Paul had spent a year and a half in Corinth after founding the church there. Apollos had then taken the role of pastor there. A few years later, Paul receives a message that not all is well in Corinth. The intellectual, philosophical congregation there sought more complexity and the “next level” of Christianity.
Paul responds, though, that the simplicity is what they (and we) really need. The simplicity of the gospel is core to its purpose, power and truth. This clashed with the culture of the city and the congregation, which valued rhetorical skill and philosophical intricacies. Paul specifically brought a simple, unadorned message to counter this tendency.
Paul then in chapter 2 clarifies that there is no “next level” of Christianity. They are mature. They have the fullness of Christ. They have everything they need. There is no hierarchy or system of levels to scale.
But then in this section, Paul turns around and calls them babies. (Keep in mind, as Paul discusses milk vs. meat, that there were no bottles, so Paul is essentially saying that he is breastfeeding them.) So the question is, how can Paul call them mature in one verse and infants in another?
This is actually a theme throughout scripture. “Now but not yet.” We are “dead to sin” and yet we still must work to not sin. We are justified, but must still work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
We can also see this more generally in humanity. See the behavior of sums parents at their children’s sporting events. We have been given all the tools for maturity and salvation, but if we do not take up those tools, then we are behaving like infants. We “are not yet ready” as Paul says here. The term he uses here can be translated as “fleshy”.
That was Corinth. Instead of unifying around Christ, they splintered into divisive factions around human leaders. But why does Paul use terms around maturity here, instead of just calling out their behavior as sin?
In part, it is to specifically attack the philosophy of the culture around them, a culture they had imbibed and absorbed, and that was playing itself out in the church. Similarly, Christians today absorb the moral materialism or hedonism of our culture and live out their lives as if the material world was all that mattered. We live our lives to avoid or even alleviate suffering, rather than a relationship with God. We do religious things for the good feelings and experiences. If we are driven by intellectualism, we seek to learn more – a good thing, but not the best thing. Humanism, when we elevate humanity, or specific humans, possibly church leaders, to a level above Christ.
These behaviors can all appear wise and mature. They are all about advancement and performance, constantly seeking control. They get their power from earthly things.
The purpose of my Christian existence, though, is not experience, advancement or even maturity, but to live in relationship with Christ. We get our power from above, and that power expresses itself as loving actions towards other people.
If we do not get our power from Christ, then we get it from one or more of sin, Satan or the world. We will seek to control, rather than to love.
What is your purpose? Is it Christ, or is it ethics, morality, experience, pleasure?Where do you get the power to live out this purpose? Is it Christ, or is it sources below? What is the outflow of your life? Is it the love of Christ, or is it selfishness and a seeking to control?
-Sermon Notes, Brent Rood, Seed Church, Lynnwood, WA
First Corinthians 3:1-5
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