Community (1Corinthians 3:16-23)

This week’s readings have focused on individual believers becoming more Christ-like. Today’s reading (1 Corinthians 3:16-23) continues that focus, but on a corporate level, as a/the Church. 

That corporate focus is indicated by the Greek translated as “you” in verses 16 and 17; it is plural. See Youse, You Guys, Yous Guys, You Lot, You-uns, Yinz, You All & Y’all – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.  Indeed, that is reflected in many English translations; they translate the Greek with plural references (“ye” in the King James, “you yourselves’ and “you together”  in the New International Version, “all of you together” in the New Living Translation).  

So what does today’s reading tell us about the Church? Two things jump out.

First and foremost, it shows that God desires the Church to foster ongoing, intimate, relationship with Him. Verse 16 tells us that the Church is where His Spirit should “dwell” “in” our midst. The Greek underlying those words communicates a rich relationship. To “dwell” is to inhabit, reside, settle, be fixed and operative in something. “In’ connotes mingling, being ingrafted, in fellowship and union with. God wants the Church to be the means for lasting, infusing, interaction with His people.  That sounds a lot like what Jesus was talking about in John 17:20-24.  

Also, the Church is to produce relationships between believers that transcend those found in the world. Verses 17 and 18 tell us that God desires that we exceed “the standards of this age” in our love. That’s consistent with Jesus’ instruction that we are to live so that people know us by our love for each other. John 13:35.  Its also consistent with the idea that we are to be mutually supporting parts of the same body, 1 Corinthians 12:7, 12-27; Romans 12:3-13,  and that we should “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24. God does not want us to settle for superficial relationship, He wants us to go much deeper.

So what does this reading tell us about how we get there? Several things.

One way is through humility. We are to contribute to our Church communities without vanity or a puffed-up sense of our importance. None of us are too good to hang with and love on any other person in the church or to take on any task that builds them up. See verse 18 and James 2:1-9. 

Another way is to ditch divisions and focus on the wonderful relationship we all share with Christ. See verses 21 and 22. We can’t let the tribalism of the culture at large or differences over such internal matters as worship styles or ministry focuses interfere with our relationships with our fellow members. What unites us—Christ and His love—is so much better than those things as to make differences over them immaterial. We are foolish to let those things get in way of the loving relationships Jesus wants us to have with each other.

Finally, we are to fully engage in Church community. As verses 22 and 23 suggest, God wants us to make the most of what the Church provides in order best distribute His love. That requires us to get off the sidelines and get involved.   Those things build relationships that directly deliver the love God wants to flow through His church—don’t miss out on them.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for giving us your Church. Draw us fully into it. Don’t let pride, shyness, or differences hinder our giving and receiving all the love you desire to distribute through it. Help us to love each other fully. We ask this in Jesus all loving name.