Spiritual Idolatry Series

And like the foolish client of Screwtape, the Corinthian believers entered unwittingly back into their pagan lives guilty of the same idolatry.

As a pastor, I know weak Christians who are torn up by their sin. They worry about all the ways they can commit sin; they have trouble having assurance of salvation. Taking Communion is not comforting for them because they worry about taking it in an unworthy manner, or they see it as a reproach for their sins.

But there is another type of Christians who perhaps is of greater concern. They worry about nothing. They have such confidence in what they know that sin is not a worry for them. They know they are counted as righteous in Christ. They know Christ sets them free from works-righteousness. They take Communion with confidence because it signifies what they already know – that they are okay with God. In fact, if truth be told, they feel like they belong to the “inner circle” that is so much more advanced in spiritual knowledge and freedom. Of course, if truth really be told, knowledge and freedom have become their spiritual idols. Their confidence is in their knowledge, and they worship their freedom, and they use the sacraments to justify it all. ““We can handle involvement in pagan and worldly matters. It’s okay to play along with those who actually believe in astrology and other gods. It’s okay to appear that we are like our worldly neighbors. After all, we will be in church next Sunday having Holy Communion. We are not united to non-existing idols. We’ve been baptized into Christ. We belong to the church.”

Paul’s point is that there were a lot of arrogant Israelites who went through their own forms of baptism and communion (actually more wondrous forms) and who were overthrown before making it to the Promised Land. Sacraments save and protect no one. They are for our good to feed our faith that we might have strength to run the race of obedience to Christ.

And we are to partake of the Lord’s Supper together as recognition that we run this race together. We put our arms around our weaker brothers and sisters when they grow weary; we restore those who have fallen; and we challenge those caught in sin to bring them back on course. Let us run to finish the race; let us run it together in love. It is love for God and love for our neighbor that will keep us on course.