1 CORINTHIANS– The Most Scandalous Church On The Planet! Who Are They?
Disgusting, factious and openly immoral! Pompous, carnal and immature! Insolent, selfish and fleshly! That might be the way a visitor would describe this church. In fact, when their general overseer heard of their carnality, he called them “fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers!” Then he took it a step further and proclaimed that people like this, “will not inherit the Kingdom of God!” Okay…so who are these dysfunctional Christians and where is their church? No, it’s not the church down the street or the church you just left. And it’s not the church where you are now. It was the great church in Corinth that the Apostle Paul founded in 50 AD!
Sooner or later we all have to come to the sad realization that there are NO “perfect” churches and NO “perfect” Christians. Now, here’s another tragic discovery you’ll make…you’ve probably done some of the same things the Christians in Corinth did! So, what did God do to the scandalous and dysfunctional people at Corinth? He rescued them! Listen to God’s unbelievable mercy and grace in the Apostle Paul’s writings, “And such were some of you! But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Cor. 6:9-11). If you ask for forgiveness, repent and trust in Jesus, He can do the same for you too.
Now that you’ve been introduced to “The Most Scandalous Church on the Planet” and what God did for them, how does this help you to navigate your life? Consider this:
1. Guard Yourself Against “World Poisoning!” The world can slip into your life before you know it. Like the Corinthian church, the spirit of the world can poison your soul. So, what’s God’s antidote for world-poisoning? It’s called the Cross! The Cross is foolishness for those who rely on the flesh, but for Christians it’s the power of salvation! (1 Cor. 1:18; 2:12; 1 John 2:15-17).
2. Learn the Difference Between Separation and Influence. If you read 2 Cor. 6:14-17, you’d conclude the Bible requires total separation from the world. But in 1 Cor. 5:9-13 and John 17:14-18 you read that unless you associate with the world, you can’t influence them for Christ. So it’s all about “who’s influencing who!” Make sure the world isn’t influencing you!
3. So, What’cha Gonna’ Do With All Those Sinners In Your Church? Before you judge others, take a close look at your own life. Since you were once like them, what did God do with you? “But,” you may ask, “What about people who continue to act like the world?” Ask yourself, “How does God deal with me when I continue to sin?” His love gently draws us to repentance!
4. Learn How To Escape Temptation. Sin disguises itself as justifiable actions…sins we enjoy but don’t want to release. Some believe that, because they belong to Christ, they can act anyway they want. Yet in each case, God sends warnings (1 Cor. 10:13). It may be a sermon, a talk with a friend or a quiet whisper in your heart. Take heed, my friend. It may mean life or death!
5. Jesus Forgives, But Don’t Take Sin Lightly…It Can Disqualify You! As spiritually secure as Paul was, he wrote, “I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27). Sin destroys your witness and your ministry. And it causes young Christians to stumble (Matt. 18:6-7). Repent, my friend, before it goes too far!
Dan Rhodes
