Summer Growth
As we enter the Summer, the spiritual focus of our liturgy and our scripture readings is on growth. This is the traditional theme of the season of Pentecost, or “ordinary time.” Obviously, it parallels what’s going on in the world around us, as plants and crops grow and bear fruit. Growth is a basic expectation God has for each of us.
The Apostle Paul wrote several letters to the congregation he established in the city of Corinth. Scholars generally agree that he wrote al least four letters in all—only two of them are included in the Bible. The book we call “First Corinthians” is actually his second letter to them, then he wrote a “harsh” letter also not included in the Bible, and finally he wrote the letter called “Second Corinthians” in the New Testament…which was actually his forth epistle to them.
This congregation had some real difficulty getting their act together, and that’s what prompted Paul to write to them so often. Both of the epistles which are included in the Bible offer some strong corrective advice to these brothers and sisters…we can only imagine what Paul’s self-titled “harsh” letter may have said!
In 1Cor. 3 Paul says a couple of things concerning “Growth.” He says he can’t speak to them as, “spiritual people, but…as infants in Christ.” He continues this analogy by saying that he wanted to offer them solid food, but because they were still babies he had to give them milk. The point is pretty clear. Paul was surprised, disappointed, and maybe a bit angry with them. This congregation had, what medical people might call: “failure to thrive.” When he planted the church they were baby Christians. But several years later Paul expected them to have followed normal growth patterns—but, they weren’t growing spiritual or mature like he expected.
Then Paul switches to different image. He points out that he planted the church, and then a pastor named Apollos served among them for a significant period of time. Most people today don’t know this, but Paul and Apollos famously didn’t get along. Apparently Apollos was a fantastic preacher, while Paul was less gifted as a speaker, and better as a writer. That conflict was apparent in the church at Corinth—they were dividing up into parties loyal to either Paul or Apollos.
Paul mentions this as a part of the cause of their failure to grow. He says: “I planted, Apollos watered, but only God gives the growth.” Paul knows that people are aware that he and Apollos “have issues” with each other. But Paul is not in competition with Apollos, or vice versa. They both play on the same team. They both serve Jesus. They are both working toward the same goal—growing the Kingdom of God—including the church at Corinth. This congregation seems to have missed that fact. They were not growing in Christian maturity the way either Paul or Apollos expected. They were unnaturally stunted…needing children’s sermons instead of adult sermons.
I’m glad First isn’t in that kind of trouble—I’m terrible at giving children’s sermons!
For this simple, summer letter I just want to urge us all to bear in mind that our growth cycle never ends. Jesus is always calling us to grow deeper in our faith, and better at living it out. May God help all of us to grow…always!
Peace,
Pastor Derek
