One of the most fascinating parallels in Scripture for me can be seen in Paul's writings to the church in Corinth, Jesus' words to the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3), and the book of James.
The subject of the writings and words were presumably true believers, eternally saved. However, the churches in Corinth and Laodiciea had major flaws with sincere love for their brothers and sisters. For instance, 1 Corinthians 13, the great love treatise, aimed at the church of Corinth and, as an example of its powerful sermonic tone on love, repeated at most Christian weddings I have ever been too; while the church in Laodiciea was neither "hot nor cold", and thought they were "rich" and did not "need a thing" (Laodiciea had become a very material wealthy city), when, in fact, like all humans, saved and unsaved, they were (are) "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked" (Revelation 3:17) (ironically, the great Newton anthem, Amazing Grace, that proceeded from these truths can be heard at most Christian funerals, "that saved a wretch like me/I once was blind", etc....).
Strangely enough, a lot of doctrinal disagreement about the Eucharist has come from Paul's words nearly begging the Corinthians to act on and in the love for each other that they had through their faith (1 Corinthians 11:27). (Actually, a lot of traditional theologians have identified the "body of Christ" with the actual crucified Jesus Christ. While there are a lot of folks who have much, much deeper theological minds than I that favor this interpretation, for me the better fit for Paul's words involve whom make up the body of Christ, and, perhaps, the most satisfying understanding is the truth is Paul had both in mind). Here in, Paul continues to preach the missing love these folks had for each other, for their brothers and sisters (or at least some) were drinking the blood of Christ and eating the body of Christ without recognizing the body (the entire communion of believers) and the blood (the sacrifice of Jesus which gracefully freed us from everything the law could not) of Jesus Christ.
The parallel for the Loadiceans is they did not know they were "wretched, blind, naked (thus drinking without recognizing the blood of Christ), and Jesus knew their deeds, and they were "neither hot nor cold." Isn't the obvious parallel than that the church, during their Eucharist celebration, was "drinking without recognizing the Body"? Weren't they in essence answering the apostle John's redundant question, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has not pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" (1 John 3:17). Note, this is exactly what James is saying: "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17). Even more apparent, James was writing of the same problems that the church of Corinth was experiencing. In simple terms, some people who were part of the church thought they were spiritually, physically, financially or in some other way/all of the above superior to some of their brothers and sisters. Not surprisingly, there are many in churches today with members or - even worse- leaders, who think they are spiritually better or socioeconomically better than their fellow believers. Genuine, Biblical, saving faith is in no way compatible with persons who think this way. In every way, loving works will always accompany faith, and this faith will never be alone - because (i) true believers always possess and are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) and (ii) that is God's plan (Ephesians 2:10). The Loadiceans were "rich" but were not recognizing the body of Christ and all the needs of the body of Christ, because they were "lukewarm", and while their faith was not "dead" (cold), it was not the faith that came with the understanding that we are all "wretched", and no better spiritually or in any way than other people, especially those in the body of Christ.
Just like the church in Corinth and Loadicea, if we are to partake in the Eucharist and thus declare our faith in the death and resurrection of our Lord, than our faith must be one that does not in anyway promote or condone favoritism, and sees all true believers as equal partakers in the promises of Christ, whom we have genuine love for, and could never see go cold or hungry - or spiritually misled- without acting (1 John:2, James:2, and Galatians 1). If our faith does not include this, we need to desperately "examine" ourselves (1 Corinthians 13). Folks, if we are partaking in the Eucharist and in some way not loving ALL our fellow Christians, we need to "examine" ourselves, and see if we do in fact have genuine, saving faith.
Why? "Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we partake of the one loaf" (1 Corinthians 10:17).
No comments:
Post a Comment