In reading through 1 Corinthians this week, I came upon a great description of an active Christian, as depicted by Paul and the apostles. Keep in mind, he also considered himself chief of sinners, so I am not trying to put him or them on a pedestal. Read on, I think you will see parallels in play even in our time. The text is from 1 Corinthians 4:9-13. I won’t list the passage hear, for the sake of space.
Take in mind this scene, though, as you read. Paul says he feels like the apostles are on display “last of all”, and the imagery he presents is that of a Roman general’s procession after a victory over some territory or foe. The soldiers who were captured alive were at the rear of the parade, on display for mockery and abuse. Now Paul is not saying that God intended for him to be abused, but he understand that the world saw him and Christ’s followers as such fools. This is the picture in play in this passage.
Keep in mind, throughout this letter, Paul is confronting what the Corinthians are doing poorly; he is confronting them Biblically, and he’s probably not making friends along the way. I find this book so very valuable in dealing with real life, real church, the real Christian walk, because we can get mired in the “what’s wrong” and forget to look for the Biblical answers and proper responses, both around us an in ourselves. The Christian reaction to problems is a key teaching point in this book.
Paul says the apostles are hungry, thirsty, poorly clothed, roughly treated. They work very hard, and when they are reviled (despised, hated), they bless in return. When they are persecuted, they simply endure. When they are slandered, they conciliate (make peace, or resolve differences). The NASB says they have become the scum of the world.
If this was all we had of Paul’s writings, we’d probably not rush out to be active Christians, but we know from his other writings that for him to live is Christ (Phil. 1:21), and all that he endures and deals with is so very worth it for the cause of Christ. The apostles found great joy in their Christian lives, in spite of the headaches. So too should we.
Holding fast to the name of our Creator.
