Love does not Act Unseemly: Part 4

Social Rudeness

The church at Corinth, like many churches, had a diversity of people. Among them were the very rich and the very poor. Jesus told us that the poor would always be with us, implying that so would the rich. The problem at Corinth was not the disparity between the rich and the poor but the way the rich were flaunting their abundance to the shame of the poor. Paul writes to the church to correct them of their behavior.

“Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.” (1 Corinthians 11:20-22)

Apparently, when they came together to share the Lord’s Supper, the rich would bring their food and eat it before those who had nothing. Paul chastises them for despising the church and shaming the poor. Paul rebukes them for their actions that were not in keeping with, or motivated by, love. Love would not act in a way as to bring shame on others, yet this was the very thing that the rich among them were doing. Paul also warned them that, not only had he judged them, but God had judged them as well. It was because of the judgment of God than many of them had become sick and some had even died.

“Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-30)

This verse is often applied to our need to examine ourselves in reference to our own personal sin prior to partaking of the Table of the Lord. But Paul was speaking specifically of those who had “not judge the body rightly.” Another translator translates this verse as, “not discerning the body of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:29 YLT) Those who were stuffing themselves and drinking themselves drunk were not discerning that even the poor among them were part of the Body of Christ. In bringing shame upon the poor they were also bringing shame upon the Body of Christ. When we despise and treat our brothers and sisters with contempt we are despising and treating with contempt the very Body of our Lord, and it was for this very reason that so many in the church had become sick and even died.

Paul concludes his rebuke with some very simple guidelines. “So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment.” (1 Corinthians 11:33-34) In essence, Paul was counseling them to be considerate of others and to put the interests of others before themselves. Jesus put it this way, “You shall love your neighbor as your self.” (Matthew 22:39) In other words, “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” (Luke 6:31)

Rudeness does not care about the feelings of others. Rudeness does not care how our actions affect other people. Rudeness cares only for itself. But love genuinely cares for others. Love understands how the rude actions of others affect ourselves and seeks not to do the same to others. Love treats others with the same kindness and consideration that we would appreciate. Love recognizes that we have a lot in common with others; we are all part of the human race, we are all sinners, and we are all in need of the love of God. More than that, we are all created in God’s own image. When we treat others with love and respect, we are showing love and respect to the one who created us. When we love others, we are also loving God.

David Robison