All you need is love!
Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Chris Simmonds:
What did I like about today’s passage?
In today’s reading we really arrive at the crux of Paul’s central theme throughout this letter – ‘now let me show you a way of life that is best of all…’ And so follows probably one of the most quoted passages of scripture of all (at least at weddings). And for good reason.
Paul’s masterful and timeless description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is arguably unparalleled throughout all human literature – and yes, in the inimitable words of Lloyd Christmas – “I like it a lot”. It throbs with Divine light and inspiration.
Probably less quoted at weddings will be his more time- / culture-bound instructions regarding the wearing of head coverings during worship at the start of our reading! Any men with long hair or women with short hair among us will probably be forgiven for smirking during such passages. Paul goes on in Ch. 12 to list various spiritual gifts which appear to have been distributed across the members of the church. This is followed by a lengthy metaphor in which he likens the church to a human body, the parts of which are necessarily diverse – each with their own critical function without which the whole would suffer.
The point – again - with all of this, is that Paul is driving for a vital harmony which embraces diversity. While it appears he falls into the trap of obliging the community to all accept certain external customs - with the whole head covering thing (and perhaps he does?) - his point is that they work together to arrive at a place of shalom. He celebrates the spread of giftings and abilities in the church and points out the absurdity of envy and pride – the foot should not strive to be a hand, and the head should not dismiss the importance of the feet. I love that time and again for Paul, while private spirituality is of course crucial, it means nothing if it is not worked out in community as this is its purpose. God does not want a collection of isolated balls of holiness. He wants a gang of goodness-spreaders.
What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
I love that Jesus’ ultimate example of sacrificial love – the surrender of his beautiful life for the rescue of a broken world – finds its place again in today’s reading. It cannot be said too strongly or too often – here is our standard and exemplar. Love trumps every spiritual gift or indeed any other ambition we could pursue in this life. Love is the Way of Christ.
What am I going to do differently as a result?
Severn Vineyard has gone from 50% to 90% in community group attendance during this pandemic. Let’s take this opportunity to be more real and more vulnerable with each other. Let’s call out the good we see and tenderly address the hurt as we trust it with one another. I will certainly try to do this more in my group.
Who am I going to share this with?
My community group!