Maintaining The Testimony And The Effectivity Of The Church In the Community

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 - “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 

[2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 

[3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

The Apostle Paul established the Church at Corinth, but soon after, it encountered significant challenges in deep divisions and rampant sin. The situation demanded immediate action to restore the church's sanctity. 

Despite the gravity of the situation, Paul demonstrated remarkable leadership by confronting the issues head-on. He refused to turn a blind eye to the relational strife and moral decay that plagued the church. With his unwavering call for purity within the Corinthian congregation, Paul made it clear that he was willing to risk the disapproval of some to rid the church of the sins that had tainted it.

In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul delved into various topics concerning the practicalities of life and the principles of faith. He addressed issues such as divisions and disagreements among the congregation, the problem of sexual immorality, conflicts arising from lawsuits between believers, the merits of both marriage and singleness, the freedom that Christ offers, the importance of maintaining order in worship, the significance of the Lord's Supper and the proper use of spiritual gifts. In addition to these concerns, Paul delivered a profound teaching on the resurrection. 

The common thread that runs through all these topics is Paul's focus on Christian conduct within the local church. As an apostle, he held Christians to a high standard of behavior, expecting them to live by the ideals of the faith. Indeed, he reminded them that they had been "bought with a price," and therefore, it was their duty to "glorify God in [their] body." (6:20)

Corinth was a vibrant and cosmopolitan city where people from various ethnic and religious backgrounds coexisted. Despite its diversity, the city was notorious for its widespread practice of idol worship, particularly of the goddess Aphrodite. The streets were lined with temples and shrines dedicated to the deity, and her followers could be seen offering sacrifices and performing rituals throughout the day. However, the city's bustling atmosphere also made it a hub of temptation, with numerous opportunities for indulgence and vice.   

Corinth was much like modern cities today, offering plenty of opportunities to engage in sinful behavior without apparent consequences. The city's culture negatively influenced the Corinthian church, but Paul did not advise believers to retreat from it. Instead, he encouraged them to live out their commitment to Christ more faithfully amid the nonbelievers. 

This remains Paul's vision for the church even today: to be a light in the darkness and to bring hope and love to those who need it most. Paul expected that we Christians would shine as lights in the dark places of their world by worshiping in a unified community that was accountable to one another. He hoped that we would settle our problems internally, that we would encourage one another in the pursuit of purity, and that we would strive together by holding tightly to the hope of our bodily resurrection to come.

Being in a local Church like Corinth, facing almost similar influences currently from the community, what can we do as a body to avoid or overcome the dangers lurking within? 

“A ship is threatened not from the water around it but from the water that comes in.” Let us pray that our Church stays pure and not be influenced by the world around us.

Our Prayer for today:

Our Almighty Father, the challenge of living a pure life in a community filled with ungodliness is an obstacle the Church faces. We humbly ask for your guidance to help us focus on the important tasks you have given us rather than reacting to the evil around us. May we continue to take an offensive stance in sharing the blessed gospel with the good faith of our beliefs. Please grant us wisdom to avoid harmful conflicts and to trust in Your divine power to protect us from evil. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.