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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 17 June 2024:
1 Corinthians 11:1 – Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
We should be examples to others by imitating Christ, acting exactly like Jesus would.
1 Corinthians 11:2-16 – Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you…. If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
Customs, courtesies, and traditions can be helpful ways to maintain standards of courtesy, politeness, and respect for the system of social order established by God. They are often symbolic reminders of fundamental principles, such as in today’s example where head coverings and haircuts represented positions of authority, which communicated responsibility before God, but not worth or value in the eyes of God. Customs, courtesies, and traditions often demonstrate deference and honor towards people for what they represent as opposed to the quality of their character. For example, in the military, many honorable captains have saluted less honorable majors out of respect for the position rather than the person. God commands us to honor our fathers and mothers, not because they are always right, but because their position demands it. We take turns as a gesture of fairness even when it might not be fair out of respect for the principle of fairness. God does not call us to be contentious against rules of social order. However, customs and courtesies must never supersede God’s specific commands.
1 Corinthians 11:3 — But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
Jesus is just as much God as the Father and equally worthy of honor, praise, and worship; yet He remains subordinate to the Father positionally. Likewise, wives are called to subordinate to husbands, but are not any less valued or less used by God.
1 Corinthians 11:10 — That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
The Bible explains that marriage is intended to be a visible symbol/reminder/metaphor of the love relationship between Christ and the Church. (Eph 5) Head coverings were intended to be a part of that symbology.
1 Corinthians 11:11 — Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman.
Again, the man and woman are equally important and interdependent, though they have different roles and responsibilities ordained by God.
1 Corinthians 11:14 — Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him….
From Ligonier Ministries on principles vs customs – “Herman Melville is best known for his novel Moby Dick, but the author wrote other works as well, including the novel Redburn. This novel tells about a young sailor who sails from Massachusetts to the city of Liverpool, England. When he arrives in Liverpool, the young man attempts to find his way around town using a map of the city his father used when he traveled. Yet the city has changed much since that day, so it is hard to follow the map as a guide.
Sometimes we can relate very well to the sailor in Redburn when we try to apply the Bible to our situations today. Scripture comes from a time that seems very different from our own. It is, in many ways, a foreign world, which complicates our attempts to follow the Word of God.
Obeying the Lord’s revelation, however, is not impossible, as long as we remember that the original meaning of the biblical text determines faithful application today. Otherwise, we can twist Scripture to make it sanction anything. Determining the original meaning requires us to study the background of each biblical text. This makes it easier to distinguish between principles and customs. A principle is a God-given standard valid in every time and place. The Ten Commandments are excellent examples of principles. Unlike principles, customs are not eternal. Let us illustrate the difference with the example of paying the tithe. We use money to pay our tithes and offerings, and tithing is a principle for all times. However, the currency used to pay a tithe is a custom — we do not use shekels in the United States today (see Num. 18).
Separating principle from custom is hard at times. For example, Paul, in today’s passage, apparently argues in principle against men having long hair, but he does not specify what counts as long hair, probably because hair length is a custom (1 Cor. 11:1–16). Length is a measurement relative to a standard, and what might be long in one culture could be short in another. A man who has hair that is one foot long, for instance, does not have hair of excessive length if most women in his culture have hair that is three feet long. In any case, determining biblical principles is not always as easy as we might like, so let us not dictate to other believers what they can and cannot do in matters that are unclear.
When we and most of our tradition has been uncertain about whether a particular command is a principle or custom, then it is wise for us as individuals to treat it as a principle. We should not, however, bind the consciences of others who think the same command is only a custom when there has been much dispute over it. May we be faithful and honest to our own consciences but not look down on others who may honestly disagree.”
1 Corinthians 11:17 – But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.
In your relationships, are you making things better or worse? Are you reconciling or causing greater division?
1 Corinthians 11:19 – …for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
Some division is inevitable due to sin, but Christians must be true to God while continually seeking, from a heart of love, to bring others closer to that truth, not allowing their own sinful behavior to stand in the way.
1 Corinthians 11:22 – What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
In our worship, we should naturally be placing others ahead of ourselves, from the heart. Leaders of love do not have to be reminded to eat last.
1 Corinthians 11:27-32 — Jesus broke bread even with Judas, who he never kicked out of the group. Judas accepted the gift in an unworthy manner. We must continually offer peace and grace to sinners, regardless of what they do with it (which is their responsibility, not ours). We must continually search our own hearts to consider what we have done with God’s grace.
1 Corinthians 11:32 — But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
The Lord disciplines His people in painful ways within His grace. Grace saves us but doesn’t remove the demand for obedience of which we are still accountable.
1 Corinthians 11:33 — So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
Again, leaders eat last. Worship puts everyone else ahead of self.
1 Corinthians 11:34 – …if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment.
If your heart is not right for the situation, best to remove yourself from the situation rather than add to your sin or misrepresent Christ before others. For example, when you start to become emotional during a disagreement, remain silent rather than say the wrong thing. Don’t let your lack of self-control impact others in a negative way. As we continually partake in God’s grace, we must always offer grace to others and put them over ourselves.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 17 June 2024: Today, put everyone else ahead of yourself as an act of worship to the Lord and to demonstrate the love of Christ; submit to all authority, even if those in authority seem less mature than you (submission can be an act of leadership); obey God’s commands. (1 Corinthians 11)
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 