Thursday, May 7, 2009
Context and Application
I want to thank Scott for helping to keep our discussion last night in context. I am probably one of the biggest fans of the importance of context when dealing with scripture. As probably came out in our discussions about how the group would work, I also am a huge fan of application. If we read and study the Bible, nod and say "Uh huh, definitely" but don't do anything, what's the use of reading and studying?! Thus, I hope you can understand my attempts to do that as we study and forgive me if I do a poor job. Yes, the direct context of 1 Cor. 3:16-17 is that anyone who tries to destroy the church with divisions will himself be destroyed. Please do correct me if I'm wrong, but can't it also apply that anyone who tries to destroy the church in ANY way is going to pay for it? Any response/discussion on this is welcome.
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Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI agree that "destroying" the church is probably not limited to creating divisions. I think the flow of thought is - Do not be divided, for it destroys the temple of God (the assembly of his people / church), and those who destroy the temple will themselves be destroyed.
So causing division results in your destruction because it is categorized as destroying the temple of God. There might be other acts that also get categorized under destroying the temple of God. If so, these acts would also bear the consequence of destruction for those who caused it.
Now this is still pretty intangible to me. What else corrupts / destroys the temple of God? Well I could think of some things that cause harm. Whether or not they can be classified as destroying the temple I do not know.
But where it really gets foggy for me... how will the one who causes it be destroyed / corrupted? Is this loss of life? Ie spiritual death penalty? Or a punishment of in our flesh somehow? Is this another way to describe your wood and hay being burnt up and escaping through the flames and suffering loss? If so, it's still very figurative language and intangible to me.
Another thing that trips me up is that I have a difficult time comprehending punishments and warnings. For example, this one just sort of slides off me. I think it's related to lack of understanding, and that all my life I've been taught of the mercy and grace of God. Sin deserves the wrath of God, but that was poured out on Christ. So it's hard to conceive of something destructive applying to me, because I always think "but I'm a Christian."
So I have much yet to learn...
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ReplyDeleteThat's interesting... maybe it's my Catholic background, maybe it's my over overwhelmingly belief in God's sovereignty, I'm sure it's a little from column 'A' and a little from column 'B,' whatever it is I find there to be no intellectual conflict with God punishing those He feels He needs to. I guess I have no offer to present to what that might look like tangibly. I just think God has every right to what He needs to so that His Will is accomplished.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the "context issue" at hand. I can think of no other way that the Body is destroyed other than divisions. Nothing else, that comes to mind anyway, has that power. Persecution, even unto death, more often strengthens Her. Think of the old saying, the seeds of the Church are watered with the blood of the martyrs (or something like that). The problem with divisions is that it comes from within. It's a rotting flesh disease that kills from the inside. And basically any kind of problems that arise, strife, quarreling, jealousy, those lead to divisions. Things that "destroy" bodies from the outside have no power over those who are in Christ. But it would seem that Jesus didn't dislike much more than He disliked a fractured people.