The Solution = CHRIST
Dang...so much to attempt to digest from the intro! Excited to continue to read as Bailey unpacks the rhetoric/homilies/cameos/etc that so easily go right over my head!
It's encouraging to me that Paul's intended audience for this letter is not relegated to the believers in Corinth during the days of the early Church. As we talked about during All Staff, so many of the issues he addresses are SOOOO relevant in the church today. There's no way we can use the excuse "it's a cultural thing" to discount what we are told by God through Paul. From the moment that Paul began writing, WE - believers in the 21st century - were part of his intended audience!
On page 28, after outlining the letter - Bailey says this: "In short, Paul does not say: Here is the problem! Here is what you must do! Instead he writes: You have received the tradition from me. Here is the problem. Consider the following theological foundation on which a solution can be built. Look at the problem again in light of this theology. Imitate me/I think I have the Spirit of the Lord."
After reading that, Jesus asked me "which of those responses is your default?" Talk about a punch to the gut. I'm a control freak, and a fixer...so of course my default is problem -> solution. But is that the approach that Jesus wants me to take when I relate with other people, when I offer counsel to roommates/friends/students who are struggling? I think it's so important to lead people to the solution, rather than just give it to them. And Paul hits it on the head - "Follow me, as I follow Christ."
The SOLUTION to all of life's questions or problems = the person of CHRIST. Let's lead people there.
Seriously stoked to dive back in to 1 Corinthians with you guys!
Katy
It's encouraging to me that Paul's intended audience for this letter is not relegated to the believers in Corinth during the days of the early Church. As we talked about during All Staff, so many of the issues he addresses are SOOOO relevant in the church today. There's no way we can use the excuse "it's a cultural thing" to discount what we are told by God through Paul. From the moment that Paul began writing, WE - believers in the 21st century - were part of his intended audience!
On page 28, after outlining the letter - Bailey says this: "In short, Paul does not say: Here is the problem! Here is what you must do! Instead he writes: You have received the tradition from me. Here is the problem. Consider the following theological foundation on which a solution can be built. Look at the problem again in light of this theology. Imitate me/I think I have the Spirit of the Lord."
After reading that, Jesus asked me "which of those responses is your default?" Talk about a punch to the gut. I'm a control freak, and a fixer...so of course my default is problem -> solution. But is that the approach that Jesus wants me to take when I relate with other people, when I offer counsel to roommates/friends/students who are struggling? I think it's so important to lead people to the solution, rather than just give it to them. And Paul hits it on the head - "Follow me, as I follow Christ."
The SOLUTION to all of life's questions or problems = the person of CHRIST. Let's lead people there.
Seriously stoked to dive back in to 1 Corinthians with you guys!
Katy
Katy, your post is a great reminder to lead people to Jesus and be sure the company I keep is leading me to Jesus! Thanks for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteI love it, Katy! That's well put and a great reminder for me, too! Especially hard when my own solutions don't align with the solution of Christ. Let go, trust, and follow me, he says.
ReplyDeleteI like the evangelistic tone in your encouraging post. Definitely sense a mic drop in Paul's quote you use.
ReplyDelete"Follow me, as I follow Christ."......."I'm the apostle Paul".......[MIC DROP!]