A list of their problems looks remarkably like ours as well

By Dean Collins

The problem in Corinth was greater than our problem with the pandemic. Theologians aren’t sure whether the problem started in Corinth or somewhere else. But now arguing about where it started probably doesn’t solve anything. What’s needed is to stop the spread. Wearing a mask won’t help much. What’s needed is to widen our hearts. Otherwise, our work runs the risk of being in vain.

Good news

There’s a lot of good news to build upon if we want to be a part of the solution instead of adding to the problem.

First, it’s a favorable time. Furthermore, we know God has a record of responding to great needs. Isaiah gave a good example of God’s deliverance of Israel from exile in Isaiah 49:8-13. The hungry were fed. The prisoners were released. Land was restored. Deliverance was real. God has a great track record of responding at a favorable time. He listens and answers. His answers have far-reaching impact that spans generations and vast stretches of geography.

If we want to see this kind of impact today it will require working together. If we all join in, the result will be more powerful. But if we try to do the work without God we won’t get much farther than we are right now. And right now it appears we are at an impasse somewhat similar to where Paul was with the Corinthians.

Stubborn and vulnerable

The believers there were a stubborn bunch. And their stubbornness was part of what made them vulnerable to various new doctrines. Their small hearts might have restricted blood flow to their brains because they tended to be naive about the preachers and teachers who showed up with new, clever messages. These super-apostles were like snake oil salesmen. It all sounded good. It was also easier than the gospel Paul and his ministry partners had first taught.

When slick-talking leaders showed up with lots of promises, the church in Corinth forgot what Paul had been through to share the good news of Jesus with them and with everyone. Unlike these new apostles, Paul wasn’t in it for fame or money. To jar their memory, Paul reminded them what he had endured for them: affliction, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, and riots. He also had many hungry days and sleepless nights.

Even as he went through all of these difficulties, he did it while demonstrating purity, patience, kindness, and knowledge from God. His genuine love flowed straight from God’s heart to theirs, because as he had already said earlier in his letter, he was evidence that God makes everyone and all things new when we come to Jesus and accept his work on the cross for our behalf.

Truth and love

Paul never shied away from speaking truth in love. But often when we need corrective instructions, we tend to pull back and point the finger the other way. Even as the Corinthians did that, Paul by the grace of God allowed his heart to stay wide open.

I suspect you’ve noticed the same thing I’ve noticed. Those of us who claim to follow Jesus are doing a lot of arguing with each other. And it’s not behind closed doors where we should be listening, practicing forgiveness, and experiencing reconciliation. It’s wide open on every media platform. Church folk are arguing about doctrine, race relations, sexuality, history, and power. And what’s worse, we tend to mirror the political world that often overlooks truth in favor of power, money, and fame.

Paul told the Corinthians he didn’t put restrictions on them. They were restricted by their own affections. I suspect that has never been more true than it is in our current moment. Our love of being right and being in control has limited our ability to love and fulfill the Great Commission we’ve been given.

Paul’s instruction to the church in Corinth was to widen their hearts. It can be done, but it will require repentance. We need a reset on the simple, yet powerful gospel. As we receive God’s forgiveness and grace for our stubbornness and misdirected way, we will see our hearts grow wider.

Your time with God’s Word
2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:1-13; ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭49:8-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

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