Conversation Under Construction

 The church in Corinth was located in an urban community. When we think of large cities, we think of Corinth. Corinth had a reputation for grime as well as glory, just like most cities. People had many reasons to come and go in Corinth. There were the arts [Greek vase] and the architecture [ 3 pillars].

With three harbors, [  boat ] Corinth was a place some came by boat to explore and experiment with God knows what! In every service and every meeting, the church in Corinth, no doubt, had conversations with people from around the world with views far and wide from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. Sailors have a lot to say.

Every Christian community has its own hot topics. The topic in chapter 8 of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth was idols. One way to relate to the Corinthian concept of idols is our contemporary images. What we see is what we get. Corinthians had little statues of gods and goddesses that had popular names and attractive ideologies. We totally understand the impact of contemporary images in our homes and communities. Every internet image, every television screen, every magazine, smart phone, kindle and ipad showers our minds with popular names and attractive ideologies. We can bow down and worship them until they become our idols. Or, we can stand up to them, overshadowing them with Holiness.[ Holiness Works]

The idol that was the topic of conversation in chapter 8 was food that was sacrificed to idols. Should they eat that food or not? Years ago, I followed a friend to a worship center. It was not Christian. She called it new age. We first enjoyed a buffet of delicious, natural, and healthy food. Then we entered a room where dozens of people were meditating. It was very simple and quiet. At the front of the room there was a figurine surrounded by fresh fruit, a symbolic offering was their way of giving to a higher power rather than receiving. Even non-Christians know it is better to give than to receive.

The figurine was not at all meaningful to me. I had no sense of being inspired or edified. The fruit seemed like a big waste of good food. I made big assumptions about how and why the fruit was there and what would happen to it afterwards.

That day it was no more appealing to me to debate the value of bringing food to their altar than it was to debate the Jehovah’s Witnesses that knock on the door  2:00 on Saturday afternoon.

I could have debated and argued one issue after another until the cows came home. Paul reminds us in verse 1 that concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds [knowledge puffs up…]. In other words, we all have our own ideas about many things. We have our facts, our figures, our expert testimonies. Still, knowledge puffs us up – with pride and arrogance.

With knowledge, we can become a bag of hot air and wind that pushes others back, dividing and separating. Love, on the other hand builds something and someone up. So, if we had to choose between our knowledge or our love, we know that our love is more important. As Paul says later in chapter 13, knowledge passes away, but love never fails. [love never fails]. Our faith may falter or be misinformed, but love never fails. Our hopes may disappoint, but love never fails. Love is greater than anything.  

As Christians, we believe, that is, by faith we take the position that God is sovereign. God rules supreme in our hearts, and our belief is reflected in our lifestyle – in our choices and in our conversation. When we invite idols into our lives, we invite someone or something that deceives rather than conceives, discourages rather than encourages, and disconnects rather than connects.

When the storm came last week, [ ice storm] we were stripped of our familiar props for worship. Jessica called the church before 8 am, saying that she was in bumper to bumper traffic, witnessing cars crashing underneath a tractor trailer. She was unable to move forward for service or return home. By the grace of God, her husband was relieved to finally have her back home, but it was not until 2:00 that afternoon. We had no music, the audio volunteers were not able to get in to turn on the microphones, and many worshippers were either slipping and sliding on their front steps or unable even to get that far. Worship was not at all like we are accustomed. We had very little of what is familiar and expected.

It is a similar situation that one congregation found themselves in. *They gathered to hear the famous preacher Henry Ward Beecher. [ Beecher] His sister was the abolitionist author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Henry Ward Beecher could not be there for service, so he sent one of his brothers as a substitute. As soon as the crowd realized that Rev. Beecher was not speaking, they began to move toward the exits. That's when the minister stood and said loudly, "All who have come here today to worship Henry Ward Beecher may now withdraw from the church. All who have come to worship God keep your seats!"[remain seated ]

Even in the storm, we came to worship and worship we did. [ in pews ] This week as you see from the numbers in the bulletin, we even made up for lost time. We came as we always come, to be the church, to build the church, to build one another as God guides us step by step.

How do we cross the many bridges [ bridge ] of our differences? How do we build [ encourage ] each other up when we lack confidence in each other’s knowledge? How do we stay connected [connected] when diversity challenges those connections? Those who succeed do so because they maintain quality conversation.

Just like a newborn baby learns speech, new Christians learn to speak the truth in love. With sufficient models from families, friends, and neighbors near and far, we learn how to speak in tones that clarify, words that identify, gestures that multiply the possibilities for generating trust, truth, and treasured connections.

Don’t expect to speak the truth in love without going deeper in prayer, fasting, and worship. It’s not happening! In a time of testing, only those who come to worship God and not another, can stay in place, stay on track, stay right with God. Only God knows when we are coming short, and we know if we allow ourselves to hear the truth that sets us free – free form being fake, fanatic, or failing.

Through healthy conversation, speaking the truth in love, we will know the blessings of deep relationships, global connections, and life-giving partnerships.

There will also be some crosses to bear, some irritations to overcome, some thoughts to sift through, some words spoken with regret, some love to build with blood, sweat and tears.

Constructing conversation means listening, not leaving. We know the terrifying international consequences of abandoning negotiations. Constructing conversation means growing, not grieving.  Moving forward can be difficult and foreign but crying too long over spilled milk is juvenile. Constructing conversation means building, not butting. It is a way to build a safe place for EVERYONE to be their best selves, not interrupting with excuses.

Many spiritual builders have come across Bethel’s threshold. Many healthy conversations have been constructed. I see evidence of a history that Bethel has even been a blessing to those who are displaying what Paul calls a “weak conscience” in verse 11,[ since their conscience is weak,…] when we need to be treated with kid gloves, when we are a bit on the fragile side. When logic is faulty and supportive evidence is lacking, we are there for each other. When we are on the verge of debate disaster because our arguments are weak, when we think the earth is flat and not round or that leeches can suck disease out of the body, when we think like one of my Korean colleagues thought – liberation theology is a threat to the government – the glorious models of patience and kindness prevail at Bethel.

We know how to build, and build we must. If we build our churches , constructing healthy conversation, we will not be replaced by McDonalds, military bases, credit unions or supermarkets. Our churches will be a safe and welcoming place for our children who come to worship [ child giving thanks] rather than to be entertained. We know how to build, and build we must. Let the conversation continue [children smiling]. Amen.

*Sermons.com