MPC
13th April 2008.April 13 - 1 Corinthians 4 - "Not a Spectator Sport"
MPC
13th April 2008.
Derek Hanna
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances;" said Shakespeare. (As You Like It. Act 2, Scene 7)
I want to take issue with that statement. For I think that in this world, created by God, scripted by God, and directed by God... that most are seated in the audience as spectators, more concerned with what those around them think, and are either sympathetic, embarrassed, or disgusted by what's happening on stage.
But everyone is following a script, I'll give Shakespeare that much. How you approach life depends on what script you're working from.
So for Buddhists, each day is lived in the pursuit of enlightenment. For Muslims, each day is lived in obedience to the Koran, and to the Five Pillars of Faith. For Atheists, each day is lived in the pursuit of whatever meaning they create in a Godless world. Materialism, New-age Spirituality, Relationships. But all these people - and more - are seated in the stands.
So what is God's script? Who's on stage, who's watching on, and what difference does it make? If you were to view God's script, what would you think of it? If you were to live God's script for life, what would it look like?
The Corinthians were really struggling to come to terms with what Paul was telling them God's script for life was.
It's hard not to look with scorn at a script delivered by a weak, unimpressive Jewish man - when you're whole life had been one of following and imitating those who spoke with eloquence. It's hard not to look down your nose at a script where those who are supposed to be victors are considered foolish and mocked by all others. It's hard not to become puffed up and arrogant when you consider yourself a greater success in life than the one who calls himself an Apostle. Sure, they took the bits that were acceptable for their culture. But those that weren't were glossed over, or ignored altogether. And the result, we saw last week, was immature Christians. Doesn't that sound like the church these days? We don't want to look foolish as a church, so we tone down our message to fit comfortably into our society. A Christianity not of sacrifice, but of mild (and acceptable) change. Christian chameleons.
The problem with the Corinthians - and I suspect the problem with much of the Church today - is that they had read the script, and yet decided it couldn't be right. Sure we like that bit about being raised again, and we like the bit about being glorified with Jesus the King when he returns. But the rest is too drastically different to what we know. We'd end up looking stupid. Wouldn't it be better for everyone if we adjusted the script to be a bit more liveable? But this isn't a spectator sport. If you want to enjoy the encore (which doesn't end), then you've got get on board in the first act.
Now Paul has been using himself, this guy called Apollos and all the Apostles as case studies.
He says in verse 6 that he has been telling them these things so that they may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written". That is, don't go beyond, don't supplement and adjust God's Word to suit your culture.
We understand and apply it in our culture, but we do not adjust it to suit our culture. Just the other day, I was watching an interview with a highly prominent TV personality, where she made the statement that she had moved past the God of the Bible, because it didn't sit well with her. She didn't believe that a good and loving God could be jealous. Loving yes, gentle yes, caring yes. But jealous... no. It didn't feel right, and so she moved past the Bible, past doctrine, followed her heart, and found a God that rose above one persons opinion, and found itself in many people's expressions of goodness.
But the same thing happens inside the church as well. For what is the prosperity Gospel, but western materialism in a Christian overcoat?
For the Corinthians, the problem was they had taken the importance, pride and arrogance associated with social status, and imported it into Christian thought. Which is why Paul reiterates for them how people should relate to him, Apollos and the Apostles. (v.1-5)
They are stewards of God. They will be judged on their faithfulness. But they won't be judged by the Corinthians. They will be judged by God when he judges all people.
Paul is so attuned to God's script, so faithful to the Word of God, that he doesn't even judge himself. Not that he thinks he's perfect, and not that he has no regrets. It's simply that this kind of thinking would distract him from his role as a steward. He's going to leave that up to God. And that's what the Corinthians should be doing as well. Not jumping the gun. Not making judgement's halfway through the story. Not filling in the gaps where God has not spoken. And not following men where they should be following God.
Look at the questions he fires at them in verse 7.
Who makes you different from anyone else? The answer is not Paul, Apollos or any of the Apostles. The answer is God in Christ. What do you have that you did not receive? The answer is nothing. Everything they have of worth, everything they could boast about, everything they could take pride in they have in Christ. And if they did receive it, why do they boast as though they did not? And so if anything they have of worth is given to them by God in Christ, how can they possibly be getting puffed up, proud and arrogant?
The answer is that they have deluded themselves.
They have taken God's script for life in Christ, and they have made some adjustments. Some alterations just to make them feel at home. A little bit of pride in teachers. A little bit of judging based on appearances. A little bit of pride in social status. Big mistake. For as we alter God's script for life, it ceases to be God's script, and it becomes ours. A script of talk, appearances, and comfort perhaps... but certainly not one of power.
Now just to ram the point home, and to try to shake them out of the stupidity, Paul is going to compare the situation to a setting they well knew.
A cultural setting where the object was to both see and be seen. Where people would gather to gossip, network, view those of importance, and ignore those who weren't. The picture Paul paints in the verses 8-13 is that of the arena, or ampitheatre. Now the arena was the place where social status was displayed. It was a public spectacle often organised by the Emperor, and was carefully choreographed to both get a feel for and manipulate public opinion.
The Romans, and the Corinthians were no exceptions, paraded their status at any and every opportunity they could, and the arena was a key place to make that happen. When people attended the arena, it wasn't just to observe, it was also to be observed. Under the Roman Emperor Augustus (the emperor around when Jesus was born), separated seating was introduced, so that people could visibly see who the important people were, as well as who the important people weren't. I suppose it's like the members section at the Gabba today.
In fact we have a similar thing happen even now. I remember watching one of the first test matches after the election last year, and I don't know if you've ever seen how every now and then they have shots of important people in the crowd. Well, for the 10 years that John Howard had been in power, he had been the man sitting in the Cricket Australia box... but not this year. There had been a shift in power. This year it was Kevin Rudd sitting in the Cricket Australia box with Hugh Jackman... while John Howard had been consigned to what could only be considered a lesser seat. It was a subtle, but visible commentary on who was now important, and who wasn't. Some things have not changed in 2000 years.
But now in these arenas, the events were varied. Actors would perform, and gladiators were there to entertain with sword and shield. But the final act of the day, the last ones to be led into the arena, were criminals. Chained, naked, and led into the arena for no other purpose than to die. And after death, their bodies are discarded as refuse as scum, without a proper burial. Consider what Paul writes in verses 8-13.
The imagery Paul draws is that this life is like the arena. And it's a picture full of irony. Because this spectacle is organised not by the emperor, but by God. (v.9) And in this arena, this commentary on social status and importance, the Corinthians are sitting in the stands. Some in places of importance, some not. Some would be cheered by the crowd when they entered to be seated... some would not. Some sitting were proud of their noble birth (1:26), and acting like kings (4:8). So strong, and so honoured (v.10).
So proud of their teachers. Telling all those who will hear - "I belong to Apollos" or "I belong to Paul". And looking around for the grand entry their teachers would make. And Paul, Apollos and the Apostles arrive... but not quite in the way the Corinthians had imagined. They wander in chained, hungry, thirsty, in rags... as criminals condemned to die. They arrive not to be seated, but to be executed. And you can't help but see that they walk in the same footsteps as their Christ.
Paul's point is this. You say you're rich, you say you're kings, you say you are so wise and strong and honoured... but consider us. We are God's stewards. We are examples of those following God's script. We are following the crucified Messiah. We walk in his footsteps. V.9.
We are fools for Christ, dishonoured, hungry, thirsty, in rags, brutally treated, homeless. We work for every scrap we get. When we are cursed we bless, when persecuted we endure, when slandered we answer kindly. We are what the world has discarded.
If the Corinthians genuinely think God is in control of proceedings in this arena of life, and they say they are of God and in Christ... how can they have such different values and such a different direction in life to God's stewards? How can their script for life be so different to God's script for his apostles? That is the point he wants to bring them to. And the answer is, it shouldn't be. The Apostles are the blueprint to follow.
And that's what he calls them to do. (v.14-16) He's not trying to embarrass them. He's trying to call them back to authenticity. For there is no doubt many other voices vying for their attention... but Paul is their father in the gospel. And his call is to imitate him.
He wants them to come down off the bleachers. He wants them to step out of the stands. To leave the envious looks of those who have been impressed with their social status, risk the scorn of their peers, and come and join the apostles as spectacles in God's procession. Come down and get their hands dirty. This is where you belong.
And just so we don't think it's just for the Corinthians, he tells us in verse 17 that this is precisely what he teaches in every church everywhere. See the characteristic he notes about Timothy. Timothy is faithful in the Lord. Paul thinks the key characteristic for Apostles and for those in Christ, is faithfulness. Faithfulness to the Word of God. Faithfulness to the life of Christ. Faithfulness to the fact that you are now in Christ. Faithfulness in following God's script for life. Don't sit in the stands. Come down and walk with Christ.
Look at the strong language he uses with them in verses 18-19, and verse 21. He's not going to put up with their arrogance, because their arrogance is immaturity and foolishness. They are like children who are misbehaving when their parents have gone out for a while. They talk tough, they feel important, and they feel like they can get away with anything... right up until the point they hear the front door creak open. And then all arrogance disappears... because they knew all along that their words were simply that. Words. Not power. Just hot air. Paul is going to come to them. And he's going to come to them in love. But you can see in verse 21, that that love might look like a gently spirit, or it might look like a whip.
For Paul does not want them to deal in foolishness. And he doesn't want to risk them losing what they have to follow something which they cannot keep, and which will not satisfy. v.20 - For the kingdom of God is not about the power of oratory, which is just sound waves bouncing around the atmosphere. The kingdom of God is about the power to save those who had no hope. A Christ who suffered so that others might be saved. A Christ who rose from the dead so that all those who follow him might also rise to new life.
It's a message of power. A message that should change and shape and inspire and comfort those who hear and believe it. It's a script for life that follows in the footsteps of the crucified Christ in this life, as well as in the next.
So what kingdom do you belong to? What script are you following in life? If you are in Christ, then I'm calling on you to follow the script that God has laid for his people. To hop down from the stands, hop down from the bleachers, and join us where the action is, as we follow in the footsteps of Christ. It's not a call for everyone to enter full-time ministry - Paul doesn't call for that at any point in 1 Corinthians. It's a call to live out who you are, where you are. Come down with us, and we'll work at reaching and impacting this area with the message of the crucified Christ. Come down with us, and we'll work at how we can reach those you work with, those you come in contact with, who are following a script for life that leads to conflict, and not peace with God. We want to be different with how we use our money, how we forgive people, how we love people, what we strive for. We want to be a part a part of God's people here at MPC, not sitting like those two grumpy muppets and making wise-cracks from a box seat. Don't be aloof. Life's not about show.
And Christianity is not a spectators sport. We want to walk with you. We want to show you what it means to live as God's people. It's easy to critique from the dress circle. It's easier to hold grudges and point out what those in the middle are doing wrong. It's easy to convince yourself you're living an authentic Christian life... when really it's just the worlds script with God's name inserted at the relevant points. It's not easy in the arena, but it's who we are. Paul describes himself as a man condemned to die. But he was also a man who was promised he would rise to life. As are we. Come down. Live out who you are.
And if you are down in the arena, suffering for being who you are, sacrificing what you could have had because of what you do and will have... Let me encourage you to hang on. You will suffer, you will struggle, you will see opportunities go by that you could have had. You will feel unappreciated, and overworked, and undervalued. You will question why you are where you are, and whether it would be easier to blend in and be the same as everyone else. But hang on. God's script does not end with the hard stuff. The encore is worth it, and it lasts for a heck of a long time.
Now if you're someone who is following a script other than the crucified Christ, and are watching the parade of these strange people following a long dead Jewish guy... My encouragement to you is to work out where you're life is taking you. For you are following a script. And my guess is you don't know how it ends. And it will feel comfortable right up until the point that the bottom drops out in your life. Until you come across all that is wrong with this world. Until you struggle with the effects of sin on this world, and you have to grapple with the death of those you hold dear, or possibly your own mortality.
I can't help but think of a guy name Phillip Wilcher, who I'm guessing you haven't heard of. He started out with a bunch of guys in 1991 doing children's entertainment. In fact, he even recorded on album with them, but decided in 1992 that the direction they were taking wasn't for him. The group he left was called the Wiggles, and they are now Australia's richest entertainers. If he had known what was to come, just think how much he would have put up with in the meantime!
Now we know the end. We have the encore all set out for us. But how will we spend the time in between?
Will it be walking in the footsteps of the one who has saved us? Or will it be blending in with the crowd and our culture?
Christianity is not a spectators sport. It is not a kingdom of talk and appearance, but of power. Does your life reflect that?