Summary: We live in a time of tremendous wealth and prosperity. We have access to huge advances in education, social justice, skilled doctors, potent medicines, and tremendous technologies. And yet... We have rapidly growing poverty and hardship. People are alienated from good education, social justice, a doctor's care, medicine, and technologies. The more things have changed in our world, the more they have stayed the same... Why is this so? Corinth was microcosm of our time. Corinth was the seat of the Roman government in the province, and it was at the crossroads for all trade in the region. Whenever Paul arrived in a city he would become a flashpoint for controversy. In Corinth, Paul was despised by the Jews, and hated by the Greeks. The Jews had him arrested and charged with "speaking and acting against the law."He was accused of neither being a faithful Jew, or a good citizen. Jews argued that this Christ, Paul was teaching, would subvert the good social order of the region, and create chaos among all the citizens... The Jews initiated a relentless vendetta against Paul, and the church of Corinth... "Corinthianize" was a verb used to describe the immorality of the Corinthians. It came to stand for prostitution. The population of Corinth was a melting pot... some would call it diversity... multi-culturalism... Things Change, and Stay The Same... Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthian's was never preserved in the New Testament (1Cor 5:9-11). Paul's second letter to the Corinthians to help them deal with their issues (1Cor 2:1-5). Paul pleads with the Corinthian believers as his family members; his brethren. Paul determined to know (attend to, or be engaged in) nothing among them except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." He only engaged in Jesus Christ, and Him crucified... The Corinthians believed because they saw the power of God demonstrated among them. Their faith rested in God's power alone. The word Paul uses for "demonstrate" means to 'show off' or 'make manifest'. When something is demonstrated it appears right before your eyes. There are no special effects, and no trick photography. We've all heard the saying, "The proof is in the pudding." But did you know the actual saying is, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."? "The proof is in the pudding" is like saying there is a lot of evidence, but I won't go through that right now, and you should take my word for it, or you can go through all the evidence yourself. On the other hand, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating" means you have to eat the pudding to know what's inside. Paul was saying "The demonstration (proof) for your faith (the pudding) is in the power of God (the eating). Where is the power of God demonstrated, or proven? In Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And when we live our lives, as believers, determined to know only Jesus Christ and Him crucified, then our faith (the pudding) will sustain us in this world, because it is the demonstration of God's power. So why is our world so messed up? Because. like the Corinthian believers, who became convinced that the wisdom of this world held the answers they needed, our society also looks for its security in social justice, politicians, and religious leaders for care and protection. The More Things Change, the More They Stay The Same... Our Lord encourages us not to be dazzled by the wisdom, wealth, justice, religion, power, and politics of this world... But, if we want to see a demonstration (proof) for our faith (the pudding) then focus on the power of God (the eating)... Jesus Christ and Him Crucified... Where we put our faith will determine the fate of mankind. Do we put our faith in the impressive illusions of this world, or in Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified?
