Reading: 1 Corinthians 11-12, Psalm 146

Yesterday I mentioned that when you read the Scriptures like this- in order, at a high pace, and without stopping to dig yourself a hole based on a single phrase- it becomes easier to see when things are being taken out of context and therefore misused. As we start into chapter 11 we see another example of how this might happen, as Paul talks about head covers, men with long hair, and women who shave their heads. Taken out of the context of the rest of the letter to the Corinthians, one’s understanding of Paul’s meaning might be reduced to simple compliance with these ideas: women need to cover their heads, men need to keep their hair short, and women need to keep their hair long. Of course, the problem with this is that it is a nonsensical reading of the letter. Well, okay, there is also the problem that we might start wondering why Paul is bothering to write the letter at all. Frankly, if haircuts are this big a deal, he needs a lot more detail in his instruction. Time for a tome of laws.

But that is not Paul’s point at all. Recall what the entire theme of the letter has been so far. The Corinthians feel they are at liberty to do whatever they want, but in so doing are causing divisions, hurting one another, and misrepresenting the gospel to the people around them. On some points Paul agrees with them- eating meat sacrificed to idols is not a big deal- but says don’t do it if it will disrupt the community and cause other people to feel guilty. Don’t use your freedom in ways that damage others. Put the question “is this right?” above “do I have this right?” He uses his own behavior as an example, but then opens today’s chapter putting a limit on even that. Be imitators of me, inasmuch as I am of Christ. Paul doesn’t put himself up as the example, except in those things in which he imitates Jesus.

Okay, so what is the deal with head coverings and haircuts? Paul uses a bunch of cultural reference points, as well as Hebrew Scriptural ones, in telling the Corinthians to behave in ways that are not disruptive. In that time and place a woman with her head uncovered might be analogous to a woman today in a revealing bathing suit. It is not inappropriate in a certain setting, but that setting is not a gathering of the believers for worship. It is distracting. Perhaps a woman who shaves her head would compare to one dresses as a 15th century housewife. It is distracting in the opposite direction, and is also not a good idea. The same might go for a man with long hair. Perhaps a modern analogue would be a guy showing up wearing a huge spiked mohawk that is five different colors to his grandparent’s church service. It is not inherently problematic, but it certainly does not meet the standard of not using your freedom in ways that cause other’s distress. I think the instructions on head covers and haircuts are still part of Paul’s main line of argument: that the Corinthians need to act in ways that do not disrupt the lives of one another. This consideration stretches from your haircut to what you eat to who you are sleeping with. Imitate Christ, don’t spend your life being unique to the detriment of others.

Now the Lord’s Supper. As one might expect, I think Paul is simply continuing his point. The Corinthians were using their freedom to eat whatever they wanted even when others had nothing. One of the core activities of the early church was eating a meal together. Today we have ceremonialized Holy Communion to the point it is barely recognizable. Weird little wafer crackers and little cups of grape juice. Bizarre. But for these people, it was eating and drinking together like normal people. But some were practicing gluttony and drunkenness, while others had little and went hungry. Paul has nothing good to say about this. If you are that hungry, he says, eat at home before you come. The point of the shared meal is the “shared” much more than the “meal.” You are not eating just to assuage hunger, but to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The first verse of chapter 12 in the letter to the Corinthians makes me a little nuts. I’m about to go on a translation/language rant, so fair warning. Here is core of the problem: the word “gifts” is not there. A better translation would be what the HCSB does. Concerning what comes from the Spirit, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. Then we hear that it is only by the Spirit that one can say that Jesus is Lord, and that the Spirit will not allow anyone to curse the Lord Jesus. Paul starts then talking about how the Spirit gives gifts and services to various people to do various things, and how the body of Christ is thus made up of many different types, all of which are essential to the functioning of the church. What the insertion of “spiritual gifts” into the whole topic, and especially leaving out “service” as a category, has done is create this weird culture of finding “your spiritual gifts.” I’m pretty sure this is all nonsense. I don’t think Paul is telling the Corinthians that in their confession of Jesus as Lord they are imparted a specific spiritual gift which they must discern. Spiritual gift inventories everywhere may be thrown away. When the Spirit gives, you will know it.