Thoughts on 1st Corinthians and Restoring the New Testament Church

12/31/2010
ForoveraweekI'vebeenreading,rereadingandstudyingportionsof1stCorinthians.ThoughI shouldbeveryfamiliarwiththisbookafteryearsasaChristian,includingtimetrainingformy BachelorofMinistrydegree,I'mfindingnowthatI'mreadingitwithneweyes.Specifically,I'mnot tryingtoexplainitawayormakeitfitmypreconceivedideas.HowsuccessfulI'mbeingishardto measure(I'mnotveryobjectivewhereI'mconcerned),muchissurprisingme.Specifically,as someonewholefttheRomanCatholicChurchinpursuitofamorebiblicalfaith,inadditiontothe GospelofgraceinChrist,it'salittlejarringtofindpassagesI'mnotrunningtoputintopractice. DuringmytimeamongevangelicalsandthenwithintheStoneCampbellMovement(whereI'm nowquitecomfortablyathome)Ifoundmanycommontraits.Chiefamongthemmaybeadesireto gofromthewrittenpagetoreallifepractice.Itisofcourseanadmirableandcorrectattitudetoaim forimmediateobedience.ThemomenttoobeyacommandofGodistheinstantinwhichitis understood.Reading1stCorinthians,though,Iseewherethiscouldbecomplicatedandperhaps evenunnecessary. Someonesearchingforthe"ancientfaith"andthe"NewTestamentchurch"willbechallengedby thedescriptionoftheidealcongregationalworshipexperienceinCorinth.Itincludedprophets takingturnsspeaking,theirwordsthenbeingevaluatedbytheothersfortheircorrectness.There wasalsotonguesspeaking,assumingsomeonewasavailabletointerpret.TheLord'ssupperwasn't abitofcrackerandatinycupofjuice,butpartofalargerfellowshipmealcalleda"lovefeast." ManyofmysistersandbrothersinChristianChurchesandChurchesofChrist(acappella, instrumentalandInternational)arelikelyprettyconfidenttheyareinchurchespracticingallthings inaccordancewiththe"pattern"foundintheNewTestamentScriptures,butmostofallthea cappellafolksholdtothisconviction.IremembersomeofmyolderprofessorsatHarding Universitysayingconfidentlythatifsomeonefromthefirstcenturyweretowalkintoa21st centurychurchofChristworshipservice,orviceversa,therewouldbeculturalvariablesand languagebarriers,butthatthe"patternofworship"wouldberecognizable. Hardly. Itendtoagreewiththecessationistviewthatsaysthe"signgifts"fadedastheapostlesdiedandno onewasleftwhocouldimpartthem.Withthecompletionofthe"canon"thesegiftswerenolonger needed.Itendtoagree,butI'mnot100%soldonit.IdoknowthatwhatIveseenofmodern Pentecostaldoctrineappearsquiteaberrant,sodon'texpectmetogothatdirectionanytimesoon. Inanyevent,Pentecostalismdoesn'tofferorderlyworshipincludinga"lovefeast"onaregular basis,soit'snotanycloserinpracticetotheexampleoftheNewTestamentthanarethePrimitive Baptists. Inallhonesty,IhavetoconfessthatwhileIconsidermyselfa"restorationist,"I'mnot"thatkind"of

restorationist.ThroughtheGoodNewsthatJesusofNazarethisthecrucified,risenandreturning MessiahofIsraelandLordofthenationsIwascalledoutofdarknessandtransportedbyChrist throughfaith,repentanceandimmersioninwaterintohisreign.Mycallingistoobeywithmylife thatintowhichheleadsmethroughhiswordandSpirit.WhileIcanappreciatewhatIreadabout churchlifeinthefirstcentury,Ican'ttakeitallforhereandnow,today. RestorationandbacktotheBiblemovementsmakeagiantleapoverhistoryatleastintheory. Theirpracticereallyreflectsallthestrugglesofnearlytwothousandyears,plusthemore proximateculturalinfluences.ThatswhyIveheardthecomplaintmorethanafewtimesfrom membersofChurchesofChrist(acappella)inBrazilthattheirchurchesseemlikeminiU.S. consulates.Thetraditions,ratherthanpurelyapostolic,wereimportedfromchurchesinthe southernUnitedStates.Wesimplycantescapeourculturalandhistoricalbaggage.Itseemsbetter tome,then,thatwefocusongivingvoicetotheunchangingheartoftheChristianfaithinways appropriatetoourtimeandplaceinhistory. Thatbitofcrackerandlittlecupofjuicearen'tpartofalargermeal,buttheyremindmenolessof Jesusandhissacrificeforthesinoftheworld,invictoriousconfrontationwiththepowers.No prophetsspeakatmychurchandtheonlytonguesareEnglishandoccasionallySpanish,butthe evangelist(asPaulinstructedTimothy)andothermenofthechurchpreachthewordwith propheticpowerandscripturalclarity.Ourstyleistheresultofmanyhundredsofyearsofhistory. ThemainthingiskeepingtothemessageandmissionwhichtheFatherhasentrustedtous,mindful oftheguaranteeofChristscontinuedpresenceandthatwehavebeenempoweredbytheSpiritof Godforthispurpose. WedeclareJesusasLordtothesalvationofsome(andcondemnationofothers)andawaithis return,withresurrection,judgmentandNewHeavens/NewEarthonthehorizon.