Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
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Olvera Street, Los Angeles
We had this field trip we did when we were kids every few years.
The very oldest part of Los Angeles.
A street called “Olvera street”.
Sometimes called the birthplace of Los Angeles it was preserved with all these beautiful old buildings and generally celebrating Los Angeles’ Mexican heritage.
And lining the whole street were Mexican American vendors selling traditional foods and hand-crafted goods.
It was intended as a cultural and historical celebration.
But for a group of 4th graders… the historical cultural stuff was lost on us.
Our parents had given us cash… and we were on a mission.
To SPEND THAT CASH!
The money was burning a hole in our pockets.
You had to strategize: if you bought the wrong item too early you might go home with change in your pocket.
And that change went back to Mom and Dad.
But if you spent it all, you got to enjoy the sweet sweet loot.
I got a bull whip (which I definitely never used on my little brother), cheapest lunch I could find, and I forget what else.
But I do remember buying one of those woven “Chinese finger traps.”
(You know, traditional Mexican hand crafted goods), so that I could spend absolutely every penny.
Church for Profit
Let’s talk about money!
As you know, we are a “non-profit organization”.
(Spelling is important).
I heard this criticism about church and “religion” lately: it’s one gigantic Ponzi scheme.
Making money now, hand over fist, for promised returns at some future date.
And let’s be clear: there is some gross truth in that!
Many many many many many people have done this, used the church, used religion, used the name of Jesus, used the Bible to make money and accumulate power.
It’s part of what makes me uneasy visiting cathedrals in Europe and the like.
Gorgeous beautiful expressions of worship: yes.
But, in many cases, also representing Millions of dollars extracted from a subsistence serf population.
This is an area ripe for abuse.
That’s why Jesus had a WHOLE lot to say about money.
Worst Ponzi Scheme Ever
The early church was not a get rich scheme.
If it was intended that way, it failed utterly.
The “founder of the faith” died a criminal, was raised from the dead… then flew off into heaven - presumably with no cash.
No pockets.
The founding apostles were variously murdered, mostly young, generally broke.
John lived a long life, but exiled to an island, an island he did not own.
Not rich.
The early church really had some terrible financial strategy.
Remember this?
Beautiful and selfless… not a winning long term strategy.
It’s a turn out all our pockets to feed and care for the THOUSANDS of new Christians who are here right now.
The very few locals who possibly had assets in Jerusalem caring for all these out-of-towners.
This is how their hearts responded to the gospel.
They understood that the call to follow Jesus included everything that they had and are and “own.”
Humans being humans, this beautiful response of the gospel is opposed by our sinful natures.
Selfishness and greed and “why should I take care of them…?”
And that quickly shows up in the churches.
Corinth is not a selfish church… at least not yet.
But Paul begins to prod them, to teach them to be disciplined and intentional about their giving, about their money.
What was natural and automatic at first must become purposeful and systematic.
We are used to those words being bad things, perhaps.
But listen to this reminder he gives the church in Corinth.
Paul is on the home stretch now.
At the end of his letters he starts to wrap things up.
Some final thoughts, some final greetings, some future plans.
Faithful with our money
The “collection for the saints” is almost certainly one for the “saints” in Jerusalem.
There has been ongoing and recurring famine there.
And recall that the “saints” who lived there are the same ones who sold so much of their own property and assets to support the Church of Pentecost.
Hear: this is still a “giving” church.
There is no question that they will be giving to the collection.
There is counsel on how to organize it.
How to make it purposeful and systematic.
Ready to go so that when Paul arrives there is no scramble to pull it together.
There is another note here, this is one of those verses sometimes twisted to mean something else.
First Day
This is Sunday, to be clear.
There used to be an argument that the New Testament “changed” Sabbath from Saturday (the 7th day) to Sunday (the 1st day).
They would take this verse and one or two others as their proof texts.
You don’t see modern scholars doing this… because there simply is no basis.
This makes no reference to them even gathering on the first day, simply setting aside money.
Possibly setting aside at home or, quite possibly, like in the earliest church in Acts, they could be meeting every day of the week.
We should always remember: attending church 1, 2, or 10 times a week is a separate thing from “remembering and keeping the Sabbath holy.”
It is even entirely possible that the reason they are collecting on the first day is a preference for not doing “money stuff” on the Sabbath.
We can guess at the motivations, but the practicalities
Giving should be regular, purposeful and sacrificial.
I like “regular”.
I like “purposeful”.
I don’t like “sacrificial.
Sacrificial sounds like something that will hurt.
Let me tell you a word I like better.
A very familiar word:
Tithe
Tithe means “10%”.
Moses said “set aside 10% of your grain harvest, of your wine…” that’s where we get “tithe”.
If you add all the firstborn cows and other mandated sacrifices you get closer to something like a 30% giving...
But also keep in mind that is supporting the national government and services as well as the temple and priest and Levites and all.
It’s a package deal.
But this word “tithe” comes down in the church as “give 10% of your income to the church.”
It’s nice and clear and tidy.
So we will now be requiring your tax returns so we can verify your giving for the year!
(Just kidding, please don’t give me those).
Do we see “tithe” in our passage today?
No.
In fact, you won’t find the word “tithe” in the New Testament.
What you will find is radical generosity.
Liberal giving.
Or my favorite word, “sacrificial” giving.
And here’s the hard part: for most of us, that’s way harder than tithing.
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