DAY 244

DISUNITY AND THE LOG IN MY EYE

Psalm 132, 133 & 134 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

If ever two groups of readings described the exact opposite, Psalms 133 & 134 as compared to this portion of 1 Corinthians 11, certainly do.

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” & “Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord…Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord.” Psalm 133:1 & 134:1a/2a. (The “a” after the numbers is to indicate I am quoting the first “bits” of each verse.)

Compare the image we get from these two short psalms with apparently how the Corinthian church is celebrating Holy Communion. In Corinth they are not eating together, they are getting drunk, and the divisions that exist within the church are reinforced by this behavior.

I could go into the research that has been done about early Communion meals and it is very interesting, but it would dilute the point. The point is one that has been continuing from earlier chapters and that being “church” – claiming to be “people who are following Jesus” – while it brings freedom it also brings responsibility: That responsibility is first and foremost to God, and then to each other.

I spend a great deal of my days talking to people about God, many who don’t believe, and many who, while they come to church, just cannot bring themselves to accept Jesus, His Cross, sin, repentance, and all the other “stuff.” They often want a religion that is a “come as you are – and stay as you are” affair. One where “everyone gets along.” The problem with that idea (and it is an attractive idea because it holds out the illusion of no conflict) is that it is not real. To worship everything is to worship nothing. To accept everything is to stand for nothing. And sooner or later, when you are trying to hold this ideal of complete tolerance, you will find yourself at a line, a line that you have drawn, a line that you will judge people must not cross.

While I welcome these dialogues, when it is with people "inside" the church, it is a bit challenging. I do not want or like disunity. At the same time, I am well aware that the church, especially in recent times, is becoming irrelevant because it either stands for nothing, or it is so sharply focused on an issue that the issue takes preeminence over God. This is where the offer of Jesus is brilliant. He is less about pointing out all the lines not to be crossed and much more about pointing out the path to be followed—Him. Follow me, Jesus said. If you follow him, then of course, you will be walking past all sorts of places you are not to go. You won’t be focused on them because you will be focused on keeping up with Him.

Our job is to keep inviting people to follow Jesus, and then be willing to walk with them as the do.

It would appear the Church in Corinth has forgotten to follow and gotten themselves down all sorts of paths which are not helpful. Church is supposed to be a “healthy place.” By that I mean it should not be a place of division. It should not be a place where unhealthy behaviors such as excess drinking, etc. exist. I know it won’t be perfect, but the church needs to model healthy and whole living. The letter to the Corinthian church is about trying to get them back on track, back to following Jesus. For to chose and be chosen by God, is to serve Him, to live free responsibly for Him.

As I write these blog entries, when I am on my game, I remember to ask how this applies to me. So here I am, typing away about how bad the Corinthian church is. Jesus’ words about taking “the log out of my own eye” seem appropriate today for me…where is the church I serve in these matters…where is there disunity…where can we be healthier…where can we do a better job following the Lord?

Tomorrow, in chapter 12, we will be given a model of how we might think about church; that model is some ways will help shape some answers for us.