"Blindsided"

 "Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?"

1 Corinthians 5:6.

So, there you are, sitting in first century Corinth, as a member of the new assembly of those who have found faith in the Lord who has conquered death, and things are looking pretty good.

You already have oversight from two of the leading Apostles of the new church, you already are a company who have experienced some extraordinary gifts and you have some naturally gifted people amongst you. You are pretty pleased with the way things are because of these qualities and are generally enjoying the consequences of where all this places you as a company and as individuals, not beyond, in fact, feeling somewhat 'relaxed' and confident in the way all this is expressed in some of your gatherings.

So you're a little surprised at Paul's recent letter to your church, which clearly states that many of the things you viewed as some the fellowship's best features have in fact become a means for some dreadful mistakes and off the rails behaviour that really shouldn't have become 'the norm' amongst you.

The upshot of what's now been brought into the open is that in spite of all the really good things that have been invested into your being remarkably blessed, there are some gaping holes in what you're about and unless these are addressed and thoroughly corrected, the entire congregation could come to a point of total collapse because it is, in various ways, missing what it has actually been called to be and to do.

One of the biggest issues is that in spite of being called to be very different from the culture around you, it's clear that much of what passes as acceptable, even respectable in that society has seeped its way into the social undercurrents of what Christianity in Corinth has become.

Paul is making it clear that the point where Jesus made the difference in respect to being alienated from God - the Cross - should also be removing our petty differences and ending ill-informed forms of one another's specific behaviours in regards to how we live.

Christ's giving of Himself defines our lives and actions by bringing a reality where our union to what's enduring roots us with a framework that allows something more than our folly to be evidenced in what's said and done, especially, take note says Paul, when it comes to our service and our worship (chapters 10,11,12, 13 and 14). This is the source of living well before others (chapters 3-8).

All of this is conveyed for a single purpose - that this beloved company can be watchful, stand fast in truth, and, in such strength, act like men (16:13).

The goal is maturity, and it can be evidenced. This is imperative, says Paul, because of the 'testing' of our work that is coming (Chapter 3:12-15).

What becomes clear as we read through all this is that there is a major discrepancy between the way the Corinthian believers saw themselves and the very telling group of flaws that the Apostle identifies.

They thought they had a few 'small' matters to iron-out in respect to some secondary things to do with ethics or 'debatable' matters in regards to their faith - Paul exposes vast realms where the corrosion of relativism had taken them right away from what was vital in respects to what they believed and how they sought to show this.

Their culture may have revelled in "scholarship" and Greek-speaking Jews would have no doubt added the traditional "learning" of the scribe, but Paul's epistle leaves us in no doubt that neither system could provide the message of life that truly changes us - the Gospel goes way beyond intellectual content or secular satisfaction.

The Cross is a message that drills down into the enormity of our failures, fears, sufferings - our 'weakness' at comprehending what truly matters, and there, in the midst of this, brings a mercy that is entirely ridiculous to 'common sense'. It is in this form that the truth always comes undimmed by our folly.

"God is not impressed by the superficial 'advantages' we deem of merit... to believe such would be utter nonsense" ( D A Carson - The Cross and Christian Ministry).

Which brings us from the first century, to the present.

We most certainly suffer from the same manner of evaluation of what counts as the Corinthians (just think about what's really behind your sitting in a Starbucks, using an iPhone). Ours is a time when what is deemed to be the 'correct' manner of evaluation and definition regarding what is profitable is sourced from a 'wisdom' that the pagan world would have totally understood and applauded. We have 'experts' aplenty, and are drowning in a sea of those telling us what is correct, but it negates the truth found in what is evidenced in the Cross.

Like Corinth, the church now is "deeply infected with the virus of triumphalism, and the resulting illness destroys genuine humility (towards the necessity of Paul's emphatic message), minimises grace, and offers far too much homage to the money, power and intrusive influences of the wisdom of today" (Carson).

The remedy also, thankfully, remains the same.

We must return, fully, to the uncompromising requirements of "Christ Crucified" - not only in what is touched on in our liturgy or sacrament, but in the whole nature of our life together, and that requires something far more radical in this present climate than our just 'continuing' as if the world has not encroached on our vital identity - it clearly has and the damage will remain and grow unless the cruciform nature of faith is restored wholly to us all.

It's a hard lesson, but it's an absolute must for today.