Jordan Byrd
Ordered - Where is selfishness shaped into service? (1 Corinthians 11:2-34)
When I was younger, my mom’s side of the family would get together a week or so before Christmas. Adults would sit at the big, formal dinner table. And usually us kids would sit at a card table in another room. One food that usually made an appearance at this family get-together was my great aunt’s cookies. One year, at this get-together I really liked these cookies and wanted to have some extra after the get-together. And I didn’t want someone else to eat the rest of them. So, I took some and stashed them in my shoes. Where I figured no one would see them or take them. I stashed some cookies for me, so that others couldn’t have them. My family still reminds me of this incident, saying, “Do you want some extra cookies to put in your shoes for later.”
Our lives are filled with comparisons of the haves and have nots. A lot of the current political cycle is focusing on the haves and have nots. A lot of life is comparing what someone else has, that you don’t. A lof of our angst on a day-to-day basis is about having or not having enough for basic needs, or being able to do this or that. Our lives are also filled with temptations to do things that benefit ourself at the exclusion of others. Temptations for men to use force and dominance to maintain positions of authority. Temptations for women to dress however they want, even if it’s sensually tempting. Temptations for men to act like women and women to act like men. Temptations for any person to create their own sense of morality.
Our lives are filled with influences that shape us to believe that selfishness is the way to abundant life. That focusing on our self, at exclusion to others is what will give us access to life: What will give us the: authority, freedom, equality, a good life, etc. – that we desire. We’re shaped into selfishness. We’re shaped to exclude others. We’re shaped to Prioritize ourselves over others. In our world, today, Where are we shaped into service to others? Where are we shaped from selfishness into service to others? Where is selfishness shaped into service?
The good news of 1 Corinthians 11 is that we have been given access to where we can be shaped from selfishness into serve to others. The apostle Paul writes to the followers of Jesus in Corinth to highlight that Jesus, and his way of life models the abundant life we desire. Paul highlights that Jesus found abundant life as a blessing of being in relationship with his heavenly father. Jesus was given authority by his heavenly Father. Jesus was given freedom from anxiety and worry of fitting-in. Jesus was given equality with God and humanity. Jesus was given a good life from the one who is Life and created life. And because Jesus found himself cared for – in relationship with his heavenly Father, He was free from caring for himself to care for others. Jesus’ relationship with his heavenly Father shaped him away from selfishness, and into service to others. Jesus’ relationship with his heavenly Father is what shaped him to give-up his life – in death – for those who were unlike him.
Where is selfishness shaped into service? In relationship with God. Being united to the life of Jesus. In focusing on Jesus; and following his example. Where is selfishness shaped into service? When we’re with Jesus. When we’re focused on his life and teachings. When we’re focused on his death and resurrection that make all wrong things right.
If you’ve ever been to some of the fancier steakhouses in our area, you know that you can’t just show up in shorts and a t-shirt. One place in particular, REQUIRES you to wear formal attire to eat there. While some might bristle at this standard – saying, “I should have the freedom to dress how I want. We Americans don’t like to be told what to do. We like being our own authority. And the people of firs-century Corinth were similar.
In 1 Corinthians 11, we encounter a situation where women were participating in the worship gathering of other Jesus followers with their head uncovered. The context of the passage indicates that women having their heads covered during worship (especially, when they were praying or prophesying) was the conventional standard. And some women were leaving their head uncovered – flaunting their freedom to do so.
Now there are a few concepts that need explained here. In first-century Corinth, the phrasing for an “uncovered or covered head” could be a reference to a couple different things.
One, it could be a reference to an actual head-covering, like a shall of some kind. A piece of cloth that would actually be worn over the hair of a woman. Two, it could also be a reference, not to a piece of cloth covering a woman’s head, but a woman’s hair pinned-up, instead of hanging down. In my opinion, the second option seems to make the most sense, in relation to the other language Paul uses in this section, especially when he references a woman cutting-off or shaving her head.
Beyond whether this was a cloth head covering, or a head covered with pinned-up hair, the way a woman styled her hair conveyed something more specific in first-century Corinth — than just a preference of hair-style. In first-century Corinth, women with their hair down in public could be an indicator of being a morally loose woman. Like, a temple prostitute, or any person who solicited men for sexual encounters.
Also in first-century Corinth, women wore their hair-up as a social indicator of embodying the female sex. It was a way of differentiating women from men.
A woman who wore her hair-up was also a way of indicating her relationship status. Similar to how women wear wedding rings in our culture.
Overall, women wearing their hair-up in public was a social standard in first-century Corinth. To not do so, was considered odd, inappropriate, disorderly, and confusing.
Throughout 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, Paul addresses a scenario in the Corinthian church, where women were apparently claiming that they had the freedom or right to act as they wanted. That their faith in Jesus somehow freed them from the social norms of Corinth. That they could wear their hair down in worship. While women covering their head was a standard in first-century Corinth, that isn’t a social norm for us, in 21st-century America, today.
To see how this applies to us today, we have to look past the form – to the principle behind the form. Paul is ultimately calling the women of the Corinthian church to act in a way that isn’t shameful to the name of Jesus. For women to wear their hair down in worship in Corinth, could taint the witness of the church. It could convey to the watching world, that the church of Jesus is no different than the other temples in Corinth. “They have prostitutes, and apparently, the church of Jesus does too” – by the way women appear in worship with their hair down. It could convey to the watching world, that a woman’s faithfulness to her husband wasn’t important. “Look, she’s putting herself out there for other men, with her hair down.” This would cause disgrace to her husband and marriage. But again, this was the form for first-century Corinth.
What might the principle Paul is highlighting, look like in our 21st-century Americanized worship service? Dressing sensually with other believers? The rest of these could apply to women or men: Giving the appearance of attracting someone not your spouse; or, not wearing a wedding ring; or, spending a lot of time with someone of the opposite sex, not your husband. Or, loyalty-questioning comments about someone of the opposite sex (like: “she’s hot,” or “he’s so attractive”). The form is different, but the same principle is the same: not giving the appearance of inappropriateness, sensuality, or infidelity. Or, looking out for honor and faithfulness to one’s spouse. Looking out for faithful witness to the honor and faithfulness that Jesus calls us to in marriage and appropriateness in relationship to those we’re not married to.
Henry Ford brought the assembly-line process to the forefront of our society. In an assembly line, multiple people work simultaneously, but on different parts. On an assembly line, Who is most important? In a sense, every person is equally important. But, each person is also interdependent on the person before them and after them – to make their assembled part work together to fashion a car or computer or toy. Each person on the line is equal – there is equality in the beings running the line. But each person is functionally dependent, or subordinate – to the other people on the line. Without the others, the product doesn’t come together. Each person’s role is needed. Even though, someone’s role has to come before another.
Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 point toward this order that God has fashioned into his human creation. Paul points back to Genesis 1 and 2, to make this point. Adam and Eve were both created human. But without each, there is no male or female. Without each, there is no procreation. Each are equal in humanity, but each are different in their functionality. Adam and men contribute certain qualities different from women; and Eve and women contribute certain qualities different from men.
And back to 1 Corinthians 11, Paul is connecting that the most abundant life possible is to live into the way God created you: male or female (man or woman). To confuse this order is to miss the abundant life that God has for you. Paul is reminding these women to live into the abundant life that God has created them to embody. And to also live into the abundant life that God has for them in relationship with their husband. And to also live into the abundant life that God has for them in relationship with the other men in the body of Christ.
Essentially, Paul is highlighting that: Focus on ourselves is not what’s going to lead to the abundant life that we desire. Rather, focusing on how we can use the body, gender, and natural gifts and abilities that God has given us – to consider and honor and serve others – will lead to a community of people where everybody is interdependent on each other.
Where is selfishness shaped into service? And as we’ll reflect on, we’re shaped to view life this way by focusing on Jesus, and his other-oriented way of life.
There is a restaurant where I grew up. And, it’s one of the nicer restaurants in that area. They served steaks. And they were known for their garlic bread. When I was a young kid, my parents always told me that “kids weren’t allowed to eat there.” I was always baffled by this. I was allowed to eat at any other restaurant. But not this one. And, really it’s just that the loudness and immaturity of kids would make the environment not as enjoyable for other people eating there. Even though I wasn’t allowed to eat in the restaurant, my parents and grandparents always brought home extra garlic bread, that I was able to try. The haves: My parents or grandparents – took their experience at the restaurant, and shared it with me – the have not.
In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Paul is advocating for the church in Corinth to embody the posture of service to the poor and excluded. This section is a glimpse of what communion, or the Lord’s Supper looked like in the first-century. It contained the bread and cup that we use each Sunday here. But, it took place within an actual meal.
While we’ve become accustomed to gathering for worship in a designated church building, this was not the case for the church in first-century Corinth. Following and worshiping Jesus was still an up-and-coming practice. It didn’t have the established order and practices that we’re accustomed to now, including access and means to have a separate building where they could gather and worship. What was more typical was that the church gathered in someone’s home. Likely a home large enough to accommodate a number of people at once. And the size of such a home likely belonged to a wealthier person in the church. When the church met for worship, it would also meet around a meal. And part of the meal was breaking bread and drinking wine, or grape juice of some kind – in remembrance of Jesus’ broken body and shed blood on the cross.
The origin of communion, or the Lord’s supper that Jesus instituted, also took place during a meal: the Passover meal – which was a meal that Israelites ate in remembrance of God’s deliverance of them out of slavery in Egypt. As Christianity spread beyond Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth, the meal dynamic of communion faded into the background, but partaking of the bread and cup remained forefront, to remember Jesus and his way of life as the standard for living and worship.
A dynamic of first-century Corinthian culture that isn’t apparent to us, while reading this passage, is that wealthy people were known for hosting parties. And part of hosting parties was to invite those less well-off to eat. But, they would serve inferior food and drink to these guests somewhere else in the house. Meanwhile, the wealthy host would be eating select, expensive, fine food in the formal dining area of the house, along with other wealthy, elite guests they invited.
What ensued is what we encounter in 1 Corinthians 11. 11:18 – divisions. 11:21 – private dinners. 11:22 – to the point that the hosts are overfed and drunk, and the guests are hungry and sober to poor status.
Paul is not saying it’s unrealistic for their to be people of different status levels coming together to eat (11:19). For the bringing together of poor and wealthy is what the kingdom of God is all about. Forging into one community, those who were unlikely to come together, if it wasn’t for following Jesus. Paul, in a sense, is commending this aspect. But he is correcting the divisive manner in which they are gathering for worship. When the wealthy focus on themselves and look past the need of the poor in their community, they are despising God’s church and humiliating their poor brothers and sisters in Christ. The wealthy followers of Jesus in Corinth were continuing to allow themselves to be shaped by the values of Corinth rather than the values of Jesus.
Where is the selfishness of these wealthy followers of Jesus shaped into service of their poor brothers and sisters in Christ? In the vary meal they gather to remember Jesus. In Jesus. In Jesus’ life and example. Paul points to the example Jesus set with his own life. Paul points to Jesus’ example of giving-up focus on himself for service to others. Paul points to Jesus’ example of giving-up his life on the cross to overcome death on our behalf. Paul points to Jesus’ relationship with his heavenly Father as what shaped Jesus away from the temptation to be selfish and fight being handed over to death, so that he could serve and give humanity a future beyond death in his resurrection. Jesus’ relationship with his heavenly Father shaped him away from selfishness and into service.
Paul points back to Jesus and the meal that remember his selfless, servant-hearted life. Reminding the church in Corinth, that this is the way of life Jesus is trying to shape you into. Not the division that your selfishness is shaping you into. That is leading you toward life for yourself, and destitution for others. Whereas, Jesus is trying to lead you to abundant life – and abundant life for others.
Communion is a moment to discern if you're being shaped into the way of Jesus with others.
When Paul directs these followers of Jesus to “examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup,” he is not talking about a private (you and God) moment. He has in mind a real discernment of how their selfishness, and lack of awareness and consideration of the poverty of their brothers and sisters in Christ is impacting the health of the church, the witness of the church, and the real withholding of resources that they could provide to their needy brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s only in Jesus selfless example that the Corinthian church was going to shaped from selfishness into service to others. in how they dressed or acted toward the opposite gender (11:2-16), or treated those poorer than themselves (11:17-34). The same is true for us today, as well. Following Jesus is where selfishness is shaped into service? Where is selfishness shaped into service? In following Jesus.
Today, we don’t deal with women’s hair being down as inappropriate. Nor, do we deal with wild, divisive meal during our worship gathering. But, are their ways that we’re still tempted to be like the first-century Corinthian followers of Jesus? Are we sensual in how we dress among the body of Christ? Are we shaming our spouse by how we dress or speak about them or speak about others? In the body of Christ, are relationships and marriages different from the rest of the world? In the body of Christ, are we presenting a different standard in our relationship to each other? A standard that looks obviously different from the rest of the world? In the body of Christ, are we giving-up our selfishness to focus on serving and lifting-up the skills and abilities of others?
Benevolence Fund
From time to time, people call or get-ahold of the ministers or elders, asking for financial help. Thankfully, some years ago, a group of people in this congregation made a commitment to regularly give a set amount toward a benevolence fund. As people gave to this fund, it has enabled the leadership of the church to financially assist many needy people over years. Sometimes, it’s people connected to the church, who are going through a rough situation. Sometimes, it’s people not connected to the church at all. But at the end of their rope, and just looking for some assistance to get them by. The benevolence fund is possible because people in this congregation have been shaped by the selfless-ness, sacrificial, and servant-hearted, and compassionate example of Jesus to all of us. Jesus shaped the initial group of people to band together to give of their means, to be shaped away from selfishness, to serve and bless others in need. The benevolence of this church is a result of giving, over and beyond general giving and giving to our mission partners. Benevolence isn’t a line-item in the church budget. It’s a result of intentional, selfless, service to others. Because Jesus was intentional and selfless in his service to us on the cross – to overcome death. Are you being shaped by Jesus?
Where is your selfishness being shaped into service? It can happen by following Jesus.
Today: What is shaping you away from God’s abundant life? What is shaping you away from service to others, and instead, shaping you toward anxiety and worry and focus on yourself? 1 Corinthians 11 invites you to consider how Jesus will shape you toward a more abundant life. Please find me or another trusted follower of Jesus, to help you discern what your next step of faith in experiencing abundant life in Jesus might be. Ultimately, we hope you will unite your life to Jesus under the water of baptism, and allow him to shape you into his abundant life.
If you’ve already united your life to Jesus, Are you allowing the example and teachings of Jesus to shape you away from selfishness and into service to God and others? Are you approaching communion as a private moment? Or as a reminder to be less of you and serve and bless others in the body of Christ? How aware are you of the needs of those in the body of Christ?
How is God’s Spirit shaping you away from selfishness, and toward service to others?
Lastly: How is God’s Spirit shaping you away from selfishness, and toward service and hospitality to others in the body of Christ? How is Jesus’ shaping you to serve and host others in the body of Christ, with the resources God’s blessed you with.
Grab a paper plate on a seat near you. Notice someone in this room today, whom you don’t know very well. Write their name down on the plate (or after the service, go introduce yourself and get to know their name, and ask it you can have them over for dinner, or go grab a dinner or coffee some time. Whoever God’s Spirit is impressing on your heart, don’t assume that person is too busy to be invited. We live in a lonely world.
Where is selfishness shaped into service? When we’re with Jesus. When we’re focused on his life and teachings. When we’re shaped to become like Jesus, and live into his abundant life of service in God’s kingdom.