1 Corinthians 11 – 12
Context rears his ugly head again in Chapter 11. I was incredulous reading the first part and thinking Paul was out of line. Katy was not going to even consider wearing a veil in prayer. So I had to take these words out of modern day USA and go back to Roman Corinth. First if you read it’s not all women, just married ones. And it was custom then, because if not it would be like wearing a t-shirt today that said “I’m a SLUT”. So before you get up in arms like I did, we must learn context to clearly understand.
Verses 11:28 & 29 talks about our mindset while celebrating the Lord’s Supper:
28 Examine yourselves first. Then you can properly approach the table to eat the bread and drink from the cup; 29 because otherwise, if you eat and drink without properly discerning the significance of the Lord’s body, then you eat and drink a mouthful of judgment upon yourself.
I don’t believe the significance of the Lord’s Supper is stressed. We are symbolically take Jesus’ body and blood in remembrance of His sacrifice. We need to ensure we are cleansed and in the right mindset before doing this. Why?
Pastor Miller of West Side Bible explained it where I could understand. If we continue to partake in the Lord’s Supper without properly confessing and honoring God, we build scar tissue like a wound. If a wound isn’t treated properly, it heals wrong and creates scar tissue which will never be the same without major intervention. More and more you have the more difficult it is to fix it. So come to the table prepared not just to eat and drink.
Verse 12:12 sums up the chapter of spiritual gifts:
Just as a body is one whole made up of many different parts, and all the different parts comprise the one body, so it is with the Anointed One.
Spiritual gifts are one of those subjects I struggle with on many levels. The first is why I cannot develop ones I don’t have. How many times have we seen the lame or sick and wanted to lay hands and heal them? How many times have we done this and failed? I have and feel foolish, but maybe that’s not my thing with God and I just have to find it. When doing spiritual gift tests, coach seems to rise to the top of ever one. So maybe I just need to embrace my role as coach and learn to communicate.
The other problem was highlighted in a church Veronica went to at UGA. They were charismatic and loved to flop around. Not bashing that at all and believe that the spirit manifests itself in people many ways. Where it became “dangerous” was when they were telling her she was not saved and filled with the spirit since she could not speak in “tongues.” Interestingly ignoring every scripture that says “some can” and “while others can.” While I do not wish to judge a church in their practices, this was one I was concerned with since it did not follow Paul’s message in this and other chapters he writes on gifts.
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