14. How NOT to be a Corinthian!

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How NOT to be a Corinthian!

Well, we are back to our study in Corinthians! As I was working on future sermon ideas, the thought occurred to me to follow this up with a series such as, “How to be a Thessalonian!” But alas, I couldn’t find a place to make that fit. At least, not in the next few months! :-)

However, we will not complete this epistle until next year. I am going to break off here in a week or two as we move onto other subjects.

As we left off, we were talking about the freedoms we have as Christians, but these are not something to be abused. The last time I preached, I talked about how we need to use our freedoms responsibly. In fact, to say “our freedoms” is a misnomer as there is nothing we do that is to be about ourselves. We are always to think “us!” The church is a family and as families go, every action of a member affects the other members positively or negatively. If we truly love our “family” we should desire to make choices that impact for good.

As we resume in chapter 11, we are still finding the Corinthians taking their freedoms too far. We will begin this chapter with verse 2. This is a great place to discuss chapter and verse placements. I can tell you the real story or the one that is most popular, so I will settle for popularity. :-)

It was in the early 13th century when a bishop decided it would be helpful to find and discuss scripture if there was an easier way to be on the same page per se. As the tale goes, as he rode across the land on horseback from place to place, he added chapters and verses. Have you ever tried to write in a straight line while riding on a bumpy rode? Well, I think you get the picture. It was like that on horseback. With each footfall, the pen came down and that was another number.

The tale me be nothing more than fiction but the result the same. Chapters and verses do not always start and end with subject matters, so when you are reading, it is good to read ahead and behind to make sure you are at the right start and finish. So is the case with 11:1. It is Paul’s conclusion to the subject spoken of in chapter 10. So today we will begin with verse 2 of chapter 11. Oh, and you may wish to put your seatbelt on because if you thought we had finished with the difficult sections, we have not. This is a chapter that causes much controversy. However, when understood correctly it shouldn’t.

1 Corinthians 11:2–16 NIV

2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. 7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

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I. Freedoms & Orderly Worship 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Now, if I were an unwise teacher, I would ask, “Does anyone have a question or comment on this passage?” However, you are fortunate that I am smarter than that. Instead of asking for questions, I will say, “Do not over react, but allow me to take this apart section by section so we can fully understand what Paul is saying here.

Once again, context is paramount. This is both in textural context but also cultural context. The one thing we have in common with the Corinthians at this point, is probably our reaction. Paul understands he is about to open a sensitive subject so like a wise teacher...

A. Paul accentuates the positive before tackling the negative. V 2

1 Corinthians 11:2 NIV

2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.

Even though they had some issues, for the most part, the Corinthians had listened to Paul and they had tried to keep the things he had taught as best as they understood them. They were still meeting together, serving together, and were practicing the newer traditions of the Christian faith such as communion and baptism and so forth.

However, there were some conduct issues that were causing chaos in the worship. Essentially, Paul will deal with three of these. One had to do with flaunting the practice of freedoms inappropriately in the worship service. This is the one we will talk about today. Another was the inappropriate manner in which they received communion, which we will talk about next week. And a third, had to do with misuse of their spiritual gifts which I have not yet decided if I will address it here in a couple weeks or wait until next year when we return to the final chapters of 1 Corinthians. It fits well in both places. Preferably we would have done it all at once, but there just is not time with Christmas so close upon us.

So, Paul commends them for gathering and listening and seeking to grow. Here we see Paul is a great teacher. Paul as the authority of this church, could have just made an edict for them to follow but Paul wants them not just to do right, but to understand what and why something IS right. True freedom comes through understanding, not obeying rules.

I am not sure we, as the church leaders, have always done a great job of this. The Church of the Nazarene used to contain (they still may though things have changed and I haven’t kept up with it all) what we called “Rules of conduct.” There were certain things we took stands against. Things like dancing, drinking, attending movie theaters, etc… Over time, some of these, if not all, have changed for various reasons. More recent thought is that these are best decided by individuals as discernible matters, which I have spoken of recently.

I will not get into if we should or shouldn’t publish such rules because the point I want to make is not about rules but teaching why those rules are even considered important. Too often people have challenged those ideas because they do not fully understand the reasoning behind the rules.

For example, we had a rule we didn’t dance. There were many reasons for this. First, the places where people go to dance are usually not desirable places for a Christian to be. It can put people in a place where they are tempted or feel coerced to dance with a partner other than their spouse, which has been a situation that has lead to many affairs. Some forms of dancing are provocative, and so forth. I hope I have done the subject justice. There may be other issues if I were interested in giving an in depth discussion of it.

I share all that to share this story. A church I was at had a Christmas program were they had some young girls clogging. Was there anything provocative or seductive in their clogging? NO. Were they in a place that they should be? NO, they were in the church. Yet, a whole group of older people in our church had a fit because they were dancing and it is against our rules. That is the problem with rules and Paul understood that it cannot be about rules but about understanding and making wise choices.

So, Paul returns to this subject of freedoms and tackles the next abuse occurring because of them. It is important for them to understand that...

B. Freedom does not trump authority. VV 3-10

So, allow me to set the stage for you. As you may know, women were not very respected in that culture. A woman or wife, as the case may be, was seen more as property than as a person to be respected. It is interesting when you look back at the Old Testament patriarchs. They seem to respect and want the advice of their wives one moment, and the next they made decisions that were completely devoid of the best interest of their wives. Thus was the culture they lived in.

However, God, Jesus, and the church always held women in high esteem. Women always had an equal standing in the church and under God, than they did in the old world systems. But this became abused in Corinth. There were certain women who in their delight of this new freedom, took it too far and refused to wear the traditional head coverings.

Now, was this a biblical directive? No, it was cultural. The covering was a show of respect for their husbands as well as a representation that they were under the authority of their husbands. However, these women understood they carried equal respect in the church and they took it too far. Now, there were those in the church that didn’t care about this since it wasn’t a biblical mandate, but it caused issues in other ways. For one, the practice of not wearing a head covering was the practice of prostitutes. Not only that, but there were lots of prostitutes that were part of the pagan worship systems. So, these women in the Christian church put themselves in the place of looking like pagan prostitutes.

We also need to keep in mind the same group of newer Christians we spoke of in previous weeks that would also equate this with pagan worship and prostitutes.

Likewise, some men in the church were also adopting similar practices that went against cultural conventions that did not enhance their Christian witness. Does the covering or no covering matter to God? No, but respect and authority do and there is something they needed to understand about freedom.

1. Freedom does not remove authority but is still under authority. V 3-10

1 Corinthians 11:3 NIV

3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

One of the big differences between God and Satan is that Satan is the master of chaos and God is the master of order. There is perfect order in everything God does. But order doesn’t just happen. Order comes through structure and authority.

I was born in the 60’s and my first memories were cries for women’s rights. However, even as a young girl, I understood that women have it best under God’s authority structure. God has never demeaned women. God has always revealed his plan and his purpose for women which is equal to God’s plan and purpose for men. So, why is this always such a hot topic? Well it goes back to the original sin in the garden and the curse that came from it.

Genesis 3:16 NIV

16 To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

There was equality between men and woman in the garden, but because of sin, that equality is often overlooked and abused. Men and women, husbands and wives, will always struggle over this issue of authority. However, good use of authority, and good authority structures produce order, peace, comfort, and respect.

In the Trinity, you have Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Son is submissive to the Father’s authority. Our heavenly Father is the only one who is not under the authority of another. All other’s are under authority. Jesus, the Son, submits to the authority of the Father. The Holy Spirit submits to the authority of the Father and Son. Within the Trinity there is perfect balance, respect, and order.

Husbands are to submit to the authority of God (that being the Trinity of God). Wives are to submit to the authority of the husband. Children submit to the parents. We all have places where we are in authority and places where we are under authority. When these are all balanced with love for God and a desire to serve Him, we also find balance, respect, and order.

However, in Corinth, this contentious air caused by people trying to make a public display of their freedoms has caused conflict and disorder in the church, so Paul is working to help them to understand and to bring order back into the church.

Gene Peterson’s paraphrase often helps us to see it more in our language. Here is what He says.

1 Corinthians 11:4–9 MSG

4 Any man who speaks with God or about God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of Christ, dishonors Christ. 5 In the same way, a wife who speaks with God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of her husband, dishonors her husband. 6 Worse, she dishonors herself—an ugly sight, like a woman with her head shaved. This is basically the origin of these customs we have of women wearing head coverings in worship, while men take their hats off. By these symbolic acts, 7 men and women, who far too often butt heads with each other, submit their “heads” to the Head: God.

Next, lest anyone make a wrong assumption about authority, Paul makes it clear that...

C. Authority denotes structure, not value. VV 7-12

People so often equate authority with value but this has never been true where God is concerned. Authority is for order but all are equal in value in God’s eyes. He loves each of us. He created each of us with our own unique personalities, looks, and talents. If you do not think you have talents then you need to look more diligently. Not all talents are easily identified.

My brother is an incredible musician. He can pick up any instrument and play it. It was labeled a protege by some. My mom likes to tell me that she remembers me complaining one day that I didn’t have a talent. She then told me that her and my dad had often commented on my ability to see to the very core of people’s problems. I frequently had people, even adults talk to me about their struggles and it used to amaze her and dad the insights that I had. That ability was a talent but it was not something that was on public display like my brother’s music skills.

Here again, I turn to Gene Peterson’s colorful depictions of scripture to help give us insight into what Paul is saying.

1 Corinthians 11:7–12 MSG

7 men and women, who far too often butt heads with each other, submit their “heads” to the Head: God. 10 Don’t, by the way, read too much into the differences here between men and women. 11 Neither man nor woman can go it alone or claim priority. Man was created first, as a beautiful shining reflection of God—that is true. But the head on a woman’s body clearly outshines in beauty the head of her “head,” her husband. 12 The first woman came from man, true—but ever since then, every man comes from a woman! And since virtually everything comes from God anyway, let’s quit going through these “who’s first” routines.

There is one verse I wish to comment on here just because it is a difficult one to understand.

1 Corinthians 11:10 NIV

10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels.

Just a quick note as I know this verse is troublesome for us to understand. Most believe this is a reference to angels being among our worship and witnesses to it. To them, this refusal to be viewed as one under authority would be disrespectful of God. If even angels view it as disrespectful, shouldn’t we take that into account? However, this is not saying we must wear such coverings today as that same meaning is not applied in our culture. It is not relevant in our time. However, there are other ways we can be disrespectful in worship and we do need to take those into account. In our day, it is disrespectful for a man to wear a hat in church. That is one but with some thought, we can each probably think of others. Next week I will speak of some other ways.

Some in the Corinthian church had made a big deal of the head coverings used to denote submission. They felt it wasn’t necessary and therefore, it didn’t matter when anyone thought they should be able to do what they wanted. So as Paul wraps up this subject, he calls them to make up their own judgment by looking to nature. Now, here is an interesting argument that I find interesting for our day.

1. The natural order of creation seems to demonstrate. VV 13-16

1 Corinthians 11:13–16 NIV

13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

The point Paul is making is not that women should all wear shawls on their heads but that a covering for women seems to be implied by the divine order of things. God seems to have provided women a natural covering from their hair. From the beginning of time, it was normal for women to have long hair and men’s was shorter. This was the norm across all cultures as I understand it except for prostitutes who sometimes shaved their heads for pagan worship purposes. In the Jewish culture, the only exception was for men or women under a Nazirite vow. In those cases, the abnormal designated to others that they were under a vow to God.

I am not sure when this transitioned though I think at first it was a rebellious action. Women cutting their hair and men later growing theirs beyond the norm. Over time it lost its meaning and so it doesn’t mean the same anymore. In most cases today, it is not a rebellious act, more just convenience or preference. So, if you are a woman with short hair, don’t panic and start wearing a shawl. No one will understand. Some churches do preach this and do wear coverings, but we do not feel it is important as it just doesn’t have the same connotation in our society. What is important is that whatever we do, we are to do out of respect and love, first to God and second to others.

Conclusion:

When it comes to worship, the way we worship God the best is by being obedient to His will. Serving Him in the capacity He designed for us to serve. When we are under the authority of another, we need to submit in respectful ways. When we lead others, we lead in respectful ways. The church should be a place of order, making it a place of peace, comfort, and warmth. A place where everyone feels loved and respected.

I found a fun illustration I want to end with. It may not make sense at first, but I think you will get the point at the end.

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Beautiful Music

Beautiful Music

At a meeting of the American Psychological Association, Jack Lipton, a psychologist at Union College, and R. Scott Builione, a graduate student at Columbia University, presented their findings on how members of the various sections of 11 major symphony orchestra perceived each other. The percussionists were viewed as insensitive, unintelligent, and hard-of-hearing, yet fun-loving. String players were seen as arrogant, stuffy, and unathletic. The orchestra members overwhelmingly chose “loud” as the primary adjective to describe the brass players. Woodwind players seemed to be held in the highest esteem, described as quiet and meticulous, though a bit egotistical.

Interesting findings, to say the least! With such widely divergent personalities and perceptions, how could an orchestra ever come together to make such wonderful music? The answer is simple: regardless of how those musicians view each other, they subordinate their feelings and biases to the leadership of the conductor. Under his guidance, they play beautiful music.

Today in the Word, June 22, 1992

We may have our differences of opinions. Men may get frustrated with women at times and women with men. However, God created us each to have a place to lead and follow. When we follow His lead, we can all appreciate each other in the outcome.

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