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Commentary on "Worship in the Early Church"
Day 6: Thursday, September 15, 2011 - Love Conquers All
Overview
This lesson examines the use of Spiritual gifts and the role of love in worship and in daily life.
Observations
The lesson begins by correctly noting that "New Testament history is so similar to Old Testament history in that both show just how far fallen we all are." Throughout history God chose people who don't seem to be the ideal candidates for accomplishing His will. God does this as the demonstration of His power and so that none of us might have reason to boast.
I Cor 1: 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (ESV)
The lesson points out several of the issues that Paul addressed in his letters to the Corinthians as being idolatry and the seeming overemphasis on the spiritual gifts. Yet nothing in Paul's writing here suggests an "overemphasis" on gifts. Instead there were several issues involving the use of these gifts. First, there was division in the church because some gifts were more esteemed than others and the recipients of these gifts viewed themselves as more important than their brothers and sisters in the church (I Cor 12). Second, there was a misuse of these gifts during worship leading to a confused and disorderly service (I Cor 14:26-40).
In addition to idolatry, there were some other serious issues occurring in Corinth including division in the church, abusing the Lord's Supper, disorderly worship, moral laxity, and asceticism. Moral laxity and asceticism reflect polar opposites. Some in the church appear to have embraced the local worldly culture, or to have never let go of it when becoming believers, and openly practiced sinful behaviors (I Cor 5, 6). But others went to the opposite extreme, avoiding acceptable practices to meet the normal, God-given appetites based on the false teaching that denying these appetites made a person more holy (I Cor 7; 10:23-30).
The lesson accurately describes Paul's emphasis on love as "the ultimate gift for which we should seek". It accurately notes that "loving, dedicated Christians will exert an influence and power that extend far beyond the weekly worship service."
Summary
This lesson follows Scripture fairly closely, accurately pointing out the role and importance that Paul assigned to love within the context of Spiritual gifts. This is also the first lesson of the week where the Scriptural passages directly addressed worship (I Cor 14).
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised August 22, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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