West Main

LIVE  HUMBLY

I am studying the Old Testament to prepare for an upcoming survey class for our teens on Sunday mornings. I recently finished Esther. It is such a beautiful book, and there is much to learn from this gem. We see God’s sovereignty over the entire universe. We see His providential care for His family. But the lesson that strikes me most is one of humility.

We live in a very selfish culture. Modern man does NOT like to be told what to do. We are quick to lose respect for others when difficulties arise. We also lose humility in situations that can cause stress. It always becomes about “ME.” But, the story of Esther teaches us a completely different way to live life. Her story is one of gentle strength and humility.

She proved to have a Godly spirit that showed great strength and willing obedience. Esther’s humility was completely different from everyone else around her, and this was noticed, even to the point of it causing her to be elevated into the position of Queen! She shows us that remaining respectful and humble, even in difficult, if not humanly impossible circumstances, can often miraculously become the very vessel of untold blessings for both ourselves and others!

We would do well to model her Godly attitudes in all areas of life, and especially in trials. Not once is there a complaint or bad attitude exposed in Esther. She must have grown tired, irritated and frustrated! Yet, she does not crumble or weaken. Many times we read she won the “favor” of those around her. This “favor” is what ultimately saved her people. You and I can be granted such favor when we accept unfair persecution and follow Esther’s example of maintaining a positive attitude, paired with humility and the determination to lean on God only.

Will we at West Main choose to live like Esther?

– Pannell

FEELING  THE  LORD  (PART  FIVE)

In my last few articles, I have been critiquing how First Corinthians chapter eleven is sometimes misused in Lord’s Supper meditations. In particular, I have taken issue with the meditation that seems to compel members to potentially feel guilty, if they do not keep their minds entirely focused on the sacrifice of Christ while partaking. “Remember,” this meditation seems to say, “If your thoughts wander during the Lord’s Supper, you are not discerning the body of Christ and may be subject to the Lord’s discipline of illness or death!” In other words, First Corinthians eleven is about the content of one’s thoughts while participating in the Lord’s Supper.

However, we have seen that the issue for the Corinthians was not what they were thinking while partaking of the Lord’s Supper, but how their treatment of one another contradicted what the Lord’s Supper represents. The Corinthians were guilty of making false distinctions amongst themselves by judging who was “more spiritual.” Paul charges them saying, “In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat” (1 Cor 11:18-20).

The “differences” the Corinthians were making when eating the Lord’s Supper dealt with their financial status in life. Some were going hungry while others ate to their hearts content (1 Cor 11:20-22). The sin of making class distinctions in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper was just a further extension of the Corinthians’ sin Paul mentions earlier in the letter:

“My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?” (1 Cor 1:11-13).

Clearly the Corinthians had a unity problem. Their disunity was made manifest in how they tried making prideful distinctions in judging who baptized them (Paul or Apollos), and in who had the means to eat well verses those who had nothing. The Lord’s Supper was supposed to be the Church’s humble proclamation of oneness in Jesus. As Paul says, “Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord’” (1 Cor 1:31). Everything the Corinthians are and have comes from Jesus: “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Cor 4:7).

The Corinthians did not love one another as they ought (1 Cor 11:29-30). The Corinthian problem was not that they were not literally thinking of the body and blood of Jesus while partaking of the Lord’s Supper. Their problem was that their actions toward one another as the body of Christ (the Church) contradicted how the body of Christ (Jesus’ sacrificed body) was to make them one. By continuing their spiritual and class distinctions, the Corinthians were perverting the Lord’s Supper into a justification of their own sinful pride!

So in coming to the Lord’s Supper, you need to examine how you treat and regard your fellow brothers and sisters. Do your thoughts and actions reflect the love and oneness your participation in the Lord’s Supper is supposed to declare? How does such a thought make you feel?

To be continued . . .     – Terry