The Eternal adventure Chapter 16
Corinth - A Sailor's Town
It was a city where the main product was sex, and anything was allowed. Men and women had no boundaries when it came to sexual preference, or gender fluidity. Morality was subject to the situation at hand. Abortion was a common practice and often encouraged by the intellectual elite. Infanticide was encouraged for deformed, unwanted, or wrong sex children.
Does this sound like many cities in North America, Europe, and Asia in the 21st Century?
Welcome to Ancient Corinth!
Laura and the Temple of Apollo, Corinth, 2001
It is a city located on a narrow isthmus four miles wide on the Gulf of Corinth, which connects the mainland of Greece to the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Any ship sailing from the Adriatic Sea to the Aegean could sail around the lengthy, stormy, rocky coast of the Peloponnese, or sail up the relatively calm waters of the Gulf of Corinth to this narrow isthmus where men would drag the ships on logs across to the Aegean side (now there is a canal cut through). This process usually took to good part of a week, but not to worry. Ancient Corinth was the perfect sailor’s town.
The modern Corinth Canal, built in the 1890's by those who built the Suez Canal.
The dominate building in Corinth was the Temple of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, which still sits above the city. It was staffed by 1000 prostitutes, male and female, who welcomed all worshippers. On every major intersection of the ancient city was a statue of a man, woman, animal, or combination of, in a sexual posture. Sex was the main commodity of Corinth, and the wealthiest citizen who wielded the most political power was the High Priestess of Aphrodite.
The site of the Temple of Aphrodite, with the ruins of a 19th Century fortress
Having served in the United States Navy for 10 years, I have been to a few ‘sailor’s towns’, visiting ports in Europe, Asia, Australia, Hawaii, as well as cities in the U.S. It seems that sailors throughout history have had a few things in common. We spend long days and weeks at sea, without much ‘diversion’ or ‘refreshment’. When we come ashore, it is time to focus on making up for lost time. That usually involves imbibing in as much refreshment as possible, as being at sea for extended periods makes you thirsty. Since I served on aircraft carriers (USS Wasp, USS Kitty Hawk, USS Enterprise, and finally USS Coral Sea) with 5000 other men, we all looked forward to friendly female companionship. There were many things to talk about. Since we worked hard at sea, we had money to spend, and often when presented the bill for our food and beverage, we would cry out “Cheap at twice the price!”.
The Cardo with the Bema Seat platform
Randy Smith teaching at the Bema Seat, 2001
I admit, sometimes it got out of hand. My friend and fellow A-6 pilot Steven Coonts captured a few of these moments in his book Flight of the Intruder, which later became a movie. One moment in particular that I heard from one of our mutual friends, Russ Palsgrove, and later saw enacted in the movie Flight of the Intruder, was the time one of our fellow aviators was wandering through the streets of Olongapo City in the Philippines, when he asked the driver of a jeepney (local taxi) if he had room for a pizza and six pack of beer. The driver nodded yes, and the aviator leaned in and proceeded to vomit that pizza and beer into the jeepney.
Yes, things sometimes got a little rowdy on shore leave. Maybe ‘often’ might be a better word. Sailors do have a reputation for this sort of behavior.
My wife Laura grew up in Honolulu, not far from the Navy base at Pearl Harbor. I met her on Maui in 1987, eight years after I got out of the Navy. When I proudly told her that I used to fly in the Navy, I didn’t get the reaction of awe and admiration that I expected. Instead, she gave me this look of disdain and said: “You were one of those?” I was shocked! Obviously, she had witnessed my brother aviators having too much fun on more than one occasion.
Corinth was THE sailor town of the First Century. According to the Wycliff Bible Commentary, “The reputation of Corinth is illustrated by the fact that the verb “to act like a Corinthian” was used of practicing fornication, and the phrase “Corinthian girls” designated harlots.”[1].
This is where Paul decided to plant a church community that would thrive during the next few centuries.
Corinthian Forum
Acts 18:1-11
Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.
Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike. And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”
Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized.
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God. Acts 18:1-11
Paul finds a couple skilled in his trade- making tents which is a well-known industry of his home town of Tarsus. Pricilla and Aquila become disciples of Jesus in Corinth, the first of many. Then the rest of the Road Trip Team arrived, and now things began to break out.
Corinthian Capital
Why was Paul fearful? Perhaps it had to do with the many riots which had occurred as a result of his preaching, and the times he had been beaten, imprisoned, and stoned by an angry crowd who thought they had killed him. The pattern of Paul’s ministry up to this point had been to start with the Jews in the synagogue, and once they rejected the message, to focus on the Gentiles. It was at this stage that usually the Jews became jealous and angry and came against Paul, slandering him publicly and bringing false accusations against him. Naturally as he saw more and more Greeks becoming followers of Jesus, he began to become fearful of what was coming next.
It what at this point that God spoke specifically to him to tell him two significant things:
- That no one would attack and harm him while he was in Corinth,
- Many people in Corinth already belonged to God.
This is a very interesting piece of information: God already had people in Corinth who would become disciples of Jesus. All Paul needed to do was his part- speak boldly to those God brought across his path.
Principle: When we begin our ministry wherever God leads us He is already doing something in the lives of many that He will bring across our path.
Our arrival is not a coincidence, but rather an orchestration of God’s plan to reach humanity. Often, He has placed something in motion, and all we have to do is show up.
A Corinthian doctor's signage indicating what injuries and diseases he has healed.
A good historical example of this occurred in Hawaii in the early 1800’s when the first Christian missionaries arrived in Hawaii.
The ‘Napoleon of the Pacific’ was Kamehameha, who through often bloody conquest in the late 1700’s became the unifying king of Hawaii. During that time there was a ‘Kapu’ system in place, instituted by the high priests, that imposed taboos on men and women eating together, women eating certain foods, and commoners- ‘Kanaka’- associating with the ‘Alii’- the royalty. Breaking of these taboos often resulted in death to the offender, usually at a sacred worship site, by strangling or bludgeoning. It was a very cruel, oppressive system. When foreign sailors began coming to Hawaii during that time, Hawaiians noticed that these foreigners ignored the kapus, with no punishment from the gods nor the priests.
Kamehameha’s favorite wife was Queen Kaahumanu, who became an important member of his government. Kaahumanu began ignoring the kapus as well by eating meals with the sailors, and smoking a pipe. When Kamehameha died on May 8, 1819, Kaahumanu took charge and became co-ruler with the young son of Kamehameha, Liholiho. It was custom that when there was a new king, all the taboos were lifted, so the new king could establish his own authority. After Kamehameha’s death, women began eating the forbidden foods, (pork & coconuts), and Alii and Kanaks alike began sleeping together, wherever they liked. It was as if the gods no longer existed.
Kaahumanu convinced the new king to eat his first official meal with the women, and together they abolished the kapu system. A few months later, they began destroying the sacred worship sites.
Coincidently it was during this time that a group of 14 missionaries left Connecticut sailing around the tip of South America, arriving in Hawaii on March 30, 1820. Queen Kaahumanu became one of the first Christians, and she learned reading and writing from them. For the rest of her life, she was a friend to all the missionaries, and well used by God in her culture. By the 1850’s, the largest Christian Church was in Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii, with a congregation of over 5000.
Let’s not forget this important principle of God’s purpose in our lives:
God has preordained things for us to do for the mission of His Kingdom. We must show up to do our part as He does His.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10
Ancient Corinthian mosaics
Paul’s arrival in Corinth was not coincidental, and his experience in Athens helped him prepare for the ministry in Corinth. Here is how Paul describes his mindset as he arrived in the famous Sailor’s Town.
When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-6
Paul took on the best philosophers of his time in his message on Mars Hill. Utilizing his knowledge of Greek history and culture, he made a very compelling argument to the elite citizens of Athens. Yet there was little fruit in the ministry there, probably because they didn’t feel a need for another god in their lives. But when he came to Corinth, he had abandoned the ‘lofty argument’ strategy, and instead focused on the simplicity of Jesus Christ, and his atoning death on the cross. He decided to rely on God to demonstrate the truth of his words through God’s own demonstration of His Presence and Power.
Perhaps the crowd in Corinth was more receptive to the Gospel message. The Athenian crowd was comfortable, with very little needs. They took pride in their gods, their way of life, and their thinking. The Corinthians were a different breed, caught up in their sensuous culture, and often undisciplined way of life. Perhaps they realized the consequences of sin, and their need for a savior. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:5
The contrasts between the two groups are clear and relevant. The soil of Corinth was more fertile than the soil of Athens. As a result, God used the Road Trip Team to bring many into the Kingdom.
Corinthian spring and water works
The history of Christianity for the past two millennium demonstrates that often spiritual revival movements begin ‘on the wrong side of the tracks’. Although we have seen many waves of the Spirit on college campuses that have spread throughout society, it is people often on the fringes of society or ecclesiastical organizations who respond the most to the message of forgiveness of sins and eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
I was once invited to speak to a group of Teen Challenge students during the 24 Hour Race at Daytona. My friend Terry Borcheller is a world class race car champion who has won the 24 Hour Daytona race a few times, the last time in 2010.
Michael & Laura with Tracy and Terry Borcheller
Each year he takes a group from Teen Challenge in Vero Beach to be his guests at that famous event in January. We were using the Media Center as our classroom, and the roar of the passing cars was present, and sometimes deafening. The Teen Challenge students were in the program because of troubles with the law, or troubles at home. Each of the students in front of me had stepped outside the norms of societal behavior and were reaping the consequences of their disobedience. They had all pushed the boundaries of willful selfish pleasure, and now were in a process of change. Hopefully.
Standing in the Media Center hearing the roar of the race outside, I suddenly realized that these students had something in common with those drivers zooming past the Media Center. Both groups were willing to ‘push the pedal to the metal’, to take risks, and to push the limits of safety. None of the drivers were willing to stay on the public highways and conform to the laws of the road. They felt the need to get in an environment where they could travel as fast as their vehicle and skill could take them.
Michael with the Teen Challenge students, Daytona Raceway, 2011
I told the students that they had much in common with the drivers roaring around the Daytona track, and that actually God likes those who are willing to take risks and go outside the norms of societal expectations. These students had done that in their personal lives, and had been ‘driving fast’, but down the wrong road. Now that many of them were finding The Way, The Truth, and The Life in Jesus Christ, they would be the ones who would ‘put the pedal to the metal’ in their spiritual lives. They would be the bold witnesses, those willing to jump feet first into God’s adventure for their lives, and they would be the most effective members of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus had encounters with many wealthy and politically powerful people during His time on Earth. Often their status and possessions kept them from receiving true life. Spiritual Pride is often a barrier to the message of the Gospel. Notice the contrast between the very moral Pharisee and a very immoral woman in the following encounter at the home of a wealthy member of the power elite. Pharisees were the Jewish sect that prided themselves for living up to a code that was even more stringent that the Biblical commandments.
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”
“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.
Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”
Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”
“That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”
Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”
And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:36-50
Look for those whom God has positioned to receive the Gospel. Be aware of the barriers of pride, power, and possessions that hinder many from stepping out from their comfort zones into God’s adventure for their lives. Pray for all that we encounter, that indeed God Himself would draw them into a relationship with Him. Some of the most unlike characters will respond, while others who are ‘good people’ will not.
This was probably the case in Corinth. As expected, opposition arose.
But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.”
But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case. 15 But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.” And he threw them out of the courtroom.
The crowd then grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right there in the courtroom. But Gallio paid no attention. Acts 18:12-17
Corinthian Agora
God’s words to Paul were true. He was not harmed. Instead, the crowd grabbed the leader of the synagogue, Sosthenes, beating him right there in public in front of the Judgement (Bema) Seat.
What effect did this have for Paul? He was left undisturbed for the rest of his time in Corinth. And for Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue? Apparently in the following months, he had an experience with God where he became a follower of Jesus. Sosthenes became Paul’s friend, and joined the next Road Trip Team. How do we know this? When Paul writes his first letter to the church at Corinth from Ephesus, here is how he begins the letter:
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes. I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. 1 Corinthians 1:1-2
Paul is sure to let his friends in Corinth know that someone they know is with Paul, ministering in Ephesus with Pricilla and Aquila and others. Apparently, the beating that Sosthenes suffered that day in front of Gallio gave Sosthenes pause to consider what he was doing, and what it was that he should be doing. God will use any circumstances in life to get our attention.
Principle: God will often use those most opposed to the Gospel to spread the Good News.
From Paul’s later letters to the church in Corinth, we can understand the nature of this group of new believers and the issues that they encountered, which Paul and his team had to address. It may do us well to understand that these same issues will pop up as we deal with new believers.
Imagine if we went to Las Vegas and began to work the crowds at the casinos, hotels, sports bars, grocery stores, and in our neighborhoods. God has his people in Las Vegas, and we began to meet them, spend time with them, and invite them for meals, coffee and even into our homes. Think of who that would be: exotic dancers, blackjack dealers, room service waiters, drug dealers, bartenders, prostitutes, drag queens, transvestites, gay & lesbian, construction workers, hotel workers, pimps, and other upright citizens.
Obviously, there will be some issues to resolve in the discipleship process. With his sisters and brothers in Corinth, Paul encountered quarrels and divisions among the ecclesia, as well as sexual immorality, rebellion, pride, lawsuits, strange ideas, and general confusion about what the Christian life was all about.
One passage from Paul’s first letter to his friends in Corinth sums up the issues that Paul and his team faced in Corinth, which we too will face as we carry out the Great Commission.
Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Isn’t it comforting to realize that the elders of the church in Corinth were once considered ‘despicable people?”
Apollo's Temple. Corinth
In our present days, we will encounter many ‘despicable people’ of varying backgrounds. Many will be proud and opinionated, considering Christianity to be ‘the opium of society’ for those who are not capable of acquiring the prestige, power and possession that give true pleasure to this life. Some will be those who have had failures and disappointments in this life and are stuck in a lifestyle of despondence. Others will be good people, who have achieved a successful lifestyle according to the normal metrics. They may even be church members.
They all share some basic needs: a spiritual awakening; understanding of who Jesus is; an acceptance of his sacrifice for their sins; and an inflowing of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Paul understood this need and he counted on God to do His part to win their hearts as Paul and his team did theirs. How did Paul make disciples in this morally corrupt city of Corinth? How do we make disciples of this current cultural crowd that we find ourselves with? Perhaps we should remember what our Leader did.
Jesus shared meals with them:
Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?” Mark 2:15-16
He told us to be known as friendly people who did nice things for others:
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:13-16
When asked ‘what is the most important commandment?’, Jesus gave us instructions for how to effectively make disciples.
Jesus replied, “’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NLT
Principle: Discipleship is summed up in these two commandments- “Love God” and “Love Your Neighbor”. (Deut.6:5 & Leviticus 19:18)
Notice that this is a two-step process- Love God (and receive God’s Love)- then you are able to love your neighbor. When it was asked “who is my neighbor” Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritian—which showed that “our Neighbor” is any fellow inhabitant of this planet who needs help (Luke 10:25-37).
How do we Love our neighbor? God wants us to have a very practical expression of love. There is a phrase “One Another” in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) that gives us very specific ways that we are to love our neighbors. We are to accept, give preference to, be patient, forgive, be kind and tenderhearted, and hospitable to one another. See the complete list below.
Why does God want us to Love One another?
One of the deepest needs that we have is to feel love. He knows that we naturally will not extend ourselves to others- it goes against our human natures. He also knows that loving others is the key ingredient for bringing people into the Kingdom of God. How Important is Loving One Another?
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT
An atmosphere of Loving One Another draws people into the Kingdom of God. The first step in making a disciple is to display genuine love toward that person. Further steps are taken as this “love” relationship grows. A person will not receive the Words of God until he feels the Love of God. The “One Another” commandments are in the Bible for a reason. If we follow these guidelines in our relationships with those that God places around us, we will see very natural, organic transformation.
Paul’s experience with his friends in Corinth teach us much on how we are to interact with these ‘good and despicable’ people that God will place in our path in these days. Interestingly, much wisdom comes from a discussion found in Chapters 8-10 of his first letter to the Corinthians on if we Christians are allowed to eat meat offered to the gods. In Corinth, the butcher shops were just a few 100 meters from the Temple of Apollo, with restaurants located in the same vicinity. This is where the best steak in Corinth was found.
Michael & Laura standing in a butcher shop just down the street from Apollo's Temple
Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols.
Problem: Is it permissible to eat at the restaurants next to the butcher shops that cut up to animals used in temple sacrifice?
Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. 2 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. 3 But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3
Principle: contentions over secondary issues such as this are less important than treating each other in a loving manner.
4 So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. 5 There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. 6 But for us,
There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live.
And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.
7 However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. 1 Corinthians 8:4-7
Principle: Not everyone is in the same place spiritually. We are only responsible to obey what God has told us.
8 It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.
Principle: Dietary laws have nothing to do with gaining God’s favor. He has already given us all His favor.
9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:8-13
Principle: It is more important to not cause a less mature brother or sister to stumble than to exercise your own freedom. It is better to curtain your freedom for the sake of a brother or sister, even if their theology is in error.
Chapter 9
Paul explains How he has curtained his freedom for their sakes:
1 Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? 2 Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.
3 This is my answer to those who question my authority. 4 Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? 5 Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?
7 What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk? 8 Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing? 9 For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 10 Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.
11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.
13 Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. 15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. 16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!
17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News. 1 Corinthians 9:1-18
Now Paul explains his philosophy of cross cultural ministry
Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ.
Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Principle: Our focus in life should not be just satisfying ourselves and exercising our freedom, but curtaining our liberties and fitting in with those we are with, building relational bridges and friendships, so that we can be the “Salt and Light” (Matthew 5) to those God has placed us with. We should have an eternal focus in life, making our time count for eternal purposes. Personal discipline is a vital ingredient in our mission from God.
Finally after this symposium on discipleship, Paul offers his perspective on eating meet that has been sacrificed to the gods of Corinth.
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS. If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:23-33
Paul’s two letters to his friends in Corinth offer so many practical principles of the Christian life and God’s plan for our mission in this day. They are worthy of study and application.
Finally it is time for the next Chapter of Paul’s Eternal Adventure.
Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow. They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, but taking leave of them and saying, “I will return to you again if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus. When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and went down to Antioch. Acts 18:18-22
Paul’s ministry in Athens and Corinth demonstrates the different approaches to presenting the Gospel message. We must know our audience and rely on the Holy Spirit to show us what to say and do in addition to what Jesus modeled to His disciples. Jesus tells us He will be with us as we engage the culture around us. It is an exciting fulfilling lifestyle. It is the Eternal Adventure.
Michael after eating a steak at the comidor just down the street from this temple...
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Here are the 22 Commandments for Loving “One Another”:
1) Romans 12:10 Be devoted. . .
2) Romans 12:10 Give Preference. . .
3) Romans 12:13 Contribute to the needs of. . .
4) Romans 14:13 Do not judge. . .
5) Romans 14:19 Build up. . .
6) Romans 15:7 Accept. . .
7) 1 Corinthians 12:25 Care for. . .
8) Galatians 5:13 Serve. . .
9) Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens.
10) Ephesians 4:2 Be patient. . .
11) Ephesians 4:32 Be kind & tenderhearted. . .
12) Ephesians 4:32 Forgive. . .
13) Colossians 3:16 Teach and admonish. . .
14) 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Comfort. . . .
15) Hebrews 3:13 Encourage. . .
16) James 4:11 Do not be against. . .
17) James 5:9 Do not complain. . .
18) James 5:9 Confess your sins. . .
19) James 5:16 Pray for. . .
20) 1 Peter 4:8 Keep fervent in your love. . .
21) 1 Peter 4:9 Be Hospitable. . .
22) 1 Peter 5:5 Submit. . .
[1] Pfeiffer, C. F., & Harrison, E. F. (Eds.). (1962). The Wycliffe Bible Commentary: New Testament. Chicago: Moody Press.
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