1 Corinthians 15 - Sermon Study Guide

  The sting of death is sin, and the

power of sin is the law. But thanks be

to God, who gives us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be

steadfast, immovable, always

abounding in the work of the Lord,

knowing that in the Lord your labor

is not in vain.

(1 Corinthians 15:56-58 ESV)

(Click here for the PDF Version of the study guide.)

1 Corinthians 15: THIS IS WHY WE WIN

1 Corinthians Introduction (English Standard Version)

The city of Corinth was at the heart of an important trade route in the ancient world. Like many cities that thrive on trade, Corinth had a reputation for sexual immorality, religious diversity, and corruption. The church that Paul planted there (Acts 18) floundered under all of these influences and began to divide over various issues. First Corinthians addresses many practical questions dividing the church—questions concerning such things as spiritual gifts, marriage, food offered to idols, and the resurrection. Paul urged the Corinthians to be unified and to give themselves fully to “the work of the Lord” (15:58). Chapter 13 includes a well-known passage on the nature and importance of love. Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians from Ephesus about a.d. 55.

1 Corinthians 15 Chapter Introduction
The doctrine of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the heart and center of Christianity. Without the resurrection, Christianity is wishful thinking or empty speculation.

1 Corinthians 15 focuses on the Corinthians’ confusion about their own resurrection - Paul was not trying to convince them that Christ rose from the dead - but that one day they, too, would be raised with Christ to eternal life.

Chapter Breakdown

• Verses 1-11: to lay the foundation, Paul reviews the evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.
• Verses 12–34: the implications of denying the resurrection.
• Verses 35–49: the question of how a general resurrection could even be possible.
• Verses 50–58: Paul’s closing “Victory Song” and an exhortation for holy living.

Intro material adapted from Macarthur Bible Studies: 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 16 Chapter Breakdown

• Counsel concerning the collection for the poor (16:1–4) The flow of the previous chapter, from a prolonged discourse on doctrinal matters to a concluding exhortation on practical diligence, moved smoothly to a discussion of a practical expression of that faith—care for the needs of others and in particular, the needy in Jerusalem.
• Counsel concerning future visits (16:5–12) The mention of his planned arrival in connection with the collection sparked another brief digression on the subject of future visits.
• Exhortation on appropriate conduct and commendation (16:13–18)
• Salutation, imprecation, and benediction (16:19–24)

1 Corinthians 16 Chapter Breakdown from THE Bible Knowledge Commentary

March 09, 2014

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Community Group Discussion Guide

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.      List and discuss 1 or 2 key aspects of the Christian life found in verses 1 and 2 of 1 Corinthians 15:

2.      What are the main tenets of the gospel found in verses 3 and 4 of 1 Corinthians 15? Why are these important?

3.      Why did Paul consider himself to be the least of the Apostles (see 1 Corinthians 15:9)? How does that truth about his past relate and apply to your life and your past? To the life of others?

GOING DEEPER STUDY QUESTIONS

4.      What eyewitness evidence did Paul cite as proof of Christ’s resurrection? (verses to consider: Matt. 28:9; Mark 16:9; Luke 24:31–39; John 20:19–20; Acts 1:22)

5.      How does the Old Testament support the New Testament doctrine of the resurrection? (verses to consider: Ps. 16:8–11; Ps. 22; Is. 53; Hos. 6:2)

*questions adapted from 1 CORINTHIANS: MACARTHUR BIBLE STUDIES

March 16, 2014

1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Community Group Discussion Guide

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.      What are the logical implications if the resurrection is false, if Jesus Christ did not resurrect from the dead? According to 1 Corinthians 15:13–19, what would the consequences be if Christ had never risen from the dead?

2.      Think about the most mournful funeral you’ve witnessed? What made it so sad?

3.      What was the most joyous and hopeful funeral you’ve attended? What made it such a time of encouragement?

4.      How does the certainty of Christ’s resurrection give you hope and strength today?

PERSONAL REFLECTION

5.      Which historical event would you most like to have been an eye-witness of:

·         creation

·         the flood

·         the exodus

·         the birth of Christ

·         the crucifixion

·         the resurrection

·         some other?

·         Why?

*questions adapted from 1 CORINTHIANS: MACARTHUR BIBLE STUDIES

March 23, 2014

1 Corinthians 15:20-28 questions

GROUP STUDY (consider breaking up into groups of 2-3 people for about 15 minutes):

1.      As best as you can, put these 8 verses in your own words … if you are able to be really creative, attempt to turn these verses into song lyrics or even a prose poem…

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

2.      If you polled your neighbors or co-workers or fellow students regarding their views of the afterlife, what sort of opinions do you think you’d uncover?

3.      What reasons do you think your associates would give for holding their respective views on what happens after physical death?

4.      How can the truths in this chapter bring comfort and hope to the heart of someone who has lost a believing loved one?

GOING DEEPER PERSONAL STUDY QUESTION

5.      Look over Revelation 20-22. How does this inform your understanding of 1 Corinthians 15:24:-28? What is the “big picture” these passages “paint” together? What does it “look” like?

*questions adapted from 1 CORINTHIANS: MACARTHUR BIBLE STUDIES

March 30, 2014

1 Corinthians 15:29-34 Study Questions

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.      How does the truth of the resurrection provide an incentive for both service and sanctification (vv. 30–34)? (verses to consider: Rom. 8:18; Heb. 11:32–40)

2.      Spend some time thinking and discussing the implications of this line in 1 Corinthians 15:32: “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’.”

3.      How does a person’s view on the afterlife affect the way they live now?

PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTION

4.      How can your lifestyle be a gospel witness to a culture enamored with eating and drinking?

GOING DEEPER STUDY QUESTION

5.      What does it mean to baptize for the dead? Give some possible ideas about what this is doing here in the text – what purpose does this serve and what is Paul saying to the Corinthians? (This is a great time to utilize any good study bible notes you may have!)

*questions adapted from 1 CORINTHIANS: MACARTHUR BIBLE STUDIES

April 06, 2014

1 Corinthians 15:35-49 Study Questions

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.      What illustration does Paul use to show the resurrection makes sense and is not illogical (read verses 35-41 especially)?

2.      How is your body now related to the resurrection body? How is it the same or how is it different? Will our resurrection bodies be humanoid? How do you know?

3.      What is the relevance from the first two questions to how you live and think right now?

GROUPS DISCUSSION QUESTION

4.      Break up into groups and do brief cross-reference studies on the following related verses. After 10-15 minutes, rejoin and tell the other groups how these related verses informed your interpretation of the larger passage? (Basically, you are explaining what these verses have to do with each other and how the Bible “fits” together)…

·         1 Corinthians 15:35-41. Study and synchronize Ezekiel 37:3 and John 12:24-

·         1 Corinthians 15:42. Study and synchronize Daniel 12:3 and Matthew 13:43-

·         1 Corinthians 15:43-44. Study and synchronize Philippians 3:21 and Colossians 3:4-

·         1 Corinthians 15:45-47. Study and synchronize Genesis 2:7 and 3:19-

·         1 Corinthians 15:48-49. Study and synchronize Philippians 3:20, Genesis 5:3, Romans 8:29-

GOING DEEPER PERSONAL STUDY QUESTION

5.      How would you explain the Adam-Christ typology found in 1 Corinthians 15:21-23 and 45-49 (consider Romans 5:12-19 for more clarity)? How does understanding this affect your view of things like the Gospel, salvation, the eternal state, and evangelism (feel free to include others)? For example, how will the resurrection of Christ overcome the effects of Adam’s sin?

*questions adapted from 1 CORINTHIANS: A LifeGuide Bible Study

April 13, 2014

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Community Group Discussion Guide

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. For those who grow weary of this physical worlds, such a and the effects of the Fall on their body and all of creation, what is the message of hope found in 1 Corinthians 15:50-58?
2. How do either belief or disbelief in the resurrection affect the way people live? How are your priorities and choices altered as a result of having learned or been reminded about Christ’s (and yours!) resurrection? 
3. How do you respond when discussing honestly or thinking deeply about death? Why? What are your fears about it? Why? 
4. What do you look forward to most about your resurrected body and the eternal state?
5. This chapter ends with victory. Spend some time discussing and praying about some areas in your life where you still need more victory in Christ…

*questions adapted from 1 CORINTHIANS: A Life Guide Bible Study

April 20, 2014

1 Corinthians 15 Overview Community Group Discussion Guide

GROUP DISCUSSION Exercises:

1.      Watch the following 17-minute YouTube video: “Defending the Resurrection of Jesus” by Doug Powell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VYqNU1ozuk

Recommended viewing pattern: watch the first 9 minutes, pause, discuss and then watch the rest of the video (the second half) and after it stops, pause, and discuss

2.      Take turns reading the whole chapter of 1 Corinthians 15. Then openly review and discuss. Recommended reading pattern - read in the following four sections:

·         1 Cor. 15:1-11

·         1 Cor. 15:12-34

·         1 Cor. 15:35-49

·         1 Cor. 15:50-58

Read verses, pause, discuss and then continue on till finished.

April 27, 2014

1 Corinthians 16:1-9 Community Group Discussion Guide

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What are some practical principles for regular giving we can glean from 1 Corinthians 16:1-4? As you share your findings, be sure to discuss how this generosity takes place within community.
2. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul referred to the “work of the Lord”. What five or six illustrations of the “work of the Lord” do you observe in 1 Corinthians 16 give? List and discuss them.
3. Out of the illustrations for “work of the Lord” you just noted from 1 Corinthians 16, which ones are most like your life? Meaning, what person or ministry do you see yourself most in in 1 Corinthians 16?

 PERSONAL REFLECTION

        4.   What exhortations for Christ-centered living did Paul include in 1 Corinthians 16? Keeping that in mind, think about this: if you were to pass on a few short words of general, spiritual exhortation to fellow church members you are close to, what concise counsel would you give?

PRAYER EXERCISE

       5.   If you were writing a similar letter to a select group of out-of-town loved ones, friends, ministry partners and co-workers, what names would likely appear in that letter? Spend some time in prayer for the people you mentioned …

*questions adapted from 1 CORINTHIANS: A LifeGuide Bible Study and  CORINTHIANS: MACARTHUR BIBLE STUDIES

May 04, 2014

1 Corinthians 16:10-24 Community Group Discussion Guide

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Read 1 Corinthians 16:14 and 19-24. Why is love the greatest need of believers? (also consider 1 Peter 4:8)
2. Read 1 Corinthians 16:15-16. How does a spirit of submission make for a healthy environment in the church? What are the implications of this for you personally? (verses to consider: Ephesians 5:21; Matthew 20:26–28; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:5)
3. Notice all the different people listed in 1 Corinthians 16. Paul worked with many different kinds of people for the sake of the gospel. What are the keys to working effectively with others?

 PERSONAL REFLECTION

         4.    As you partner with others in gospel mission, in what concrete ways can you be a more Christ-like team player this month?

PRAYER EXERCISE

        5.   If the Apostle Paul were to address an epistle to you, what about your life would he affirm - and what would he rebuke? Pray about these things…

*questions adapted from 1 CORINTHIANS: A LifeGuide Bible Study and  CORINTHIANS: MACARTHUR BIBLE STUDIES

Covenantal Apologetics | Backpack Radio Reflection Episode #178

Episode #178: Covenantal Apologetics

Oh, I loved this one! The guest is K. Scott Oliphint, a professor at Westminster in Philly, and he’s got a book out. He sounds like he really knows his stuff.

Let’s see if they let me post this one.

I guess I want to talk about the importance of getting into it. Of going all analytical. Of “over-thinking,” whatever that means.

This very morning, I was driving my kids to school and they launched into an impromptu comparison of the churches we’ve attended. Among the things they noted was the fact that, at this church, there’s a ball pit in the home where we go for our small or community group meetings, which is a vast improvement over the non-pit offerings of other churches. The ball pit, one of my kids said, is “awesome.” But, she continued, “someone kicked me in the head” in the pit. Alas, it’s a trade off. When one picks a church, one must consider whether or not there is a ball pit—but one must understand the risks: You Might Get Kicked In The Head.

And by sharing this, I am illustrating what exactly?

We make our choices based on what we believe, on what we value.

Here’s the thing: I’m not much of a theologian or an apologist. I prefer reading Ernest Hemingway, probably Charles Dickens, and maybe even obscure poetry or some William Faulkner’s wild prose over and above this hard-core doctrinal stuff. That said, I think it’s super important. One has to get over one’s own prejudices and weaknesses. The apologetic must come first. If you’re a Christian, but you don’t really know why—or if you can’t speak intelligently about beliefs—it’s a problem. I think it’s why we Christians get a bad reputation. We kinda sound dumb. It isn’t our odd dating habits or even the whole creationism thing; it’s that we can’t adequately back up our beliefs about these things. We get a little stupid.

So, like, don’t pick your church because you get to play in the ball pit. Go for the apologetic, the Truth.

All this to say that I really liked this episode. I found it rigorous, substantive, good for the soul.

I know I think anecdotally. This has been highlighted more and more in my life as a writer. I’ll be approached to look at some piece of analytical writing and I’ll kinda wince at the dryness of it all. I’m sure the analytical-types read my stuff and ask, “But where’s the content?” I’m all like, You have to earn your content through story.

The interesting thing is that God does it this way too. I don’t want to say that He “earns” His content, but God talks doctrine often enough by using story. He “backs up” the apologetic with the life of Abraham or Isaac or Moses or Joseph or Hannah or Elizabeth or Mary.

So don’t diss story.

But don’t diss apologetics, either.

My guess is that many a fine Christian is backing off this stuff because it seems so esoteric. Really, that can’t be right. God did give us exciting stories like the Red Sea parting and King David doing stuff you see in the movies—but He also gave us the book of Romans. Go figure.

This episode will give you some apologetics to ponder. This way, you go beyond Ball Pit Thinking.

  

Jennifer Bell is mostly a writer, but she's also an English teacher. The author of two books of fiction, she lives with her husband and two kids in Phoenix.

1 Corinthians 13 Study Guide (LOVE Series)

Corinth: The City, The Church, the Letter

THE CITY OF CORINTH

In 44 BC, Julius Caesar refounded Corinth as a Roman colony. Its location on a strategic isthmus made it a financial hub of the ancient world. Much trade passed through Corinth. It became wealthy and cosmopolitan. Corinth's size was about 2.5 square miles. When the gospel was preached there, Corinth's population was ethnically and religiously diverse: cults to ancient deities, mystery religions, and a Jewish community (Acts 18:1-4). As often noted, Corinth had a reputation for immorality in the ancient world.

THE CHURCH OF CORINTH

Paul came to the city around the year AD 50. Opposition forced Paul to leave the synagogue; but several people became believers in Jesus (Acts 18:8). The Christian community met in houses. Many Corinthians (Jews and Gentiles), were baptized into the faith.

PAUL’S LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

Paul confronted the problem of sexual immorality within the Christian community; for example, the incest between a man and his stepmother (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 6:9-20). Paul called for holiness, explaining that a Christian's body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians regarding meat offered to idols (1 Corinthians 8:12; 10:25) 15) and the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15). Paul also gave counsel on spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40), especially on the greatest gift—human love grounded in God's love.

               

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Study Guide Questions

Sermon Title: “Nothing without Love”

Sermon Date: February 2, 2014

1 Corinthians 13:1–3

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.      Verse three tells you that neither giving away all you own or being martyred (burned) would produce any real benefit if not done out of love for Christ and his Bride (the church). And the same thing is said about exercising great gifts, such as tongues, prophecy, knowledge and faith.

·         How is the Holy Spirit using this text to shake you up and challenge you?

·         What are you going to do about it?

2.      Throughout this epistle, Paul exposes the root cause for the Corinthians’ abuse of spiritual gifts: their the failure to love like Christ.

·         Why do those of us in Christ still seem to find it so difficult to be loving? What is wrong with us?

·         How can we apply the gospel in our lives to help each other change this sinful tendency?

3.      Recount an example in your own life where you have experienced some kind of failure due to your own personal lack of love …

·         What did the Lord teach you through that?

·         How did that experience change the way you think and act now?

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Study Guide

Sermon Title: “LOVE IS …”

Sermon Date: February 09, 2014

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 13:4–6

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.      DISCUSS HOW THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVE ARE IN LINE WITH THE GOSPEL:

·         PATIENT

·         KIND

·         REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH

·         Are you allowing the Spirit to cultivate these characteristics in your life? Please explain.

·         What about your life currently led you to answer in the way you did? Be honest and specific!

2.      DISCUSS HOW THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS ARE OUT OF STEP WITH THE GOSPEL:

·         ENVIOUS

·         BOASTFUL

·         ARROGANT

·         RUDE

·         INSIST ON OWN WAY

·         IRRITABLE

·         RESENTFUL

·         REJOICE AT WRONGDOING

As you think on these, get at the root reasons these characteristics are contrary to Christ - and sinful.

·         How can you kill these traits in your own heart?

·         How did Jesus display the opposite of these characteristics in his life, death, resurrection and ministry?

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Study Guide
PART 2

Sermon Title: “LOVE IS NOT …”
Sermon Date: February 16, 2014
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 13:4–6

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.      Look at these verse very carefully (if in a group setting, take a few minutes of quiet meditation before beginning the discussion). Now, reflect on your understanding of the concept of love … is it a biblical understanding? How do you know?

2.      Is your definition rooted in Scripture or is it more influenced by other factors? If so, what or who? How do you discern this?

3.      How important is love (love as defined by God) to your life? To the life of your church?

4.      Think on what the 1 Corinthians 13 has to say about love. How can we renew our mind to think of love in the same way the Trinity thinks of love? Remember, the Triune God defines and is love!

1 Corinthians 13:7 Study Guide

Sermon Title: “THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY”

Sermon Date: February 23, 2014

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 13:7

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.      John Calvin commented on 13:7 with these words: “This, then, is the most excellent way, when love is the regulating principle of all our actions.”

·         What do you think Calvin meant by love being the regulating principle of our behavior?

·         Is this truly a habit of your heart? Why or why not?

2.      Please give an example of a real life situation which has happened (or even could happen) in which this principle (the primacy of love) can be illustrated practically?

Speak frankly about the difference between how things have turned out when you have followed this most excellent way of allowing love to dominate your actions versus when you have not done so …

3.      Calvin also said this (in relation to this verse):

“…we are naturally too much devoted to self, this vice renders us morose and peevish. The effect is, that every one wishes that others should carry him upon their shoulders, but refuses for his part to assist others. The remedy for this disease is love, which makes us subject to our brethren, and teaches us to apply our shoulders to their burdens. (Galatians 6:2.)”

How did and does Jesus Christ exemplify this principle of bearing and enduring all things? To put it another way: how does Jesus exemplify the most excellent way found in 1 Corinthians 13:7; that of having all of our attitudes and actions be regulated according to the rule of love?

Why should this truth about Jesus drive us to worship, follow, obey and love him even more?

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Study Guide

Sermon Title: “Forever Love”

Sermon Date: March 2, 2014

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

1 Corinthians 13:8–13

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.      Survey 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 as a whole. What does this passage have to do with the gospel? With Jesus Christ? How does it point towards Jesus and the good news about him?

GROUPS EXERCISE

2.      1 Corinthians 13:8 reminds us that love outlasts all. Let’s look at a few relevant passages on love’s permanence.

·         If in a small group setting, split into groups of 3-5, with some groups taking 1 Peter 4:8 and others being assigned 1 John 4:16. The groups will then do a brief mini-study (7-9 minutes) on these two passages and then elaborate on the meaning and basic application in their own words.

·         Take 10 minutes or so for the mini-groups to share and discuss with the larger group.

OPTIONAL EXERCISE:

3.      Discuss, as a group, this statement on 1 Corinthians 13:13 by Dr. John MacArthur:

“The objects of faith and hope will be fulfilled and perfectly realized in heaven, but love, the God-like virtue, is everlasting (cf. 1 John 4:8). Heaven will be the place for the expression of nothing but perfect love toward God and each other.”

Especially consider: what does this mean for how we should live right now? How does a passage like this make a difference in your daily life? How does its future relevance relate and matter to us now?

Episode #172: Liberal Christianity | Backpack Radio Reflection

I used to tell people—back in the roaring nineties—that I was a liberal with conservative values. I mainly said this because I was a card-carrying member of a bunch of hippie-esque/pre-vegan (we really weren’t talking gluten or green smoothies just yet)/human rights-promoting/vigil-holding organizations, AND I didn’t want anyone to think I was a racist or uncool. Plus, I lived in New York. Being a Christian? Uncool.  Being a conservative Christian? Really uncool.

Even though it’s painful to say it, I think Pastor Vermon said it right when he noted the cultural trend is to be embarrassed by the Bible. I’ll just be honest: I was embarrassed by the Bible. I’m sure I’d couch it in pretty ways: “It’s not Christianity that I have a problem with; it’s Christians.”

Excuses, excuses. (Though sometimes Christians still freak me out.)

The problem has more to do with the authority of Scripture, something this radio show did a good job of affirming. While I think other shows have dealt with similar themes, it warrants repetition. Much depends on how one views the Bible. Is it the inspired Word of God, or is it of human inspiration? Is it inspiring, but not inspired? Basically, when one is thinking of liberal Christianity versus orthodox Christianity, one is identifying a position on the Bible: it is either a human testament or it is divine revelation.

So what about this embarrassment issue? I guess it has to be identified for what it was: cowardly. In essence, I think, we are ultimately called to define our worldviews, to come clean with our convictions, to take a stand. It might have been Vermon again, but one of the Backpack guys pointed out that Liberal Christianity offers something “culturally palpable” at the expense of something intellectually substantive. Do I have this right? I think that’s true. We choose between the culturally palpable or the intellectually substantive. Say it one more time.

In other words, there comes this time—it’s not always an easy time—when you’ve gotta let your yes be yes, and your no be no. It sounds harsh, but liberal Christianity may allow “embarrassed” types to have their cake and eat it too, so to speak, by allowing for a flimsy or wishy-washy intellectual life. One doesn’t have to think too hard. One doesn’t need to really bother with thinking about creationism or gender roles or other tough subjects. One gets to say things like, “There is a God, but he doesn’t really . . .” Get involved in our day-to-day lives, interfere in our sex lives, etc. Noah’s Ark? How fun was that? What a great idea for decorating our baby nurseries: animals with a little catastrophic flooding that wiped out mankind! Good times! Liberal Christianity is more culturally palpable, indeed. It is not, however, intellectually demanding. It does not require much consistency.

Speaking for myself, it did come down to the rigor thing. Liberal Christianity, it seemed, gave me a flimsy God. He wasn’t really omnipotent or omnipresent. He didn’t really know what was going on. Yet he was called God. The intellectual dissonance was unsettling.  I found it tough to live with the theological dissonance. I had to give up the “I’m a liberal with conservative values” routine. I’d rather have to work on how God views gender, how we should think about origins, etc.

It isn’t easy, I admit it. I struggle with some of this stuff. I’m pretty good on creationism. And I don’t really want the God of Deism. But what’s this headship business? What does the Bible say about gender? Are you kidding me?

The bottom line is that we’re rational beings. We just can’t live any other way.

Jennifer Bell is mostly a writer, but she's also an English teacher. The author of two books of fiction, she lives with her husband and two kids in Phoenix.

Alcohol and Christian Liberty, or What Price Freedom? | Backpack Radio Reflection Episode #146

Episode #146: Alcohol and Christian Liberty, or What Price Freedom?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have much trouble with trying to figure out whether or not I should eat food sacrificed to idols. On the other hand, I’ve been known to “graciously” flip out when alcohol is served. Once I brought a room of people to tears with my broken speech on the plight of the alcoholic.

Let’s get started by looking at this episode of Backpack Radio, which centered around First Corinthians 8. Very basically, there is such a thing as Christian Liberty. In other words, there are certain behaviors—such as drinking alcohol or going to see “R”-rated movies—that aren’t necessarily wrong, and Christians are at liberty to wisely discern whether or not they should participate. How the behavior affects other is one of the determining factors in making a decision. Pastor Bob was careful to note that we’re talking about things about which the Scriptures are indifferent, like drinking alcohol. We are not talking about sin, which is sin no matter how you cut it. This sounds pretty easy, especially since the big Biblical example is the “food sacrificed to idols” business. I haven’t seen any recent steak offerings to Mammon.

But it’s not so easy. First, there’s the intrusion, if you will, of love. Christian liberty is ultimately about how Christians relate to others. For what purpose do you abstain from or participate in certain indifferent activities? Second, we may need to think about specifics. When do you personally say no? I’ll be honest: I like my movies and books.

Taking my cue from the show, let’s look at some specific areas.

Alcohol: I didn’t actually bring the room to tears by myself. They were a weepy bunch anyways, so it was bound to happen. I was at a church women’s retreat, and some of the nice Christian women decided to daintily serve wine (and probably cheese). I was the one who got bent out of shape, I admit it.

Hmm. How to proceed? I’m close with some alcoholics. In a show of solidarity with one of them, I gave up alcohol in 2004. Frankly, it wasn’t tough. But I have some insider-info on the alcoholic’s mighty battle—which is hellish. So, when the nice women folk thought they’d just have a glass while away for the weekend from the kids and men, I freaked—and said it shouldn’t be served at a church retreat. Besides my vested interest, there were recovering alcoholics among us. They piped in. The room lapsed into quiet girly bawling, and there was no more wine among us. Thank you very much?

Did I go too far?  

Not sure. May I get super, super personal? You know the sacrament? You know how most churches tend to serve both wine and grape juice? May I just tell you that I kinda get very uncomfortable and anxious and I lose focus when I see those little, tiny drops of wine coming around, and I’m not even the alcoholic? I don’t know how it is to be an alcoholic in the church setting, but I wonder. Do they try to focus on the meaning of the Lord’s table, but end up thinking about the wine—how they’re going to avoid it, noticing who’s taking it and who’s going for grape juice, counting cups? I know this for sure: in other settings, alcoholics are acutely aware of the presence of alcohol in the room: they do count cups; they do monitor its location; they do think an awful lot about it.

I would imagine that Christian alcoholics are spending at least some of the sacrament time thinking about not thinking about alcohol.

So get rid of it? Is this a matter of Christian liberty? I’m asking you.

Entertainment choices: And as conservative as I am on alcohol, I’m pretty sure I sound like a raging liberal on this one. I see everything (well, everything that’s “good”). Am I a stumbling block? I’m totally into controversial books. Though I’m not a Harry Potter fan, I think it’s okay if you are. It might be easy to draw the line on something like movies, but what about TV and its gospel of secular humanism? What about our latest habit—“30 Rock”? Tina’s a great big secular humanist. What about rock concerts? What about wearing concert t-shirts? I know I’ve really been unwilling to give up my music. Not good?

Attending other worship services: What do you think about joining your Catholic or Mormon friend on a Sunday morning at his or her worship service? I have anecdotes on this too, but I’ll hold back—though we have major Catholics in the family. Are we free here?

Consumer Choices: The guys at Backpack Radio did pose this interesting example. Is it okay to buy goods from countries who are engaged in something like child labor? Is it okay to buy stuff made in China? What do you think?

My husband brought up an example after a recent event. We watched this no-doubt biased documentary called Blackfish—which pretty much slams SeaWorld for having killer whales in captivity. I was totally convinced that we need to immediately boycott SeaWorld. For me, it’s a moral issue. It isn’t a matter of Christian liberty. What do you think? Are Christians free to go to SeaWorld or are we morally obligated to stop?

Then Disneyland came up. How about that one? I freakin’ love Disneyland, just so you know. (Why might this be wrong? Conspicuous consumption? Anthropomorphizing animals? Walt Worship?)

I’m just posing questions here. The issue is pretty complex. What are you willing to give up?

Jennifer Bell is mostly a writer, but she's also an English teacher. The author of two books of fiction, she lives with her husband and two kids in Phoenix.

Reflections on Backpack Radio, Episode #164

Reflections on Backpack Radio, Episode #164: Cults, Heresies, and World Religions with Doug Powell (listen here)

My husband wanted me to start by looking at iWitness World Religions and iWitness Heresies and Cults, apps created by Doug Powell (apologist and musician) and now available for downloading. But I’m, like, apps schnapps—let’s talk about cults. Doug, please develop an app that will allow me to point at someone and my phone will immediately read, “Cult Member” or “Cult-free.” The wisdom-seeking folk will want to listen to this episode. Is now an appropriate time to admit that I got my first smart phone and sent my first text message in June?

But CULTS. To get started, let’s go to the eighties. Here’s Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality.” Tina Fey is also making a new sitcom about a woman leaving a doomsday cult. So cults are hot!

I guess, then, my hope is to whet your appetites for more—which you can get from the show. My guess is that all of us have been touched by cults. Once, I had dinner with the Moonies! An old college friend had drunk the Kool Aid, so to speak (oh, that’s the wrong cult!), and married this complete stranger in a big stadium. This was back in my All-Faiths-Are-Equally-Valid days and so, when my ultra-PC friend urged me not to call them “Moonies” but to kindly refer to them as members of the Unification Church, I did so. Actually, there isn’t much to tell because I asked the wrong questions—but I do remember being spooked and hearing about how much property they owned in Manhattan (tons, friends, tons). The last I heard, she had left the cult and was a single mom in Phoenix. I met her once again at an IHOP, and she looked amazing.

Besides that, there has been the troubling goodness of numerous Mormons in my path. They have been among the best of my students—those Mormon kids have been respectful, and they’ve turned their homework in on time. So what if they’ve got mysterious ideas about owning their own planets? Surely, they’re okay, right?

Then, there’s that Shaker village in Massachusetts we visited. I think they died out because no one had sex, but they made awesome furniture! (Make love, not war? Make a chair, not a baby!)

Finally, I must confess to having seen a lot of Tom Cruise movies, so I’ve also encountered Scientology. These encapsulate my cultic experiences. Or do they?

I’ve already confessed to offering no cohesive apologetic to the Moonies. In the same way that I wouldn’t know what an “app” really was if it hit me in the face, I’m not so sure we’re entirely aware of what a cult really is. Perhaps this is the first step in fighting the good fight—and why this app might be important. Sure, it’s easy to self-righteously identify David Koresh, but what about the subtle heretics who speak gently but authoritatively? I’m personally more interested in the way Christian groups harbor cultic tendencies, as opposed to the obvious nutcases who want us to make friends with aliens or marry our cousins. What dangers lurk among us?

One interesting question has been raised on this topic (by my husband and me, on the couch): Can a group be doctrinally-sound and still be a cult? Of course, this begs another question: what does it mean to be doctrinally-sound? In other words, Can genuine Christians—True Believers—be in a cult? What does it look like when groups begin with the Bible, with Jesus?

It almost seems as if the word cult defies definition. There are sects, heretics, and cults. It’s all very confusing. Basically, you want to be in the historic Christianity camp. Here’s how you can figure out if you’re in a cult. I’ll try to make it fun, by writing my own app-like quiz. These traits are adapted from the International Cultic Studies Association, which I picked out from about a million online resources (http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm). The emphasis is on adapted. I’d encourage you to check out the original source, since I messed with it considerably.

• Do you think your leader knows completely what he’s talking about and you can trust him because he’s so wise and you’re an idiot anyway? Plus, questioning is not a great option. You don’t want to be contentious—especially since your leader is so brilliant and, well, as already mentioned, you’re an idiot?
• Is the whole questioning process equivalent to trying to get off the Island in “Lost” or like finding the wardrobe that will take you to Narnia?
• Have you signed any papers or jumped on a disturbing bandwagon because your friends are doing it (plus, you’re an idiot, so what do you really know?)
• Does your leader have a Napoleonic complex? Does he have an answer for everything? Does he ever just stop and say, “Wow. You’re right. I was wrong. I’m so sorry.”
• Does your group think they’ve got a handle on Truth unlike anyone else?
• Does your group pretty much feel uncomfortable with Other Christians?
• Could someone get rid of the leader, if necessary? Would it be like a coup?
• Is there anything unethical going on? Are you just standing there watching? Seriously?
• Do you feel guilt and shame because you’ve failed, AGAIN, to present your papers to the authorities? Do you find yourself trying harder to be good or getting physically ill because you can’t do it or are you even thinking about suicide?
• Is there an in-group and an out-group? How does your group grow?
• Do you sorta think there is “nothing else out there”? Are you scared to leave, like really scared? How does one leave? Who has left and why?

Once we start talking cults, Christians might move into self-examination. Can the traits of a cult be in place, even if it’s not a cult? What does it look like when a church manifests cult-like traits? What constitutes mind-control or brainwashing? What does a healthy church look like? At what point does a church become unhealthy enough that you just have to get out of there? Can you find the back door? Do you have your running shoes on? Are your kids okay?

More than anything, Christians might want to ask themselves if they’re hearing the full Gospel in their churches, if there’s genuine transparency and accountability in their leadership, and if there really is freedom of expression or is there merely a charade of discussion, a pretense of humility?

Jennifer Bell is mostly a writer, but she’s also an English teacher. The author of two books of fiction, she lives with her husband and two kids in Phoenix.