1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

There doesn't seem to be anything that the Corinthians can’t twist, distort, and corrupt by means of their divisive spirit, pride, and selfish agendas. In this case it is a matter of spiritual gifts. For the next several chapters, Paul is going to attempt to set right this deep confusion, or willful evil, that grows out of the spiritual immaturity occasioned by the use and abuse of the gifts God had given. One wonders how God feels when the gifts He gives us are used to hurt our brothers and sisters in Christ. We give our children a gift or a tool that they can use profitably, such as a knife or an axe, and they use it to abuse their siblings. How would we feel? That is what has happened at Corinth.

Thousands of volumes have been written about the charismatic gifts, so rather than look at those issues, let's look in a different direction. Paul begins by saying, I do not want you “unaware”. The word unaware gives us the English word agnostic"; literally, it means without knowledge. It is entirely possible for Christians to live as practical agnostics, neither knowing nor caring about the truth of the Gospel and Christian doctrine. Simple and trusting faith is not the same as ignorance. As we grow in knowledge, we should grow in our faith and also in our worship of God.

Paul contrasts the value of knowing with the life of paganism. The powers of darkness lead people, as noted in verse 2. But the language here is the language of being led to execution or being condemned. The life of those outside of Christ, rather than one of libertarian freedom, is a steady march to deeper and deeper darkness, slavery, and destruction. Christians at Corinth were apparently being led by the powers of darkness toward the same doom.

Why does Paul bring this up? Because the combination of ignorance and arrogance has allowed dark powers to lead them away. So much so that some were saying, “Jesus is accursed,” and apparently claiming this was a spiritual manifestation. Very likely it was a spirit speaking, but it was clearly not the Holy Spirit. The Corinthians were apparently too ignorant to oppose this wickedness and were more concerned with how to display their gifts in order to hold the spotlight. Arrogance and ignorance is a deadly combination.

Paul is about to point out a key principle in reference to spiritual gifts that has universal application. That which glorifies Christ, unites and builds up the body, and prompts the disciple to more completely die to self is the work of the Holy Spirit. But the Corinthians, in a great many churches today, the good gifts given for the benefit of the church have been prostituted to the end that Christ is dishonored, the church divided and wounded, and individuals are becoming proud and self-serving. Any subject matter that fails to do the former and accomplishes the latter is not being handled correctly. If Christ is not glorified in word and life, something is wrong.

“Lord, help all my life be about bringing You honor and building up Your body, the Church. AMEN”