1 Corinthians 3:1-4

“I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh.” vss. 2-3a

Dr. Paul has a dietary diagnosis for symptoms being experienced by the the folks in Corinth–he says they’re not ready for the meat of the gospel. In fact he’s not even sure they’ve been able to handle the pablum he’s been so carefully doling out. They’ve been unable to digest the truth of his message, and the result has been division within the community. They have in essence mistaken the gospel for just another religion, and the party spirit has run wild. Believers are following the teachings of charismatic leaders who then compete with one another for adherents. These Corinthians had become the forerunners of the contemporary sheep stealing congregations that thrive as pastors have learned to refine their marketing strategies and sharpen their competitive skills. Paul insisted that believers were one body in Christ and that they should be known for servant leadership and cooperative mission. They are the Church of Christ and not the church of one or another beloved pastor. That is so hard for believers to grasp and to put into practice. We are not just another religion, and we’re not called to be religious. We have been called and are being molded by the Holy Spirit to produce spiritual fruits and be the Light of the world.

Thought for the Day: What does religious pablum taste like?