Greetings First Presbyterian Family,
As I write these words, we are in the first weeks of a new Administration. For some people this is a time of hope. For others it is a time of concern. We still have the Pandemic. Vaccines are now available to the public. However, the vaccination process is taking time. The Incident at The Capitol is not quite three weeks in the past. As a nation we are trying to make sense of that event as well as other events of the past year. People are drawing many different conclusions. Many people are at odds. We are still navigating uncertain waters. There is hope, there is concern, and there is tension.
This is our February Newsletter. This is the month of Valentines. That leads to the topic of love…and that usually leads pastors to refer to I Corinthians 13 a.k.a. “The Love Chapter”. Here are a few observations.
First, the people of Corinth were in the midst of great divisions. That included: four factions, different views of Gifts of the Spirit, “worship wars”, and moral failings among members. That was just the tip of the iceberg!
Second, Paul did NOT write The Love Chapter to say, “Way to go!”. He wrote it to challenge the people to respond to the Holy Spirit. He wrote it to say, “This is love in action, this is what you are called to do.”
Third, these descriptions fall into 2 categories: “Is” and “Isn’t”. Both lists include seven actions. Notice that the “Isn’t” category is more reactive and the “Is” category is more proactive.
Here are the Seven “Isn’t” attributes: 1) v.4 “Is not jealous”, 2) v.4 “Does not brag”, 3) vs. 4 “Is not arrogant”, 4) vs.5 “Does not act unbecomingly”, 5) v.5 “Does not seek its own”, 6) v.5 “Does not take into account a wrong suffered”, 7) v.6 “Does not rejoice in unrighteousness”.
Here are the Seven “Is” attributes: 1) v.4 “Patient”, 2) v.4 “Kind”, 3) v.6 “Rejoices with the truth”, 4) v.7 “Bears all things”, 5) v.7 “Believes all things”, 6) v.7 “Hopes all things”, 7) v.7 “Endures all things”.
Fourth, only Jesus Christ loves perfectly. I do not present this list to put a burden on any of us. The words of I Corinthians 13 inspire me to pursue Christ and His perfect way. We can use these verses to pray for ourselves, our friends and family, and our world. What if we prayed: “Lord, may my love be patient”. “Lord, may my (spouse, sibling, parent, child, friend) love in a way that believes all things.” “Lord, may (any elected official) not be arrogant or seek his/her own. May that person rejoice in the truth.”
This chapter gives us all food for thought. May we listen, ponder, and then respond.
Jones Doughton
