Spiritual Gifts | This Changes EverythingSample

Servants not Superheroes 

The Corinthian church was a church full of people looking to make an idol out of something or somebody. In Chapter 1 Paul identifies a few types of Christians that were emerging. We will refer to these developing Christian-flavored-people as the star struck (1:10-17), the stoic (1:20), the debater (1:20), the Jew and the Greek (1:22), and the nobleman believer (1:26). The star-struck Christians were making celebrities out of the Apostles. Some of them were following Paul, others Cephas, and other Apollos. Rather than welcoming the hero worship from these people, however, Paul responds; “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” Paul’s point … “why are you putting people on a pedestal?”

There were also the perceived “wise” Christians. These were the stoics. They were the sober minded ones because they believed that emotions are destructive. The greater body of Stoics, the Epicureans, particularly thought themselves astute in the debate of God and human suffering. They were a dismal crowd. They walked around talking about how God either can and won’t heal suffering, wants to and can’t, can’t and won’t, or won’t and can’t heal suffering. 

The Scribes were the educated lawyers. The debaters were akin to modern day bloggers, tabloids, T.V., and advertisements. The Jews would only believe if they saw signs and wonders, and the Greeks would only believe if you gave them fact and proof. Finally, was the nobleman. They were the prosperity Christians—believing that health, wealth, and prosperity is the name of the game.

All these different “flavors,” and none of their beliefs, or central aims, really reflected the nature of Jesus. It really begs us to ask the question “were they really becoming like Christ?” 

We live in a day and age where there are self-proclaimed falsely inaugurated superheroes everywhere. We are always trying to make ourselves, someone, or something, into a functional god that can save us, make our lives better, or just numb our pain a few seconds. Sadly, spiritual “gifts” have often been relegated to the task of serving our idol worship, not in helping us become like our God.

Consider today’s verses and the nature of Jesus as consider how to serve in ministry.