for their perceived indifference to and even complicity with unfair treatment of other races and ethnicities. How can there be racial reconciliation if the majority culture fails to hear and address the concerns of those in the minority?
We’re also even seeing an increasing divide based on political preference. In 1960, about 5 percent of Americans said they would be upset if their child married someone from a different political party; in 2010, about 40 percent did (Republicans about 50 percent, Democrats about 30 percent).[1] I wonder if that percentage would be even higher today. The level of disdain that people have for each other based on politics is alarming.
In a country that’s divided into so many factions, the church can show a different way. We can help alleviate the suffering of those in need. We can celebrate diversity while unifying around Christ’s table. We can uphold the dignity and worth of all people and strive to see them from God’s perspective, not just our own. When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and all that Jesus has done for us, we can remember that we are celebrating God’s open table.
[1] https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/09/really-would-you-let-your-daughter-marry-a-democrat/262959/
Respond
If our vision as a church is to reduce loneliness, anxiety and addiction by having meaningful conversations where people experience Christ through us, then we can start by confronting our own biases. Who is it hard to imagine sitting down at your table? Pray about your answer.
