Flee from Secularism
I Cor. 10:1-14
Most of you probably saw the story in the news last week about a man in Afghanistan who could be sentenced to death because he converted from Islam to Christianity. Under the religious laws of that nation, converting to Christianity is a crime. The prosecutor said he offered to drop the charges if the man converted back to Islam, but he refused. He said he was a Christian and would always remain one. The way of the cross can be painful. Young people, I hope you never face a trial like that, but if you do, I hope there is enough evidence to convict you.
About a month ago we entered a season that the Christian church calls Lent, a period of time when we focus our thoughts on the testing, the trials, and the suffering of Jesus as he faced the cross. As we reflect on His struggle with the prospect of death in obedience to God’s will, we become aware of the reality of suffering, the weakness of human flesh, and the inner turmoil and conflict as good confronts evil. And we recognize that evil still lurks within and around us. And we wonder why it takes such effort to accomplish good. As we have told you before, when someone tells us, “I want to start coming to church,” we often say, “You will be fighting a battle. Every possible excuse will get in the way.” Some of you know what I am talking about.
Maybe you heard about the man who was awakened by his mother one Sunday morning for church. He groaned, saying, “I don’t want to go today.” “Oh, but you must,” she said. “Your shoes are polished; your clothes are ready. You haven’t missed one Sunday. And besides, you are the pastor!” No one said it would be easy.
During these weeks we have been examining the letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthians. Remember that this was a young church faced with challenges. They lived in a seaport city where the world beckoned them from all sides. Corinth stood at the crossroads of commercial traffic. From north, south, east, and west, merchants and traders, sailors and soldiers converged upon its shores, passed through its streets, and indulged in its offerings of vice and pleasure. Corinth was known for drunkenness and debauchery. It was a city of wealth, luxury, and sexual perversion. Paul writes in Chapter 6 that some of the believers in Corinth were people who had engaged in such activities. In this letter, Paul calls them saints, but their new clothes do not yet seem to fit them well. They were under lots of pressure to conform to this world’s standards. This church had written to Paul with questions. So now Paul writes to them, taking up one problem at a time. In Chapters 1-4 he takes up the problem of division within the church; in 5-7 he tackles the question of immorality; in 8-10 he focuses on the problem of-- well, let’s call it secularism.
Actually, for them, the question was whether or not to eat meat offered to idols. Since this isn’t a problem for us, we need a little background to help us understand it. In the ancient world, people thought various gods were in control of things like weather, fertility, crops, health. So, in order to please these gods, people offered animal sacrifices. Some sacrifices were made at home; others at public temples. When they sacrificed an animal, they didn’t use the whole thing.
When these sacrifices were made at home, the animal was divided into thirds. One-third was burned on the altar. The priests who conducted the ceremony received a third. And then the worshipper himself took the rest of the meat and held a banquet. This happened especially at weddings. So, here was their question: Since Christians no longer believed in these gods, it doesn’t matter, does it, if a Christian takes part in a feast where this meat would be served? After all, if these gods do not exist, then they have no effect on the meat. Besides, by not taking part in such feasts, a Christian was cutting himself off from lots of social occasions.
Beyond that, people in Paul’s day believed strongly in demons and devils. The air was full of them and they were always lurking around, waiting to get into people and, if they did, they could injure people’s bodies or drive them crazy. These spirits settled on the food as people ate, and so got inside. One way to avoid that problem was to dedicate the meat to some good god who could live in the meat and put up a barrier against the evil spirit. Nearly all animals were dedicated to a god before being slaughtered. A person could hardly eat meat at all which was not in some way connected with a heathen god. Could the Christian eat it?
This was no small problem because it affected the way Christians related to each other, it affected the way Christians related to non-Christians, and it could affect their relationship with Christ. Paul’s answers to the problem are too long for us to consider in detail, but our passage in Chapter 10 is part of that discussion. And he concludes his discussion with the warning in V. 14 to “flee from the worship of idols.” At first it may seem that Paul’s discussion may be totally unrelated to our experience in Lima in 2006, but let’s decide that after we follow the discussion in Chapter 10. Let’s think of this passage in 3 parts: God’s provision, God’s warning, and God’s promise.
God’s Provisions
Some Corinthians had taken the position that eating meat offered to idols could not hurt them. After all, they knew that these gods did not exist. What’s more, these Christians had been baptized and were, therefore, one with Christ; they had taken communion and so were members of the body of Christ; they were in him and he in them; therefore, they were immune from harm. They were confident they had the knowledge and the strength to withstand the influence of these gods. Too confident.
A man once told me that he is completely turned off by Christians, who, he said, seem to think they can do no wrong. He fairly spat the words out as he described these people who seem so self-righteous and confident that everything they do is absolutely right. Paul warns the Corinthians of the danger of overconfidence.
I don’t know how much these Corinthians knew about the Old Testament, but Paul gives them a history lesson to show that privileges don’t guarantee success. He lists several things God did for the Israelites that showed his generosity when they were in the wilderness. Look how many times Paul uses the word “all.” Every person experienced deliverance by God’s almighty hand. He points out that after the Israelites left Egypt,
• God provided a cloud to guide his people (Ex 13). The cloud helped them to know when to move and when not to.
• God led these people through the Red Sea (Ex 14:19-31).
• God gave them a relationship with their great leader and lawgiver Moses, a relationship so close you could almost say they were baptized into him just as the Christian is baptized into Christ.
• When they got hungry, God provided special food called Manna, perhaps their equivalent of the Lord’s supper or love feast. (Ex 16:11-15.)
• When they got thirsty, God instructed Moses to strike a rock to bring water out of it. Tradition said that the rock (Num 20) followed after that and always gave them water. This was a legend that everyone knew.
One of the astonishing things about the God of the Bible is the way he provides for the needs of his people. The grace he shows is truly amazing, but we should never take it for granted. Paul writes that even though God was gracious and generous and provided these things for all of them, God was not pleased with most of them and they were not allowed into the promised land. (V 5)
God’s warning
There is a warning here for modern day Christians. You may have been baptized in the most beautiful ceremony, but baptism does not guarantee that God is pleased with you. You might eat the bread and drink the cup every time we celebrate communion, but that won’t get you into the Promised Land. You may be a member of the church and have your certificate hanging on the wall, but that doesn’t mean you are exempt from God’s judgment. A good beginning does not guarantee a good ending. And Paul spells out his warning by going back again to stories from the Old Testament that serve as examples of people who enjoyed the greatest privilege, but were not safe from temptation.
Verse 6 says, “Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did.” The word desire means crave and that word takes us back to Num. 11 where we read that these people who had just been delivered by God’s almighty hand had “a strong craving.” They complained because they were tired of eating manna. They craved meat. They wanted the menu of Egypt. If you don’t remember the story, read it later. You’ll find that God more than satisfied their craving. He sent so much white meat, the quails were 3 feet deep on the ground. And the end was not pretty.
And Paul gives more examples from their history. One was idolatry when they worshiped the golden calf.. The story is in Exodus 32. Another was their sexual immorality. That story is in Numbers 25. By engaging in those behaviors, they were tempting God, daring him to act. The lesson is clear. Those who defy God’s authority by flirting with idolatry will suffer the consequences, not just because the food was transported to a shop or cooked in a certain way, but because of what eating it represented. They should not be so cocky as to think they were immune. V. 12 “If you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall.” So, “Flee the worship of idols,” he says in v.14
Now, I know it seems far-fetched to think that idolatry could be a problem in our secular world. We’ve pretty much sanitized our society of any kind of religious thought or influence. So, we tell ourselves that we can participate in whatever customs our culture regards as normal or reasonable. But this passage raises a red flag and we need to examine the way we are tempted to compromise with the culture around us. When we find ourselves in the face of some questionable invitation and we say “No problem, I can handle it; I can do this and still be a good Christian,” we should pause and remember Paul’s warning to the strong at Corinth.
Just one example. If you have been following the news, you know the pressure has begun to allow a casino in Lima. In some ways, a casino just super-sizes what we already have in the lottery. A man I know tells me that he buys one ticket every week. He justifies it by saying that if he wins a million dollars, he will give a tithe to the church. But, if you buy a lottery ticket, consider the system you are buying into. It is a life based on numbers, chance, and luck instead of the presence and guidance of God. The lottery places a high value on selfish acquisition instead of on the effort of community. The lottery leads to addiction instead of diligence, thoughtful living, and honest labor. And it bankrupts people in poverty. Are those the values Christians want to pay allegiance to? And gambling is just one temptation our culture offers. Think about our culture’s emphasis on violence as a way to solve problems, its obsession with sex and physical beauty, its preoccupation with material wealth, sports mania and the way mass media influences our way of living.
Idols such as these have more power than we think to reshape us and we are courting the judgment of God. We should heed Paul’s warning not to put God to the test. Choices must be made, for we cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. “Flee the worship of idols,” the Bible says. And again, you will find at the end of I John, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”
God’s Promise.
We all know that temptations and testing of all kinds have a strong pull on our lives, but Paul makes clear that we are not totally at the mercy of these influences. First, we are not being asked to endure things other humans have not, even though it sometimes seems like it. That man in Afghanistan can take comfort in the example of Jesus and the thousands of other Christian martyrs. Even death can result in victory. Second, God has not abandoned us. “God is faithful,” Paul says in v. 13. If there is anything we know from the Bible it is that God stays right there with us in times of trial and temptation. I asked my mother recently what her favorite Bible passage is. She has gone through some near-death experiences. She said, Isaiah 43. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God.” Testing is often God’s way of making us stronger. How many of you believe that?
Third, when temptation comes, God will provide a way out. Our kids here at church are learning to practice that response. On two occasions recently, when a cluster of kids began to get rowdy, I saw first one, then another, step back so he wouldn’t get drawn into a scuffle. And I thought, “Way to go.” That is the way to respond to temptation. Step back. Count to three. Say “Father, Son, & Holy Spirit” as Kay taught her Sunday school class to respond when provoked to retaliate. Find a way to disengage until it passes. What a great example.
The temptation to adopt activities and values and behaviors that take away from our allegiance to Christ is always close at hand. Young people, as you make decisions about careers and jobs, remember, if Christ is your Lord, not just anything that smells like money will do. Ask yourself what Jesus would do.
Look at all that God has provided. How can you best express your gratitude? Examine God’s warnings. How do they apply to you? And most of all, claim God’s promises.
Benediction
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sister, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Flee from the worship of idols.
Don’t put Christ to the test.
Do not complain. And remember you are not alone.
No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
(Outline with blanks)
God’s Provisions
Privileges don’t guarantee success.
• God provided a cloud to guide his people (Exodus 13). .
• God led his people through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:19-31).
• God gave them a relationship with Moses.
• God provided special food called Manna. (Exodus 16:11-15)
• God brought water out of a rock. (Numbers 20)
God’s warning
• A good beginning does not guarantee a good ending.
• God’s people craved evil. (Numbers 11)
• God’s people fell into idolatry. (Exodus 32)
• God’s people fell into sexual immorality. (Numbers 25)
• I Cor. 10:12 “If you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall.”
God’s Promises (v. 13)
Promise 1. We are not being asked to endure things others have not.
Promise 2. God has not abandoned us. “God is faithful”
Promise 2. God will provide a way out.
Sources;
Richard B. Hays. First Corinthians commentary. Interpretation series. 1997
Wm. Barclay. The Letters to the Corinthians.
