1 Corinthians 6:1-11

 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Nothing displays our maturity or lack of maturity more clearly than our reaction to not getting what we want. In this the most immature of churches, the response to denied desires was litigation. The Corinthian culture was very litigious, and this carnal behavior was at home in this church. Paul points out that as Christians we will judge the world and angels; this refers to the judgment at the end of time. Paul says little on that subject, and that is best for us as well. But he was using this reference to point out that with such God-given wisdom and authority, we ought to be able to work out the details of our own civic life.

Paul says that their lack of an ability to work stings out as a matter of shame. People have ruined their reputation and that of the church because, like spoiled children, they refuse to work things out. If cooperation and compromise are not possible, they are so immature that they lack even one person wise enough to decide between the two parties who disagree. This church that is so puffed up, so proud, so pretentious, and so self-aggrandizing doesn’t have one person smart enough to settle these small matters. Even the most humble person, if holy and honest, should be sufficient, but they lack even one such person. The issue is another indication of how sinful and wicked they are. Justice would be best. Suffering loss would be the next best option. But the worst possible option was the one they chose.

Their behavior indicates that the old sinful way of life still clings to them, and so they do evil to their brothers. Paul then lists some of the immoral behaviors that are more obvious and are from their past. Paul is identifying the evil of their wronging each other as being as wicked as their former life. They seem to have forgotten that this wicked life ended with baptism; they were made holy and declared not guilty and should by no means continue the practice.

How wicked is it to divide a church to fracture the fellowship? And in some ways it would be better to practice the vices listed by Paul in verses 9-10. At least those who practice these have a sense of shame and guilt that might lead to repentance. Those who, for their own twisted purposes and personality wreck at church, are almost never repentant, are generally not ashamed but are always guilty.

“Lord, convict my heart if I ever demand to have my way. AMEN”