This church in Corinth is on the verge of splitting into four churches because of their differences. When our priorities are misplaced, we’re often the last to know. Paul writes this section because they are missing the whole point.

Love > Acts of Devotion

This chapter starts out describing good deeds someone might do to show their devotion. Paul emphasizes the importance of doing our acts of devotion with love. He then moves on to describe perfect love. This could be a Ted Talk to encourage groups that are crumbling from division.

After each act of devotion, Paul sums up the action by saying, if it’s done without love, it is nothing. Paul does have a flair for drama, so, is he just making a point? Is it better to stop doing good things if we’re apathetic? Let’s think about what he’s saying. There will come a time when our good deeds and all of our impressive actions will come to an end. The underlying elements of faith, hope, and love will remain in the afterlife—the greatest of these being love.

So, if our impressive good deeds aren’t done with love, nothing about these deeds will survive. It is love that lasts. Love builds community, relationships, and people. Acting out of love allows us to be known just a little more and to see each other a little clearer.

Love Builds Community

The more we know a person, the harder it is to love them like this. As relationships deepen, we experience disappointment, disagreement, or simply misunderstanding. We focus on correct thinking at the expense of loving the other. These grate against our ability to love. This is where the rubber meets the road. When we persist in healthy love, our relationships become stronger. This kind of love is a response to many of the problems that plague this Corinthian community as well as our own.

Ultimately, this is describing the way God loves us—God’s unshakable love for us. When we receive this love that God has for us, we can then let God’s love flow through us to others. So let’s slow down and see the people around us as the beloved people that they are.

Do you find it easier to perform acts of devotion than to consider how to love others more genuinely?

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My favorite part of Paul’s letters is the heartfelt way he writes to the communities, with such warmth, and recalling personal memories. He’s not afraid to speak with gushing affection. It seems sincere too, because Paul doesn’t pull any punches elsewhere in his letters. Almost all of the letters of Paul contain this kind of love and personal encouragement that signifies trust and a deep relationship.

Overall, Paul’s letters to churches were direct and sometimes difficult. He was often correcting some behavior or belief, and the second part of this text starts to have that corrective tone. In this text, Paul isn’t telling them to be blameless so that they’ll pull themselves up by their bootstraps to shape up. He’s drawing a connection between the strength of their communities and the mutual love they share. As they grow in their ability to love each other, God will strengthen them in their relationships and their faith. Paul is giving them hope for the transformation that he trusts God is doing in their lives.

We Need Community

Community is a powerful aspect of our faith. Today, it seems like our involvement with our Christian community is only for a couple of hours on Sunday. People in our lives come and go for various reasons and that makes it difficult to build this kind of closeness. Even with those we’re close to, knowing who we can really trust takes time. How can we hope to build these kinds of relationships that seem so integral to our faith?

Community is one of the foundations of Christian life and we need it. While the church at Thessalonica might have been a close-knit church, many of the early churches had similar trust issues that we experience today. It does take wisdom, but it’s worth taking the small steps of vulnerability to start building connections.

Close Relationships Over Time 

In building this connection, I don’t suggest that you overshare from the most sensitive areas of your life. Start by daring to take the social facade off in the low-risk moments. Thank someone for something they did, and go further to explain what their actions meant to you. Find a reason to tell an acquaintance what you appreciate about them. It will probably feel awkward at first because positive vulnerable interactions aren’t built into the social contract. Some people may avoid you, but others will be drawn to genuineness. As your relationships build, you will have people to turn to in difficult times, as I wrote about in Will You Be There When I’m in Pain.

Do we desire this kind of community? I think we’re starving for this kind of love in our relationships. It will take time, but we can grow in our expression of love within our communities the way Paul does. Who will you let into your real life?

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And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Chapter 10 of the book of Hebrews has a lot packed into it. This text explains the significance of the crucifixion of Christ and how that event brings about the forgiveness of sins. It’s also a call for love and encouragement. Rather than being used to encourage others, it has been used by church leaders to hold people “accountable” for their perceived sins.

This text tells us to encourage each other, toward love and good deeds, and to not give up meeting together. This can be used as an encouragement, but in my experience it’s been used more as a means of guilt. The bit about encouraging each other to love and good deeds is the part that gets turned into “accountability”. There’s a lot of focus on sin among Christians—mostly other people’s sin.

It’s not healthy to put everyone’s actions under our microscope for analysis. This causes us to miss the point. This chapter is leading up to the point, “let us hold fast to the confession of our hope . . . for he who has promised is faithful”.

A Power Play

In reality when Christians push “accountability” it really means the most power-hungry people control the most dutiful people. If someone stops attending church the rumor mill wonders if they’re even still a believer. If someone is uncomfortable with being held “accountable” for potential future sins, they are surely hiding something.

In writing this I did a fact check on my own assumptions with a search on the phrase “Christian accountability”. I opened seven pages from the page one of results. Five of those seven referenced this text and focused on addressing sin in each other’s life. One article insisted that nothing, even thoughts, should be kept from an accountability partner. The abuse dished out in the name of Hebrews 10  could be its own article.

Joy and Liberty

No! Following these instructions should be just like it reads on the surface. As I wrote about in Rules Much?, approaching spiritual growth as a checklist misses the mark. We should approach each other looking for the good, the grace. If there’s a setback in your sister’s life, that’s an occasion to sit with her through that hard time, rather than lecture. If there’s wrongdoing that affects you, that is what needs to be confronted. Although, the sin police will often switch over to verses on forgiveness if it’s their wrongdoing that’s brought to light.

Supportive Community

If churches were a place where I could meet people who were my biggest encourager, a non-judgmental shoulder to cry on, or people with whom I could celebrate, nobody would have to tell me to keep meeting together. Maybe this instruction exists because as far back as the early church, Christians were already experiencing the need to distance themselves from controlling and abusive Christians.

The author reminds the original readers that we don’t have to keep atoning for our sin, Christ did that. Instead, we should love and encourage each other. I find it sad that these verses are used to guilt people when that’s the social condition that this text is addressing.

What creative ideas come up for you when you “consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds?” Have you spent time considering for yourself how you might encourage people—truly encourage them? Has someone used these verses to shame you?

Let us hold on to our hope, for Jesus is faithful!

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How are you doing? Fine?

Of course the answer is “fine.” When people ask us how we’re doing, the automatic response is fine. Sometimes when discussing this sociological phenomenon, people say they actually want an honest answer. I never know if I should believe them. In the past, I’ve given a more honest answer and found myself in an awkward moment, realizing that I’ve just overshared. I’ve also had very real, impromptu conversations about real pain that left me feeling more connected to my friends.

I think it’s natural to want to blend in and not be noticed. It can make the pain feel worse if the other person is doing fine, or if they don’t understand what we’re going through. It takes discretion to know when to go along with the expected norms or when to break them. I think this goes beyond social norms. We need to have trusted friends because suffering is harder when we’re doing it alone.

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [ . . . ] Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirits intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:18-27

This passage talks about our present suffering, it talks about how things ought to be. It also tells us that one day we will be free from our suffering. Not only us but all of creation. This got me thinking about how the whole range of pain will be redeemed.

A Universal Problem

Everybody experiences suffering at some point in their life. Some of the pain we experience results in good things, like childbirth. Sometimes it makes no sense and never will until we’re looking at it from the other side of eternity. Sometimes our suffering is from our own pain and sometimes it’s over the pain experienced by those we love.

We are in a fallen world and because of this, we experience the effects of sin, which also causes suffering. When Jesus ascended, God sent the Holy Spirit to be with us, to counsel us. Here we see that the Holy Spirit prays for us in our pain. God doesn’t need to ask how we’re doing. We can be honest with God about everything that’s going on. When our pain is so great or confusing that we don’t know how to pray, the Spirit prays on our behalf in ways we don’t even understand.

Sources of Hope

This is another example in the Bible of how we can have hope. We have hope in God who loves us and who prays for us. A God who will go to any length to act out God’s love for us. We need to remember that hope comes along with a restless feeling. How long will it be until the thing we hope for is here?

Sometimes when I’m in a painful situation I ask God, “why?” Instead of seeing pain as a way in which God has let me down, this text shows me a God who helps me carry it. God has entered our suffering through Jesus. These verses show us that God helps us in our suffering through the Holy Spirit. God stays with us in that honest, awkward, gritty conversation and is committed to walking with us through everything. Through the Holy Spirit God experiences everything with us, and it’s all an expression of God’s love.

Our Response

Let’s be willing to receive comfort from the Holy Spirit. We can know that the Spirit has already turned to God in prayer on our behalf. When we’re able, let’s be willing to walk with each other. Let us weep with those who weep. We should desire to comfort and pray for each other. Committed to passing the comfort we’ve received on to our sisters and brothers.

All Scripture quoted taken from the NRSV translation

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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

Ephesians 6:10-20 

I feel like the imagery of this text is often remembered out of context. This has fueled a false picture of Christianity as one where throughout history we have justified warring against unbelievers (and believers who disagree with us)—a dangerous premise that has cost the lives of many people whom God also loves.

The Original Context

So, it’s important to take the time to put these thoughts back into context. Although this text starts out saying the battle isn’t against flesh and blood, the early Christians were actually being martyred, so their battle was against flesh and blood. Instead of fueling the conflict, the writer is trying to defuse it by showing them their persecutors are being influenced by spiritual forces. This audience is helpless and oppressed, and these are meant to be encouraging words. They do have a recourse. They can build their relationship with God, call on God, and pray against the evil that’s being showered onto them. Part of this armor is the shoes of the gospel of peace. When they do get up and go out, they are to do so in peace. It’s a difficult message to hear when you’re fearing for your life.

The one weapon mentioned is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. This is often reduced to mean the written Bible. Over the centuries Christians have found ways to weaponize verses in the Bible to use against people with whom they disagree. We need a bigger picture, and our written Bible gives us one. The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the Word. John also tells us that Jesus had to ascend so he could send us his Spirit as our counselor.

Don’t Weaponize the Bible

This text on the armor of God isn’t instructing us to weaponize Bible verses to prove our point. This audience didn’t even have the Bible as we know it. This passage implies that we should allow our words to be inspired by the Spirit living within us. This Spirit, sometimes also called Sophia (wisdom), is an equal part of the trinitarian God and loves everyone. Our only weapons are the words inspired by God’s Spirit, not for attacking people, but for being the voice of God’s love and wisdom to all people. A challenge indeed.

This passage should inspire a daily prayer practice. I would suggest that instead of focusing too closely on the imagery of armor, we should focus on a practice that strengthens our relationship with God. Something like contemplative prayer that allows us to become aware of the ways in which God is already working in our lives. This will provide us with a connection to God that allows us access to what the Spirit would have us say or do in difficult situations.

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Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart,And with fasting, weeping and mourning;And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God,For He is gracious and compassionate,Slow to anger, abounding in loving-kindnessAnd relenting of evil.

Joel 2:12-13

The book of Joel is one place where we can see this call for repentance.  These verses are part of a prophecy concerning the nation of Israel that Joel received from God.  The prophecy is much longer, but these two verses stand out to me as a small window into God’s character.  These two verses start out with God asking the people to return to him.  He wants them to return, even now, but he wants them to return with genuine repentance.

Rending Their Hearts

The reference to rending their hearts and not their garments refers to a mourning ritual.  Rending or tearing their clothing was an outward act that was supposed to represent what was going on inside.  In this case, the mourning would be part of their repentance, or mourning the sins of the people as a whole nation.  This would be an outward statement that they, as a people, wanted to return to worshiping God.  However, these verses are saying God wants them to rend their hearts rather than their garments—he doesn’t want the outward act if it’s not happening on the inside as well.  He would rather have sincerity over the ritual.

Meaningless Ritual

Like anything else in life, it’s possible to make even an act of sorrow into a meaningless ritual and these verses address that dichotomy.  It’s possible to go through the motions of worshiping God while relegating him to an insignificant corner of our lives. If we approach our spiritual life like a checklist, we can fool ourselves into thinking we’ve done something good, when in reality we’ve only gone through the motions. This command might be similar to the idea: I want you to love me with your heart and not just your words.

The good news about these verses is that although we may drift away from God or even be living in opposition to how God wants us to live, we can still approach him. The second half of these verses talks about how loving and gracious God is. Although this is written in a specific context at a specific time, the truth of God’s love and compassion is woven throughout the entire Bible. So, instead of the imagery of an angry old man, when we approach God we will find that he is approaching us with mercy and love, ready to help us in our time of need.

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