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"More Symptoms 2"
FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY
The next Corinthian Church symptom of ungodly thinking and living concerns freedom and responsibility. Even though it is true that Christ sets us free, we must exert extreme caution so that we do not undermine our Christian witness or character. In other words (and this is crucial in our “thinking”), any final decision is no longer based solely upon an outcome that benefits me or gives me pleasure.
This is a key distinction between the carnal human mind/heart and the mind which has been renewed in Christ. The renewed mind of Christ says, “This world is no longer my gigantic personal playground that serves my interests and desires (and mine alone). My goal in this world is NOT to squeeze as much out of it as possible in order to satisfy my self-centered, personal pleasures.”
I have been bought by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. My life is no longer my own. I have freely, willingly, joyfully surrendered it to Christ. I now have the mind/heart/spirit of Christ. I now make godly, righteous decisions that will glorify God and benefit others. When I focus on glorifying God and helping others, then God, in turn, blesses me extravagantly. When I no longer try to be “god,” then I experience contentment and happiness. When I put God and others first, then I feel closer to the heart of God. When I try to follow God’s will instead of my self-centered desires, then I sense a daily transformation occurring within me as I become more like Christ and the person God created me to be.
ABUSE OF LORD’S SUPPER
In the early church of the first century, communion was believed to be celebrated within the context of a full meal often referred to as an “agape” or “love feast.” So it is in this context that Paul scolds the Corinthian church members for their actions. We have to almost laugh at some of these incidents.
Let me provide you with a couple of modern church analogies. Take first, for example, New Life Church which is hosting its annual potluck. Some of the long-standing members realize that only crumbs will be left from several dishes by the end of the line. Therefore they all, for one Sunday, sit at the front of the church so that they will be dismissed first to the potluck. Once in line, they proceed to pile food from the most delicious dishes high on their plates. By the time the last few members arrive in line, there is little food remaining.
In example two, the influential leadership at First Church, most of them well-off financially, advertises the annual church buffet for 1:00 PM. However, they all secretly decide together to arrive at 12:00 PM in order to eat and drink their fill. Although they are all prosperous, there are several members of the church who have precariously little sustenance day by day. As a result, they were enthusiastic about the upcoming church meal. They actually needed a good, healthy meal. Yet, by the time they arrive at 1:00 PM, there is little food remaining for them.
Now, this is similar to the situation at the Corinthian Church Communion Service and Love Feast. Some were arriving early in order to eat their fill and left little for others. But the situation was actually worse than that. Others were indulging themselves with the communion wine, and not just a sip. “For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk (I Corinthians 11:21, NLT).”
I hope you are beginning to see how their one overarching symptom of carnal mindedness (being “puffed up” or self-centered) manifested itself in a variety of ways. Here we see how it even infiltrated the worship practices of the church. This contamination of pure worship of the Lord continues in chapters twelve and fourteen.
ABUSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Another part of that contamination of their worship practices due to carnal minds and hearts was found in the manifestation of spiritual gifts. It is true that the Corinthian Church was blessed abundantly with special gifts from the Lord. However, due to their pride and self-conceit, they were not using their spiritual gifts for the glory of God. Instead, they were squabbling with one another and trying to elevate certain gifts above others in importance. In other words, they were establishing a type of hierarchy of gifts and talents and callings. Of course, each one was magnifying their own particular talents or gifts so that they would be revered above the others.
Again, this is one example of how the level of our individual Spiritual maturity either contributes to the strength of our church or diminishes our effectiveness. Which role would you say you play? When all of us gather together in Christ’s name at Trinity Church, we combine to be one “body of Christ.” Do you think Trinity Church (as one whole) is a “spiritually-minded” church? Do we have the mind of Christ? How are you contributing to its spiritual strength?
DOCTRINAL ERROR
Finally, Paul proceeds to one final symptom of a worldly, unspiritual mind or heart – doctrinal error. In Chapter fifteen Paul addresses their stinkin’ thinkin’ as it pertains to the resurrection of the dead. Some in the church were denying entirely the possibility of any resurrection.
Anytime an individual Christian or a local church denies the foundational truths of Christianity, an unspiritual mind/heart is at the root of the error. As with every symptom there are those who simply do not possess the mind of Christ. They do not understand the things of God, whether it is due to a rebellious nature or simply due to the fact that they are immature believers.
It is definitely a false modern assumption to believe that there are no spiritual truths that must be accepted in order to be “legitimate” follower of Christ. For example, can someone deny that Jesus ever existed and still be considered a “good” Christian? How can a person be a Christian, a follower of Christ, when he or she does not believe in the Christ of the Bible? The only Christ that has been revealed to us is the Christ of the Holy Scriptures. There is no other Christ!
The next Corinthian Church symptom of ungodly thinking and living concerns freedom and responsibility. Even though it is true that Christ sets us free, we must exert extreme caution so that we do not undermine our Christian witness or character. In other words (and this is crucial in our “thinking”), any final decision is no longer based solely upon an outcome that benefits me or gives me pleasure.
This is a key distinction between the carnal human mind/heart and the mind which has been renewed in Christ. The renewed mind of Christ says, “This world is no longer my gigantic personal playground that serves my interests and desires (and mine alone). My goal in this world is NOT to squeeze as much out of it as possible in order to satisfy my self-centered, personal pleasures.”
I have been bought by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. My life is no longer my own. I have freely, willingly, joyfully surrendered it to Christ. I now have the mind/heart/spirit of Christ. I now make godly, righteous decisions that will glorify God and benefit others. When I focus on glorifying God and helping others, then God, in turn, blesses me extravagantly. When I no longer try to be “god,” then I experience contentment and happiness. When I put God and others first, then I feel closer to the heart of God. When I try to follow God’s will instead of my self-centered desires, then I sense a daily transformation occurring within me as I become more like Christ and the person God created me to be.
ABUSE OF LORD’S SUPPER
In the early church of the first century, communion was believed to be celebrated within the context of a full meal often referred to as an “agape” or “love feast.” So it is in this context that Paul scolds the Corinthian church members for their actions. We have to almost laugh at some of these incidents.
Let me provide you with a couple of modern church analogies. Take first, for example, New Life Church which is hosting its annual potluck. Some of the long-standing members realize that only crumbs will be left from several dishes by the end of the line. Therefore they all, for one Sunday, sit at the front of the church so that they will be dismissed first to the potluck. Once in line, they proceed to pile food from the most delicious dishes high on their plates. By the time the last few members arrive in line, there is little food remaining.
In example two, the influential leadership at First Church, most of them well-off financially, advertises the annual church buffet for 1:00 PM. However, they all secretly decide together to arrive at 12:00 PM in order to eat and drink their fill. Although they are all prosperous, there are several members of the church who have precariously little sustenance day by day. As a result, they were enthusiastic about the upcoming church meal. They actually needed a good, healthy meal. Yet, by the time they arrive at 1:00 PM, there is little food remaining for them.
Now, this is similar to the situation at the Corinthian Church Communion Service and Love Feast. Some were arriving early in order to eat their fill and left little for others. But the situation was actually worse than that. Others were indulging themselves with the communion wine, and not just a sip. “For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk (I Corinthians 11:21, NLT).”
I hope you are beginning to see how their one overarching symptom of carnal mindedness (being “puffed up” or self-centered) manifested itself in a variety of ways. Here we see how it even infiltrated the worship practices of the church. This contamination of pure worship of the Lord continues in chapters twelve and fourteen.
ABUSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Another part of that contamination of their worship practices due to carnal minds and hearts was found in the manifestation of spiritual gifts. It is true that the Corinthian Church was blessed abundantly with special gifts from the Lord. However, due to their pride and self-conceit, they were not using their spiritual gifts for the glory of God. Instead, they were squabbling with one another and trying to elevate certain gifts above others in importance. In other words, they were establishing a type of hierarchy of gifts and talents and callings. Of course, each one was magnifying their own particular talents or gifts so that they would be revered above the others.
Again, this is one example of how the level of our individual Spiritual maturity either contributes to the strength of our church or diminishes our effectiveness. Which role would you say you play? When all of us gather together in Christ’s name at Trinity Church, we combine to be one “body of Christ.” Do you think Trinity Church (as one whole) is a “spiritually-minded” church? Do we have the mind of Christ? How are you contributing to its spiritual strength?
DOCTRINAL ERROR
Finally, Paul proceeds to one final symptom of a worldly, unspiritual mind or heart – doctrinal error. In Chapter fifteen Paul addresses their stinkin’ thinkin’ as it pertains to the resurrection of the dead. Some in the church were denying entirely the possibility of any resurrection.
Anytime an individual Christian or a local church denies the foundational truths of Christianity, an unspiritual mind/heart is at the root of the error. As with every symptom there are those who simply do not possess the mind of Christ. They do not understand the things of God, whether it is due to a rebellious nature or simply due to the fact that they are immature believers.
It is definitely a false modern assumption to believe that there are no spiritual truths that must be accepted in order to be “legitimate” follower of Christ. For example, can someone deny that Jesus ever existed and still be considered a “good” Christian? How can a person be a Christian, a follower of Christ, when he or she does not believe in the Christ of the Bible? The only Christ that has been revealed to us is the Christ of the Holy Scriptures. There is no other Christ!
