Holier-than-thou
In April last year when the
coronavirus outbreak just started, one of my colleagues shared an article with
me which I found very helpful and timely. The article was about how we might
navigate different COVID-19 recovery convictions. In the article the writer
quoted Charles Smith, the Vice President of a prominent seminary, this way[1]:
“Prediction: one of the most
challenging aspects of the #COVID19 recovery will be disagreements over
acceptable post-COVID social norms between friends and family. Hurt feelings
will abound if we’re not careful. Extend lots of grace. Everyone is different.”
Though the pandemic has revealed divisions, it’s not something new. The root cause of the problem is pride, or being (more) right. My wife Joyce and I have different gifts. For instance, Joyce is good at cooking and I am good at cleaning. I have the gift of cleaning. But there was a time when I didn’t quite want to use that gift willingly and generously. But rather, I was often being critical of Joyce and complaining that she was to blame because she didn’t much care about keeping things in order. One day I saw the living room dirty and messy. Again, I began to think that Joyce should do better. Then, all of sudden the Holy Spirit said to me, “It is you who should do better. That’s why I have given you the gift of cleaning. I didn’t give you that gift to pick on her and tear her down, but to help her, build her up, and complement each other.”
Gifts of Prophesy and Tongues
A similar thing was happening in
the church of Corinth. They competed and compared their spiritual gifts instead
of complementing each other. They were eager to have spiritual gifts to prove
that they were more spiritual than others. In particular, they wanted to have
the gift of speaking in tongues, because it was easily noticeable and seemed "impressive." And those who received the gift of tongues didn’t use it decently and in order
during public worship, but they used it to build up themselves. As a result,
the church community could not be built up. They were divided and stuck in the
middle. They couldn’t find a way forward. Now let us listen to what Paul has to
say by the Holy Spirit: “Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.” (v.
1) It’s important to understand why
Paul wants them to have the gift of prophecy more than the gift of tongues.
Here when Paul says “prophecy,” he doesn’t just mean foretelling the future,
though that may sometimes happen. Rather, he does mean the God-given wisdom, understanding, insight and teaching that the church badly needs if
it is to be unified and built up as a community. Those who speak in tongues
speak to God; those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and
encouragement and consolation. Those who speak in tongues build up themselves;
those who prophesy build up the church. So the key question to ask ourselves is
this: “Am I exercising the God-given
gifts to build up others or to build up myself?”
Growing Up
Love builds up others. Love
unifies. Today we join many other Christian churches across the globe in
celebrating World Communion Sunday. Different churches have different
understandings of how Christ is present to us in the bread and wine. Some
churches believe that when the bread and wine are blessed by the priest, the
bread and wine are transformed into the actual physical body and blood of
Christ. (“transubstantiation”) Some believe that the bread and wine are merely
symbols, reminding us that Christ’s body was broken for us, and his blood was
shed for us. (“memorial view”) Some believe that it is certainly symbolic, but
it’s more than just a memorial. The bread and wine actually bring to us the
presence of Jesus Christ. (“real presence view”) Different churches also practice
different methods of receiving. In some churches people receive communion while
remaining seated and passing trays of bread and cups, reminding us that God
first comes to us in Jesus Christ, and that we are called to sit at, be served,
and participate in a banquet. In others, people move forward the altar rail and
kneel as they receive the bread and wine, reminding us that we are to respond
to God’s invitation humbly and joyfully. We may have different understandings
of Christ’s presence in the bread and wine. We may practice different ways of
receiving communion. But it’s ok to be different. In fact, it’s good to be different. By this, we can
celebrate diversity, broaden our perspectives, and taste and feel the love of
God for us in a refreshing way.
Stephen Bryant, the former editor of the Upper Room, shares with us how God helps him grow up in love. One time he had a chance to attend a retreat. While on the retreat he was paired for conversation with a delightful man full of grace and wisdom. He later learned that his partner was an influential member of a political group he had all but cursed earlier in the week. At first, he was sad and conflicted. He said, “How could we really be friends, given our differences?” The next morning in prayer, as he wrestled with God over what to do, he heard, “Grow up, Stephen. Grow in my love.”[2]
Sometimes we hear something like this, “If you don’t follow this leader, this political party, this cause, you are not a Christian.” For instance, abortion is one of the most controversial issues today. As Christians, we are forced to take sides, choosing one way or the other. But pro-life and pro-choice movements don’t necessarily have to be incompatible with each other. They can be complementary to each other. I don’t believe none of us in this room encourages abortion. Both the Republicans and the Democrats make efforts to reduce abortion with different approaches. The Republicans try to make abortion illegal, while the Democrats make abortion seem unnecessary. The abortion rate has continued to decrease since the 1990s thanks to both parties’ efforts, government policies on health care, housing, job training, and social service to low-income families that would help women who decide to carry their pregnancies to term. Also, Christians’ roles are significant as they get involved in foster care and pregnancy care centers that provide robust social support for women in need. It doesn’t have to be one way or the other. It can be both/and and neither/nor. It’s okay to be different. To have a healthy family, and a healthy church there must be room for different opinions and experiences. These differences often help us grow together and learn from each other. In all this, love should be our highest aim. Paul exhorts us again and again: being loving is more important than being right.
Pursue Love
How may we apply the principle of 1
Corinthians 14 to our daily lives? I find the following essay very helpful.
It’s called “Top 10 Tips for Christian Evangelism (From an Atheist)”[3]:
1. Be like Jesus: hang with the sinners and judge the judgers.
2. Form genuine relationships with people, don’t treat them as projects.
3. Actions speak louder than words.
4. When talking about religious and philosophical matters, ask more questions and do less preaching.
5. Don’t give unsolicited advice or judgments. Support people and wait for them to ask for your input if they want it.
6. Appreciate that nominal Christians are Christians too.
7. Don’t try to force others into Christian participation.
8. Understand atheists and embrace the opportunity confrontational atheists afford you.
9. Respect other religions even as you evangelize their members.
10. Love your enemies, not just your tribe.
Love does. Love builds up. Love unifies. Let us pursue love as our highest goal in life. Let us always ask ourselves, “Am I using my gifts in the spirit of love?” “Am I building up others, or building up myself?” Let us always speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. Then, outsiders and unbelievers will come and see, saying, “God is really among you!” (v. 25)
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[1]
Costi Hinn, “Navigating Different COVID-19 Recovery Convictions” (April 27,
2020), https://ftc.co/resource-library/blog-entries/navigating-different-covid-19-recovery-convictions/
[2]
Stephen Bryant, “Growing Up,” The Upper
Room (Sep-Oct 2021), 40-41.
[3]
Scott Sauls, Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for
Those Who Are Tired of Taking Sides (p. 198). Tyndale House Publishers,
Inc.. Kindle Edition.
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