Corinthians (1)
to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: 1 Corinthians 1:2
Church – We all know about the Corinthians. They were a mess. Internal factions. Sexual issues. Gender complaints. Difficulties with Torah observance. Accommodations with idolatry. When Paul wrote to these “saints,” there were a lot of ungodly behaviors within the community. If their actions weren’t so familiar, we might even suggest that they weren’t really a church at all. But when we look around, we find most of the same behaviors among our own versions of church. So what Paul says to these people is probably good for us too. And Paul starts by calling them a church.
The Greek is ekklesia, but Paul isn’t thinking about the Greek meaning of ekklesia. Some years ago we examined the relationship between ekklesia and qahal, one of the Hebrew words for “assembly.” What we discovered is that Paul is writing to a synagogue; a synagogue that is now filling up with pagan converts and Messianic Jews. Conflict was inevitable. Perhaps that’s the opening lesson about assemblies. Not everyone agrees. But Paul is not concerned with disagreement. Disagreement is healthy. In fact, it is the centerpiece of the Jewish education in Torah. Paul is concerned with destructive behavior, not discussion over words. We must be tolerant of disputes over the nuances of interpretation, but we must be intolerant of actions that threaten communal unity. Just like Torah has a hierarchy of values, so does community. And one of the highest values is reflection of the character of God in the lives of the members.
We learn something else from Paul’s designation that this motley crew of believers is still a qahal. What two factors make them a qahal? The first is that they assemble to worship the King. This is the human component, manifest in action. But the second factor is that they have been called. In fact, according to Paul, they have all been called, even the ones who are now causing so much dissention. This is also an important lesson about the “church.” Somehow or other, God had a hand in everyone who shows up. That’s incredibly important. If God weren’t behind the scenes, calling the ones who arrive, then we would certainly throw the rebels out. But God is behind the scenes, so we must proceed with great caution and compassion, which is exactly what Paul does. He isn’t “tolerant” of destructive behavior, but he never forgets that he is dealing with God’s chosen.
There are more implications about ekklesia as qahal. How does your conception of church change if you realize Paul dealt almost exclusively with synagogues. Jews and Gentiles mixed together did not pursue a multi-cultural objectives. The only goal was conforming to the Word of God, the Tanakh. But maybe these two lessons from the word “church” need to come first. Conflict and compassion go hand in hand.
Topical Index: church, ekklesia, qahal, 1 Corinthians 1:2
Can there be any more revolutionary idea that after centuries and centuries of all-pervasive innvented human tradition, it turns out that there is no “church” or “christians” in the Bible?!!!
Also, when one considers most people’s ideas about “Jesus” (whom they perceive as the torah-abolishing founder of christianity) compared to the reality of who He really is – the Torah made flesh Yeshua HaMashiach who is coming back not as the for the church but as the deliverer of the people, nation and land of Israel (including those, like me, grafted in through faith in Him) to reign from Yerushalyim for a thousand years with Torah going forth to the nations then one could even argue that an even bigger revolutionary idea is that not only is there no “church” or “christianity” but also no “Jesus” either.
This is dynamite and not everyone can handle it. For those who can, it is deep joy as one more clearly sees YHWH the Elohim of Israel and Yeshua the King of Israel and really understands where being saved connects one to (into Israel, not church) and what is required of one (Torah written on the heart through the new covenant with Israel and Judah through Yeshua’s blood).
Bless YHWH for the restoration of truth (fact and reality) in our day and Shabbat Shalom y’all from England!
Shalom,
It is good be home again with a chance to get into the “TW”! Barukh YHVH!
Skip … a very nice message. Today we see in many communities an equality between compassion and tolerance. The two are clearly not the same and destructive behavior can not be let into the qahal.
Meaningful for today? Yes indeed! The same problems go on currently within the Messianic communities where both Jew and Gentile fellowship. The friction seems to be unavoidable at times!
Things are indeed a mess as they were in Corinth but the ultimate message of hope that is drawn from this word today is this: “those who come are there because of Yeshua” … bless HIS holy name!
Welcome back, Drew.
Motley crew indeed! -lol! (“Heaven help us” is far more than a “saying!”)
Ah, the church!- the beautiful bride of Christ, the soon-to-be partakers of the marriage supper of the Lamb.
As our gracious pastor once quipped- “I’ve never seen an ugly bride.. however, I have seen a few that just did make it!”..
We are the “few who just did make it.” People don’t miss this. Another confirmation or affirmation of the inspiration of the scripture is the inclusion of every wart,scar and blemish of all of the “chosen ones” of YHWH. Nothing gets “painted over”, this Book exposes everything. Nothing is covered- all is revealed or exposed.
The short version of the “good news”. G-d loves us, “just as we are- warts, scars,dirty diapers, filthy face, etc.” He loves the “all” of us. “Body, soul, mind and spirit, He loves the “all” of us all.
Remember also He not only loves all of us, far more importantly, He loves “each” of us. As Skip has shared, the love of G-d is not “zero-sum” (there’s only so much of the “pie” to go around).
As we go about our day today let us view those around us differently. Those who are in proximity are our “neighbors!” “That guy?” “That woman?” Yes, “that” one. Yeshua died for “that one” as He died for me. I can’t believe you love “that one” LORD… -He does. The question is: -Do I?
“But G-d demonstrates His love for us by the fact that the Messiah died for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5.8)
His open invitation to us? “Whosoever will” let him “Come unto me” Our (right) response to Him?-
Just as I am, without one plea,
but that Thy blood was shed for me,
and that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
sight, riches, healing of the mind,
yea, all I need in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
hath broken every barrier down;
now, to be Thine, yea Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
When we “see” the congruency of the entire counsel of the LORD, we “see” the power of God at work in us. It takes the might and strength of the I AM to turn the wild into the wise. We are a mess without the message of Torah. Just think of it…all these years, people have been “going to” church as many as 3 times per week (more during “revivals” and know as much about the Words of Life as they do rocket science. Just like the Pharisees who actually knew the Scriptures verbatim but did not understand it. I tell you folks, this blows my mind to think He was longsuffering/patient with me, the mess of messes, so to speak. And still, after many years, to this day I ask: “Why me LORD? I thank you for giving me eyes to see and ears to hear. I THOUGHT I knew and understood what I was being taught. I understand so much of your Word differently now than I did some time ago and yet you waited patiently for me while you were working inside.” We have gone from Hebrew to Greek to King James to NASB, NIV, NCV, NLT,… and yet He still calls us out to follow Him. I am awestruck at the moment just thinking about this. This is HUGE…the truly awesome YHVH!
“. Just think of it…all these years, people have been “going to” church as many as 3 times per week (more during “revivals” and know as much about the Words of Life as they do rocket science.”
Wow! So true! I was a missionary kid and realized I “knew” a lot of stuff but didn’t know how to apply it in my life… and now I come to find out that I knew even less that I realized (which is why I didn’t know how to apply it since I was missing more than half the picture)!
Mary, I too am thankful YHWH seems to specialize in transforming a “mess” into a message!
I would like to speak to the condition of the “church”. First things first- don’t “diss” the church!- (Why?)- because “it” (excuse me) “we” are the (future) bride of Christ. There is yet to be the “marriage supper of the Lamb”. I can’t fill in all the details, but I can say this, – “don’t miss it, it’s gonna be good!”
Yeshua loves His bride. He gave His life for her. Now don’t be messin’ with the bride. You want to get on my “wrong” side- try messin’ with my beloved. You and I are fixin’ (we say fixin’ here in the South) to tangle. Is my wife perfect? (Is yours?) Am I perfect? Are you? Hello? – In my limited understanding, there is only one perfect person who ever lived. (helpful household hint.. -it ain’t me!) -I hope you’re not too shocked by this..
Let us view these verses again, (Ephesians 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; (26) that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
G-d is on a mission. We know this. G-d is not “random.” He is “purposeful” in every detail of life. Our Sovereign Savior. What is G-d doing? What is His mission? What is G-d up to? What is His will? What is His plan? What is His good pleasure? What is His purpose?
To “build a bride for Himself. (That’s us..- that’s you.) If you belong to Him, called by Him and for Him, (for His purposes)- one day, yes, there will come a day, an “event” yet to occur, we will be seated at a banquet feast the likes of which we cannot even begin to imagine.. (I’m looking forward not only to the feast and festivities, but just to have the unlimited “time” to enjoy all this will be wonderful. As the song says- “what a day that will be!”
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3.20,21)
“Are not the Church in their present state a standing, public,
perpetual denial of the gospel? Do they not stand out before the
world, as a living, unanswerable contradiction of the gospel; and do
more to harden sinners and lead them into a spirit of caviling and
infidelity, than all the efforts of professed infidels from the
beginning of the world to the present day?”
“A revival of real praying would produce a spiritual revolution.”
-E.M. Bounds
I found this to be quite an interesting quote, in light of this TW post.
Interestingly it was the contradictions I saw in the teachings of the Church that drew me to read here. I think the first post (or one of them) that I wrote here was asking questions about all these contradictions… and Skip told me to keep reading and I’d figure out the answer! I look back now and laugh about how right he was… Lots of answers, and lots more questions (of a different nature).
Ditto here, Amanda. I just had a discussion w/ a good pastor/friend who is so disgruntled with his “church”. This is an ongoing issue with many today. The LORD is cleaning up, and giving us the desires of the heart He has given us. It kinda reminds me of life BC (before Christ) and AD (after death-of self), when I was being drawn to the truth, yet I could not see it at the time or quite put my finger on it but knew He was up to something quite unique from the norm. This community is a big part of this and I am so thankful for it.