On the surface, this is a passage that seems to deal with very diverse things. There is a section in which Paul refers to a disciplinary case that existed in the church in Corinth, and which had been handled, and to which he now responds. There is also a personal section where he begins to talk about his own ministry, reflecting upon its nature and its effects. And then there is a theological section at the end, contrasting the old covenant with the new covenant.
However, in looking at this section I notice that they are tied together in that each of them in their own way describes what God is doing in the world. We live in a time when people are dissatisfied with what they have or with how things are, and they are looking about for something new. Consequently, they are internally, if not also externally, rushing about from place to place to see if they can find something that will satisfy their longings.
I am reminded of our Lord speaking of the end times in saying that in the final days people would be doing that so far as an identity of a political Messiah is concerned. They would say, “Look, he’s over here. Let’s come and see Him.” Or they come running in and say, “No, he’s over here. Let’s go in that direction instead.” Jesus said not to pay any attention to that because the end is not yet. Those are just passing things.
People are doing that today. Some people think that where you are going to find the answers to problems is in politics. There is this great mythology about the political system, that the way things really happen and move forward is through that means. I think we need to read afresh Jacques Ellul’s book The Political Illusion.1 There is an attempt by politicians to build up their realm of operation as if that is really where the power is. While it is true that politics is a valuable tool for achieving certain things, the power for change is not really in the political system. Rather, the place where changes really happen is in the lives of people. That kind of change reflects itself in the political system rather than it being the other way around. But many people say, “Oh, no, the way to get something to happen is to elect a certain person. If only this person could win the next election, then things will really start to get done.”
Other people think the place of influence or chief importance is in the entertainment world. They follow after somebody who is the singer or group of the moment. Their lives seem to revolve around their favorite musician or actor. In the case of music, some fans are so loyal that they travel all around the country to attend the concerts, following the singer or group as they tour.
The apostle Paul was not one who was unaware of what was going on in the world. All you have to do is read his letters carefully and look at the imagery to see that he knew much about the social life of his day. He uses images from sports, for example, indicating he was familiar with different events. On one occasion he describes himself as a runner who strives for the prize.
But if you had asked the apostle Paul, “Is that really the important thing in life? Is that really the area of life where one should pour one’s interest, and spend one’s time, and exhibit one’s enthusiasm?” he would have answered without any question that to do that is the height of folly. What really matters, for both now and eternity, is what God is doing in the lives of the people who are being rescued from sin, being made alive to righteousness, and being transformed from within by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
[1] Jacques Ellul, The Political Illusion, trans. Konrad Kellen (New York: Knopf, 1967).