SETTING THE CONTEXT FOR 1 CORINTHIANS

The church in Corinth was a very contentious church. There were divisions in the church over this issue and that. Since most of the folks were Gentiles and had been raised worshiping the Roman gods, they were trying to let go of old habits and practices to embrace the Christian ones. Some of them really struggled with the transition. It is apparent too that some church members were saying that they were more important than others and were demanding privileged treatment. Someone was even using Holy Communion as a time to get drunk!! Whenever I get a little discouraged about the church, when I think it is failing to be Christ-like, I go back and read about the Corinthians. The church has always been “a hospital for sinners rather than a museum of saints” as that well-known theologian, Dear Abby once said. The apostle Paul is trying to help this wild and wooly group of believers capture a vision of who they are to become as Christ’s body, the church. 

READ 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 

THE SERMON

When I was in high school I was invited to sit on a panel for a discussion about religion and the church. I don’t remember much about the event except that I made a comment that I didn’t think you needed to be part of a church to be a Christian. Apparently that hit a raw nerve of one of the other panel members because he or she, I don’t remember who, jumped all over me to the point that other people came up afterward and apologized to me. I have to say after years of experience and years of being part of the life of the church; I have changed my mind on that matter. I do think people need to be involved in a church because we need to be immersed in a community of people striving to become Christ-like.

For the last month, George and I have been talking about the HABITS of a growing Christian.ⁱ Each letter in the word HABITS reminds us of an important practice or means of grace. I’d like you to say them with me. “H” means have a relationship with God. “A” is accountability with another Christian. “B” means be in service. And today we are talking about “I” involvement in the church body.

When Jesus began his public ministry he did not call one person, a vice-Messiah if you will, he called twelve people to join him in ministry. And amazingly enough they dropped all that was familiar, all the plans for their futures they had had to follow him. And Jesus taught and trained them and sent them out to not only tell people that God was near but to demonstrate it to them through concrete acts of compassion. Jesus, himself, instituted the first faith community that followed him.

Carol Rinehart is a life long educator who developed the Music Camps that are offered every year at Mingus Mountain Camp. One day when we were talking to Carol, he made the comment, “Isn’t it wonderful that God in God’s wisdom made us so that we need each other and we have to rely upon each other.” That is exactly what Paul is trying to help those rambunctious Corinthians to understand. Paul uses the image of the body to try and explain the same thing and he tries to challenge those who think they are more valuable to look at those they are disregarding in a new way. Anyone who has ever hurt a thumb or big toe, anyone who, do I dare say it in church, has had plumbing problems and couldn’t go to the bathroom knows how important those “lesser” parts are.

While we were on vacation recently, we went to church and one of my colleagues Rev. David Webber gave me another wonderful image of people in the church – the goose. Now I didn’t know much about geese, but I was deeply moved by what he shared. In fact I was so moved that I asked him if I could borrow this video and share it with you. Here is A Goose Story ⁱⁱ.

(A slightly different version is also available on the Internet at www.trc.eku.edu/gstory.html.)

God shows us once again shows us that the interdependence of community is a part of God’s design. Like geese, by flying together the uplift we create for each other helps us to fly longer and farther than we could on our own. Changing our attitudes, habits and lifestyles is hard work. Christ’s call to come and follow is hard. Sometimes it means we have to change our plans and leave some things behind. It took time and effort for the Corinthians and it takes time and effort for us. We need the support of the community; we need the constant challenge and encouragement to grow more Christ-like. If I don’t go to church for a couple of weeks, (which doesn’t happen often any more) I miss being with a group of people who are striving to live a different way. I begin to get a little lazy about being in service or staying accountable to a Christ-like character. And I miss the joy of praising God together, of hearing voices full of love and hope singing and praying together. I tear up a lot in church because I am so moved by what I experience and it helps me to go the distance.

I love the lesson of the lead goose, too. When the lead goose begins to tire, he or she moves to the wing and another goose moves into the point. As we seek to accomplish God’s purposes, we don’t have to do it alone. We don’t have to rely on one person, but God in God’s amazing generosity gives us people with many talents, personalities and passions so we don’t have to put the entire load on one person. We can take turns being the lead goose. And doesn’t it put a new slant on the noise a flock of geese make when they fly? Those who are following are honking their encouragement and support. I want to say that you all have been so encouraging to George and I. I can’t tell you how much it has meant to us. It has certainly given us courage to lead and serve you and to look forward to a very fruitful future. We hope we can be as “good honkers” of you in your leadership positions.

Sadly people get wounded in the church or fall away for one reason or another and God’s creatures, the geese, can once again witness to us. Just as a couple of geese go to be present with and support the one who has fallen, I hope that when one of our members has been wounded or has fallen away, a few of us will hear their distress and extend the love of Christ to them where they fall. God’s love and grace is so strong and so persistent that it will meet us wherever we are and I pray that we as a church can reflect that not only to each other, but also to those beyond our doors. This flock is always open to adding some more feathered friends! And you know as United Methodists we are part of a world-wide body and as Christians we are part of an even larger body, so wherever we go there will be a flock to join. 

When I was working construction during my years as a single person, I lived in five states in six years. It was an incredibly lonely time. I would blow into a city or town not knowing anyone including most of the people I would be working with and I had to try and create a life for myself. The church was my anchor during that time. I knew that I could come to church and immediately find something familiar and a place to belong. During those years if I had not been in the church, I would have gone months without ever getting a hug. I would have been even lonelier and truly miserable. God in God’s wisdom made us so that we need each other. Being involved in the church body is a way that God helps us satisfy that need. One person cannot be the body of Christ anymore than a nose can be a body or an arm can be a body. I hope and pray that we have the sense of a goose and that we will make involvement in the church body a priority in our lives so that we go soar together into God’s future. Amen.

Sermon delived by Rev. Nancy Cushman on August 21, 2005.