The Way - Day 073 (1 Corinthians 11)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
1 Corinthians 11
Paul had already tackled tough issues such as disunity (1 Corinthians 1-4), immorality (1 Corinthians 5-6), marriage (1 Corinthians 7), and personal freedom (1 Corinthians 8-10) in his first letter to the church at Corinth.  In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul addresses two more issues causing confusion and disobedience within the church of Corinth: head coverings (11:2-16) and guidelines for the Lord's supper (11:17-34).  Both of these issues were addressed because they were important to the acceptability of their worship to God.  There seems to have been some misunderstandings within the church regarding proper conduct in worship.  This misunderstanding stemmed from improper behavior of men and women who had confused their God-given roles.  Paul wrote a few words to remind them of their roles, "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God" (11:3).  Christ assumes His role as the head of the church, making Him Lord over all who believe.  Man has been placed in authority over the woman, not as a dictator, but as one who is under Christ's authority and responsible to love his wife.  Paul established these foundational truths to help the Corinthians understand God's authoritative design in creation.  Men in Corinth had been praying and prophesying with their head covered, which may have been a local custom, but Paul reminded them that an uncovered head was a sign of man's authority over woman (11:4).  Apparently the women had been worshiping with their head uncovered, which was a dishonor to God's natural design of authority and submission (11:5).  Although men and women were of equal importance, God has assigned distinct roles to both of them and maintaining them would bring God's blessing (11:6-16).

Paul also takes the time to address the Corinthians' misconduct in observing the Lord's supper, which was meant to be a remembrance of the death of Christ as payment for our sins.  The celebration of the Lord's supper had been corrupted by disunity (11:17-19) and selfish indulgence (11:20-22).  Paul reminds the Corinthians that this time should be characterized by remembrance of the Lord's body and blood being given for the forgiveness of sin (11:23-26).  The Lord's supper was also meant to be a time of personal reflection and confession of any known sin (11:28).  Taking part in this celebration with known sin and irreverence invited the judgment of God upon that person (11:29); in fact, some individuals were sick and even dead as a result of participating unworthily (11:30).  Paul used this chapter as a way to guide the Corinthians back to proper conduct in worship and hopefully they would heed his words.

Dear God, may I worship You with a pure heart while walking in obedience.