Do you think it is demanding to be a Christian today (I agree--it is demanding!)? The more secular a society becomes, the more demanding the challenge to be a spiritually focused Christian becomes. The more secular a society becomes, the more avenues of temptation develop for the man or woman committed to a spiritual existence in Jesus Christ. Secularism in an individual or a society changes acceptable values, changes acceptable priorities, changes the definition of morality, and changes concepts of right and wrong and good and bad.
If you think it is demanding to be a Christian today, transport yourself back to the first Christian converts and the first Christian congregations. (We are not as likely to feel sorry for ourselves if we honestly observe those who obviously had worst circumstances than we have! Such observations do not eliminate the challenges of our situation, but such honest observations improve our perspective.) Suppose you and your spouse before conversion belonged to a religion that encouraged involvement in sacred prostitution as a religious act. One of you converts to Christianity. Would your conversion impact your marriage?
Suppose your boss was a devout, practicing idolater. As such, his definition of honesty and being truthful differed significantly with your Christian concepts. He literally could freeze you out of the local job market. Would your concepts and your bosss concepts clash as together you two pursued business objectives?
Suppose the person who pretty much controlled your life was very into the citys political life. This person was prominent in business and could afford to be a significant force in the citys affairsthis person had serious clout that reached far beyond the city. To maintain that importance, the person had to be actively involved in the most prominent idolatrous religion in the area. Do you think the persons idolatrous involvement would place pressure on your life as a Christian?
The actual scenarios are endless. The point is this: it has never been simple and easy to be godly. It may be more simple for you to be godly in our democratic society than it was for a person who lived in a society controlled by a king or idolatrous forces. This is not an attempt to declare that situations today are simplesituations are not! However, it is not uncommon for situations to be difficult for godly people. Read Hebrews 11:13-16, understanding that this was written to distressed Christians (10:32-39).
In our text today, Paul wrote to the same Christians in Corinth that he wrote in the last two lessons. His directions must have been startling considering the realities of their world. Consider a single illustration of the common reality. The world of the Roman Empire functioned on the patronage system. A wealthy man tried to anticipate his future needs. He would, as we would say, put someone he thought he might need on a monthly retainer. The someone would receive a monthly payment for doing nothing. However, if the wealthy man needed the someones skills and services, the someone was to respond to the wealthy mans request immediately and use his abilities in the wealthy mans interests.
That was simply the way business operated. The common issue was NOT do I agree with the wealthy mans policies, concepts, and methods. The common issues to be addressed were (1) Do I need the money? and (2) Can I deal with the fallout of rejecting the offer of the wealthy man? It was commonly more of a pragmatic decision than a decision based on idealism. Commonly, the question was more What do I need right now? than What conflict might find me in the future?
Thus it was todays need versus speculation about the future difficulty. The upside was easy--dependable monthly money with little or no effort right now. The downside was the loss of control of self in possible future conflicts. Sound familiar? And you thought todays dilemmas were new!
First, note that Paul said, Look ahead to spiritual conflict before you form any bond. Idolatry and Christianity cannot and do not mix (or we might say materialism [Christlessness] and Christianity [spirituality in Christ] cannot and do not mix). The nature of the bond is not the issuemarriage, business, social commitment, etc. The issue is the incompatibility of the forces involved in the situation.
Second, note that, again, Paul used the we are the temple of the living God concept to address the problem. The issue was not What do I want? The issue was Who am I? The issue involved accepting what was approved by society versus being family to God who is the Creator. The Christians at Corinth were declaring that membership in society was as important as being accepted by God as family. Paul said, You cannot declare both because you (collectively) are Gods temple! Gods values and societys values were not the same!
Right and wrong as defined by materialism and right and wrong as defined by God are not compatiblein fact they are hostile to each other. Who are we as Christians? We are Gods temple. What would be inappropriate behavior in a pagan temple would be inappropriate in Gods temple! The Christians at Corinth must remember that they are Gods temple!
For Thought and Discussion
1. The more secular society becomes, the more demanding being spiritual in Christ becomes.
2. Give 3 illustrations of how demanding it could be to be a Christian in the beginning.
3. It has never been simple or easy to be what? Why?
4. Read Hebrews 11:13-16 and 10:32-39 and comment on these scriptures.
5. In todays text, whom did Paul write?
6. How did the patronage system function in the Roman Empire?
7. In the patronage system, the common issue was not what?
8. The common issues to be addressed were what two things?
9. The issue was what versus what? The upside was what? The downside was what?
10. What did Paul first say? What was the issue?
11. What did Paul say second? What was the issue?
12. What is not compatible?
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 10