MPC, 21st July 2002.1 Corinthians 9:24-10:22 - "Run Hard"
Phil Campbell MPC, 21st July 2002.
Lester Ellis came into the ring 10 years older and out of condition. But very much the crowd favourite. Anthony Mundine bounced into the stadium to jeers and catcalls. The capacity crowd paid $150 a seat to be there. The big event. Three-time world champion Lester Ellis coming out of retirement… to give Mundine what he deserved.
Of course, you probably know the rest. Ellis started well; but by the third round it was all over. And his trainer had thrown in the towel.
And the fans were furious. You might have seen them on TV, interviewed on the way out. One guy who couldn't believed he'd paid $150 for a ticket for a three round fight. $50 a round. He said, "Ellis threw in the towel way too soon. He's a quitter."
Now in any sort of sport, there's a simple rule. If you don't finish… you don't win. That way in boxing. That way in running. If you're not ready to do the hard yards… you might as well not start. If you're not going to train hard, if you're not going to run to win, then you're not really in the race.
And according to the apostle Paul here in 1 Corinthians 9 and 10, that's how it is in the Christian life as well. If you're going to throw in the towel as soon as it gets tough, then you're not really in it at all.
Which is what he wants the Christians in Corinth to know. That no matter how strong the cultural headwinds, they're called to be different. That no matter how strong the opposition, they're called to keep going. That no matter how seductive the temptation, they meant to ignore it. No matter how tough the testing, they've got to see themselves like athletes in training. Running to win.
Which is how it is for him. Take a look at verse 25 and 26. He says, everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. This is serious. Back then at Corinth it was the Isthmian Games every two years. You couldn't even enter unless you'd trained for 8 months. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last. But we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. He says if an athlete is going to go through all that self discipline, all that self denial, all the hard yards just for a crown of leaves, how come we Christians are complaining as soon as the going gets tough. As soon as we're called to say no to something. Because we're Christian.
For the Christians in Corinth we're going to see this is all about cutting out their compromising. With their old life. For Paul, if you think back a few weeks to last time we were in 1 Corinthians, it's about constantly putting other people first.
He says, how hard are you prepared to go at it? As for me, he says, verse 26, I'm running to win. As for me, I'm serious. He says, I don't run like a man running aimlessly. I'm heading somewhere. He says, I don't fight like Lester Ellis; I want to make it count. I'm not fighting like a man beating the air. I'm in training. Beating my body into submission. Making it my slave. So I'm in there to the finish line. And not disqualified for the prize.
Paul's running like he's in it to win it. Which is an example the Corinthians need to take to heart.
Because if they're not careful, they're going to join the ranks of famous non-finishers.
Do you know anyone like that? The sort of person who'll start almost anything. And finish almost nothing. Half finished knitting. Half finished woodwork project. Half read books. In the first half of chapter 10, Paul wants us to learn from the example of the most famous non-finishers of all. The people of Israel. Our forefathers in the faith. Who were great starters. And very poor finishers. Who started out on a journey to the promised land; chosen by God. God leading the way in a cloud. Taking them through the Red Sea on dry land. Showering them with food. Water from a rock in the desert. And yet most of them didn't make it. Because they pulled out too soon. Because when the going got tough, they gave up on God. And looked for other options instead. When the going got tough they complained. When it got tough being different to the people around them, they threw in the towel. And so for a whole generation of them, they didn't make it to the promised land at all. Disqualified. Verse 5 in chapter 10. They all came out of Egypt. They all came through the Red Sea. nevertheless, verse 5, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
These Israelites are the most famous non-finishers of all. And they're meant to serve as an example. A warning. For anyone who wants to be a she'll be right mate sort of Christian. For anyone who wants to have an each way bet. For the sort of Christian who says, maybe, well, I'm okay because I've got the sacraments. I've been Christened. I come along to Communion every time I can. Even get to church a bit more than that sometimes. Well, says Paul, look at Israel. They were kind of baptised too, verse 2, when they came through the Red Sea. They kind of had their sacraments. And look what happened. As an example… verse 6… to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things. As they did.
Do you notice, get to verse 11 and he says exactly the same thing again. Like bookends. These things happened to them as examples, and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come. We Christians… we're at the end point of Dod's plans.
And yet we need to take warning from Israel. In four ways. Four ways that are especially relevant for the Corinthians. Who if you remember from our previous visit are up against two big issues. A church were people are playing with sexual immorality. A church where there's this ongoing issue of what you do about the local idol temple. Which we saw last time was kind of like the local butchers shop and the local Sizzler Restaurant all in one. Where the done thing, the social thing was to go down there on a Saturday night and join in the fun. You'd have the sacrifice, you'd cook it up, and you'd party. And let me tell you, they didn't call it pagan revelry for nothing.
And some of the Christians in Corinth are saying, "What's the big deal?" I mean, we go along to church on a Sunday. What's the big deal if we party at the Temple on Saturday night? Eat the Idol Feast. Have some fun.
We've seen the issue before. Back in chapter 8. Though in this case it's slightly more pointed. Not just eating meat from the temple butcher shop. But actually joining in.
Well, follow it point by point. Four warnings from history.
Verse 7. Do not be idolaters as some of them were. The Israelites. As it is written. It's back in Exodus 32. Moses has been up the hill for a while, and the people say, let's make some gods. They knock up a golden calf. And they throw a party. Paul quotes from Exodus 32 verse 6. The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.
Well, you know. One thing leads to another.
Verse 8. Warning number 2. Christians don't do that stuff. He says we shouldn't commit sexual immorality as some of them did. And in one day 23,000 of them died because of it. Under God's judgement in the wilderness.
Number 3. We shouldn't test the lord. Verse 9. As some of them did. They're impatient. They say, we prefered it in Egypt. What's God think he's doing? And were killed by snakes.
And verse 10. Don't grumble. As some of them did. Numbers 16. They grumble against Moses. Just like the Corinthians are grumbling against Paul. And hundreds die in a plague. Killed, Paul says, by the destroying angel.
So there's the warning. Idolatry. Sexual immorality. And grumbling against God and their leader. Leads Israel into disaster after disaster. They don't finish the race. And in Corinth, they're making exactly the same mistakes. And they're saying "no worries."
To which Paul says, two things. Anticipating two possible responses.
He says, be careful. But don't be a defeatist. Don't say you've got it licked easily. But equally, don't say it's too hard.
Some of them are smug. No worries Paul. I mean, we're not as stupid as the Israelites. They say pride comes before a fall. I'll always remember a friend of mine; he'd borrowed his mate's Harley Davidson to come on a church camp. And he was leaving early. Down at Mount Tamborine. If you know the campsite down there, the place where you have afternoon tea out the front looks down on the carpark. And so there he was, dressed up in his leathers, starting up the beautiful Harley in full view of the crowd. Who were admiring the ease and grace and style of the perfect TV commercial moment. And as he turned on the grass to head out the gate, the front wheel slid out from under him. And everything came crashing down. Nothing hurt but his pride. And a $600 dent in the tank of the Harley. But a classic case of verse 12. So if you think you are standing firm, if you're riding tall in the saddle… be careful you don't fall. There's no room for complacent Christianity.
But at the same time, don't say it's just too hard. Talking to a guy during the week. Used to be a Christian; but now he's got a job. And the guys he's working with are tough. Knockabout blokes. So when Rick's asked the question "Are you still hanging in as a Christian?" he was quite direct. "Nah. Too hard." He said, "The sort of blokes I'm working with, it's just not on. No way I can keep living like a Christian… in the job I've got."
Absolute rubbish. I mean, if you're a Christian in Corinth and all your mates are heading off for some food and fun at the idol temple, sure it's hard. But that's why you're meant to be in training. Don't whinge about it. That's what we're here for. Verse 13, you're not somehow special just because things are a bit tough. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. It's tough for all of us.
There's a sign on the wall at the gym. It says go hard or go home. And that's what Paul says here. It's tough saying no. But that's what you're here for.
Besides which, he says, there's always a way to say no if you want to. Guaranteed. God is faithful. He won't let you be tested beyond what you can bear. So when you're under test; the end of verse 13; when you're tempted, he'll also provide a way out so you can stand up under it. Unless of course, you're still looking for a way in.
What's it going to be. Paul says, as for me, I'm running to win. What's it going to be for you? Whatever your temptation? Overconfident? Or too hard? Thinking your temptation is way worse than anyone elses?
You know, sometimes the best way to run hard when it comes to temptation is to run away. Which is Paul's advice as he closes the section.
The trouble with the Corinthians is they want to keep flirting with trouble. They want to have an each way bet. They want to be Sunday Christians and Monday Aphrodite Worshippers. Which just isn't on. They want to argue away the problem. Idols are just blocks of wood; they're not real, so it doesn't matter if we join in with the crowd.
And so they want to join in the Lord's Supper and count themselves united with Christ; and then join in the idol feasts as well.
Which Paul says is the dumbest sounding excuse for unfaithfulness and compromise he's ever heard. They're just making excuses. Instead of running away. Verse 14; therefore, my dear friends, he says… flee from idolatry. He says, I'm talking to sensible people; you're not idiots. Judge for yourselves what I say. I mean, it's just not on. You drink the cup and break the bread on a Sunday; you're participating in the body of Christ. In his sacrifice. Together with his people.
He says, look back at Israel. You join in the meal at the temple after the sacrifice, you're participating in the altar.
So don't say it's any different at the idol temple. Not that the idols are gods. They're the opposite. They're demons. They're decoys of the devil.
Very easy to swallow the line that all religions lead to God. That all religions are equally true, just worshipping the same God in different ways. Which is the sort of excuse they're probably using. But each way bets are not on. Verse 20, he says, No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want you to be participants with demons. You can't have it both ways. You can't have a part in both the Lord's table the table of demons. So make up your minds. And flee. Before it's too late.
Flee from idolatry. Flee from sexual immorality. And stop trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy. Like parading your new girlfriend past your old one. If they're doing that, they're underestimating the fact that God is calling for exclusive allegiance.
Now for you and me today, being double minded, having it a bit each way… we're probably not facing issues like eating at the local idol temple. And yet there's a lot that's the same. The need to just say no to some things. Instead of making excuses. To flee sexual immorality. Back then it was easy to make pious sounding excuses. And it is now as well. It's socially acceptable. Maurie tells me he was talking to a Christian man from an Asian country… where he says, among the men of the culture, it was a matter of pride to have sexual partners outside your marriage. So he thought nothing of it when he started doing the same. Paul says, don't make excuses about that sort of thing. I mean, it might be tempting. It might be available. Everyone else might be doing it. But you're an athlete in training. Running to win.
Or are you?
Maybe there are some parties if you're a teenager you just shouldn't go to. Maybe there are some movies you just shouldn't even think about seeing. Maybe there are some sorts of friends you just shouldn't mix with. If you're serious.
Maybe there are some tempting business deals that are worth plenty of money. But you know… you just shouldn't touch. Maybe there are some places Christians just shouldn't go. Maybe there are some Web sites Christians just shouldn't click on. Because we're running to win.
You might not remember the name of Eric Moussambani. He's the guy from Equatorial Guinea who was granted a place in the Sydney Olympics. Eric became an overnight celebrity.
But his mum wasn't impressed. She said, I'm surprised. She said, I didn't know Eric cared much for swimming. He quit soccer. He quit basketball. Then he started to run and he quit that too. She said, I think the reason he went in the swimming race is that he mostly wanted to see Sydney.
And so there he was. All dressed up in his Speedo bodysuit, but struggling to make the finish line in the 100 metres. Dead last. More than a minute behind the winning time.
The Corinthians are being Eric Moussambani Christians. Taking it easy. Just in it for the sightseeing along the way. Maybe you are as well. Paul says, time to stop making excuses about being half-a-Christian, and make up your mind. Don't run like you're just running aimlessly. Don't fight like a man beating the air. Run like you're running for the prize. go hard or go home.