December 19, by Chris McCain

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4I give thanks to my* God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6just as the testimony of* Christ has been strengthened among you— 7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let me confess: when Paul, writing to the nascent and fractured church in Corinth, tells early followers not to worry about spiritual gifts as they eagerly await Christ’s return, I can’t help but think his grandiloquence falls deafly on my postmodern ears. I understand that everyone wants to hear reassurances in times of turmoil and promises that better days are yet to come—especially appropriate in today’s economy. But trying to relate Paul’s eternal optimism to everyday life in an era of divisiveness, strife, financial insecurity, and fear seems a bit incongruous, even naïve.

Yet we aren’t so different from the Corinthians. As was the case in the 1st century CE, the ways of the world are rapidly changing. Systems of thought and governance that functioned well for 19th and 20th centuries no longer seem relevant. In recent article in GOOD Magazine, writer Parag Khanna discusses the evolution of the “nation-state.” No longer do international borders and the dominance of governments in decision-making make sense in a globalized economy. Says Khanna, “The nation-state has just about passed away in terms of exclusivity. Now, when people talk about countries and international relations, they have to acknowledge that what they’re talking about is, at best, a particular slice of what’s going on in the world, and is not at all representative of the entirety of what’s happening.” Khanna argues that we are entering into an age of “neo-medievalism”: “As in the 14th century, we now have empires, religious groups and fanatics, fears of the plague and superstition, multinational corporations, and city-states—Dubai is the new Venice.”

So should be excited about or afraid of what’s to come? Experience tells us this world isn’t static, and that change is the only constant. As the Corinthians did not remain a persecuted underground sect forever, perhaps we must humbly acknowledge that the proud American hegemony may be faltering. Should that frighten us? I hope not.

Immediately following these verses, Paul tells the Corinthians: Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose.

Finding that common purpose isn’t easy, but for us as Americans—as citizens of this vast and beautiful world—to go boldly into the future, we must be willing to set aside our differences, avoid insularity, and see all human beings in our midst as neighbors, as friends, as ourselves.

Prayer:

Gracious and loving God, we ask that You grant us hope and peace amidst the uncertainty of Your magnificent creation. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

Chris McCain is a member of the stratigic planning team at Riverside and you will find him assisting with worship at the 2nd Sunday Services. Chris is a Davidson graduate who works for a local foundation.