Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Year 5, Day 77: 1 Corinthians 8 & 9

Theological Commentary: Click Here


Discipleship Focus: Chemistry

  • Chemistry asks whether the person in question can work with the other people that God has called.

Chemistry might be a bit of a stretch for today’s reading, but hear me out on this one before you judge me too critically.  Much of 1 Corinthians 8 – and even portions of chapter 9 – deal with the fact that we should not make something sinful that is not sinful.  Yet, at the same time we shouldn’t flaunt the use of things that aren’t sinful in the face of those who think them to be sinful.  This is about give and take.

On one hand, this is about chemistry in that often in ministry we need to seek out those who see through similar eyes.  If I am doing ministry with a bunch of people and they see many of the things that I do as sinful behavior, then there will be a perpetual stumbling block between us and the ministry will constantly be interrupted.  Therefore, part of chemistry is having much in common with the way that we see things in the world.

However, a good piece of chemistry is also being able to be comfortable with differences as well.  Not of us will even be carbon copies of one another.  We will all have differences.  Therefore, part of being in ministry with one another is finding people who will not take offense at our differences as we likewise do not take offense at theirs.  This likewise takes and builds chemistry between people.

Chemistry brings people together around shared values.  Chemistry also allows us to have differences but still come together under the one Triune God.  If we want to be effective in ministry around us, we will have to have a chemistry that allows us to celebrate shared values and gives liberty to differences.  Once again I am reminded of the great saying by St. Augustine: “In essentials, unity.  In non-essentials, liberty.  In all things, love.”  There is a saying that summarizes 1 Corinthians 8 & 9 as well as the discipleship concept of chemistry.

<><

No comments:

Post a Comment