Paul wrote that people of the first century demanded different things to undergird their faith. What is it for you?
Here’s a transcript:
I’m thinking about the first chapter of Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). When Paul wrote, the church in Corinth was sadly divided. Paul had been amongst its founders some time before. In the years since, they had been visited by others amongst the apostles, and some of those apostles taught them different things.
The result is that they were forming factions some around the figure called Apollos, some around Cephas (that’s Simon Peter), some around Paul himself. Paul wrote to say that this division was both unnecessary and improper, because the primary one to follow was Christ.
“Jews demand signs and Greeks demand wisdom,” he wrote. The thing is, is that the Christian faith is somewhat short on both (although I’ll note that the gospel of John managed to use both images in order to describe the ministry of Jesus). What is central, wrote Paul, what is central, insisted Paul, is the focus upon Christ, not upon the individual leaders.
But I am struck by this phrase about what people demanded in order to find some assurance that their faith was properly placed. Signs. Wisdom.
I doubt that one or the other of those is all that common in our contemporary world, so I wonder what is it for you that is a sound foundation for your faith in Christ?
There are plenty of things offered out there in the world, not just for faith in Christ but for faith in general. You can find assurances of safety; you can find assurances of protection; you can find assurances of companionship or pleasure or wealth or whatever you ask. Christianity promises pretty much none of those.
What I’ve found over the decades of being a Christian, is that in the midst of the worst times I find strength and assurance and comfort in my faith in, and in the reality of the presence of God, of Christ, and of the Holy Spirit. But that’s true for me. It may not be true for you.
What is it that you demand (to use Paul’s word) in order to find that strength of faith, that comfort and assurance that carries you through the days, onwards and following the ways of Jesus Christ? What is it but founds your faith?
That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.
