1. Even Good Churches Have Bad Days
Readings; Psalm 40:1-11, Isaiah 49:1-7, John 1:29-42, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Preached at Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, NY, January 15 2023
Corinth was a city located on a high plateau, a four-mile wide strip of land that joined the mainland of Greece to another big bulge of land that sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea. In Paul's day, it controlled trade conducted both on the road that passed by it and from sea at two ports, one in the north, one in the south.
It was a thriving economic center inhabited by people from all over the Mediterranean world. Like port cities throughout history, it had a reputation for being a place where anything goes. “What happened in Corinth stayed in Corinth.”
It seems an unlikely location for the Christian faith to take root. Yet a series of missionaries had traveled through and left an impression, including the apostle Paul. The first and second letters of Paul to Corinth were written as an answer to many questions they had about being a church and what was acceptable and what had to change.
Now if Paul's first letter to the Corinthians had only consisted of Chapter 1:1-9, our reading today, then we would be left thinking, “Wow! What a Church!” It would be the kind of church we'd be hesitant to join because we'd probably spoil it!
Paul speaks of them being sanctified by Christ and of their call to be holy. He praises them for being enriched in every way, having among themselves great speakers and those who were extremely knowledgeable. He describes them as being full of grace. In addition, their church was a place where spiritual gifts were given free expression. Healing. Prophecy. Speaking in tongues with interpretation.
In verse 9 he promises God will keep them faithful. “He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Blameless! Sounds like the perfect church. It's only when you get past verse 9 that the trouble starts.
I'm beginning today a series focusing on the first three chapters of 1 Corinthians that I've titled “The Conundrums of Corinth (And their legacy in the Church)” I'm calling this first message; “Even Good Churches Have Bad Days.”
What are some of the things we are going to be talking about?
Disunity. Because the church in Corinth and been founded by different evangelists with a variety of gifts and abilities, people had their favorites. Paul wasn't always one of them, despite the fact he was the person they contacted when they needed advice.
Pride. There were indeed some knowledgeable people in Corinth. The trouble was that it made them feel superior to everybody else. Paul takes them to task by talking about the “Foolishness” of the gospel message and encourages them to humbly seek for the mind of Christ.
Shallowness. While some professed to know it all others seemed extremely content knowing very little. It was as though they just wanted to get by with as little commitment as they could, but still experience all the blessings God had to offer. Paul encourages them to go deeper.
Immaturity. Paul really longs to teach them about the meatier things of the gospel, but along with their shallowness there was also an element of childishness about them. Jesus had taught the disciples to be childlike... not childish... and the church in Corinth seemed to be getting the two confused. He complains they could only be given milk and would choke if he fed them meat!
Identity. The Church in Corinth seemed to struggle to know who they were really meant to be and how that translated into how they lived. Paul speaks to them of being “Temples of the Holy Spirit” and how if they gave themselves to service of others then their identity wouldn't be such an issue for them.
As I've ministered in different churches, and shared thoughts with many colleagues who have the same task, it is interesting how these themes seem to show up with regularity in many congregations. They are certainly not conundrums unique to Corinth.
But as he begins his letter, flawed as they may be, Paul looks at the Corinthian Church through the eyes of grace and thanks God for them. He is thankful that they are even there! Establishing a Christian community at that time, in that place, was an awesome thing to have been accomplished. He is thankful for their potential. He is thankful, not only for what God had done in the past but what God was going to do in their future.
For sure there were things they needed to work at, and for sure there were things that needed to change. And for sure there would be some things he would not praise them for. But he knew that even good churches have bad days. Without exception.
Here at Bridgehampton there is so much I'm thankful for. I don't always get a chance to say that. I thank God for the opportunity of even being here. I thank God for each of you. I thank God for my morning commute. I thank God for the way you care about our buildings and grounds. I thank God for our worship services and the privilege of being able to preach and lead in worship. I thank God for our our music.
I thank God for the families here. I love to see families together in church. What a blessing. I thank God for those who teach and prepare Sunday School and care for our little ones in the Nursery. I thank God for our office and the staff and volunteers who help out. I thank God for those of you who take care of the finance’s week by week, paying the bills, setting the budget. Not a task you always get thanks for when you tell us how it is
I thank God for our committees. For Session and Deacons and all the rest. I thank God when I see people volunteering for ushering or fellowship or helping out in worship. I thank God when I see you reaching out to each other and expressing concern for each other. I thank God when we reach out into the community
I thank God when I'm greeted with a smile by a child or a handshake from a saint. I even try to thank God when I'm called to task for something that hasn't gone well. There's always something new to learn. I make mistakes. I'm human. Look, I could make this a very long sermon full of thanks. But you might not thank me for that. So, I'll quit while I'm ahead.
But I would encourage you today, as we start this series, to do as Paul did… and give some thought to the things about your church that you are thankful for. Maybe go home and write a list. All the positives. All the things and experiences you would not have in your life if it were not for your church community. All the ways this church stands as a witness to the love of God.
We know you can find things to complain about. Paul had a whole lot of things to say about the church in Corinth, but he begins by lifting them up. Lifting them up in his prayers and his praises. I encourage you, as we are still near the beginning of the year, to do the same.
This is a good church. You know that. You need to hear that! Of course, we still manifest many of the conundrums of Corinth, but that is how it is. That's how it is in every church. At the end of the day what defines a church is not how perfect it is. A church isn't defined by how large or small it is. A church isn't defined by its strengths and weakness. A church is defined by grace.
And even good churches have bad days. If you are having a “Down on the church day” or feeling a little disconnected or that things are not going the way you had hoped, then remember... “Even Good Churches Have Bad Days.” and resolve not to leave it there but take it to the Lord in prayer so that you become part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Paul, in this letter moves on to diagnose some of the problems and offer graceful ways to travel through them.
• A faithful church is one that is willing to become something more than it already is. This congregation has an amazing history and has been the spiritual home of some amazing people. But there is always more. Nothing stays the same. And we have a whole lot to build on. We owe it to those who laid the foundation to keep on keep on keeping on. That’s how we honor them.
• A faithful church is one that has an ability to go forward in faith. Notice Paul encourages us to go forward “in faith.” Faith, not in our past, not in our present abilities, but faith in God. Faith in Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever. Faith in the ability of God’s Holy Spirit to create beautiful things out of the common clay of human existence.
• A faithful church is one that recognizes it is on a journey, and that it hasn't arrived yet! You see the thing about being a pilgrim is that in this life, we never arrive. We are permanent pilgrims. We keep travelling till we reach our heavenly home. And we pray every Sunday that God’s will “may be done as it is in heaven.” Such a prayer acknowledges we are always work in progress, until we reach our heavenly home.
• A faithful church is one that is both thankful for her past and excited for her future. Some folk would sweep away all that came before in an attempt to create something new. That was not the way of Jesus. While we speak of a new covenant, we recognize it is built upon the covenant that came before. As Jesus said, He did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill it. The great thing about traditions is that they provide steppingstones that can help us not have to reinvent the wheel. For sure, they can become millstones around our neck, but only if we enshrine them over and above the current work of God’s Spirit. As with most things, it’s all a question of balance.
• A faithful church is one that will acknowledge that it is far from perfect but recognizes that God is at work in her midst. Which really brings us full circle. Even good churches have bad days. We learn from our mistakes, and we move forward. And it takes time. And patience. And most of all, overflowing love.
These things are a gift of grace. Paul thanks God for the Corinthians because God has given grace to them in Jesus Christ. At the end of his thanksgiving, Paul reminds the Corinthians that God, who is faithful, has called them into communion with one another and with Christ. In between, every verse of the thanksgiving, Paul mentions Christ.
His letter is very much written to a community. God knows that being a community can be incredibly hard work. Particularly when the only thing people may have in common with each other is a faith in Jesus Christ, and every single person is at a different stage of their discipleship journey with Jesus Christ.
So today, I urge you, be thankful for your church. Recognize that even good churches have bad days. But do not make the bad things your focus. Rather, accentuate the positive!
As Paul wrote to the church in Phillipi, as it is translated in the amplified Bible, “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things, center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart.” (Philippians 4:8)
So, for some closing words... I'll stay with the introductory verses of 1 Corinthians. We'll get to some of the problems Paul talks about in coming weeks. Even good churches have bad days. But for today I offer you…
Verse 3 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
And to God's name be all glory. Amen!
The Reverend Adrian J. Pratt B.D.
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