The Gospel has the power to change - no, save - lives. Paul knew that (Romans 1:16), and that was why and how he was so determined to see it spread. I think sometimes, we just want to focus on the good news of spreading the good news. In some ways, I think my own imagery of pastoral work was shaped by Rev. Alden here - you remember - from Walnut Grove. People respected him and what he had to say. The Church was a part of people's lives - at least in the frontier days of 70's TV. But the reality is preaching the Gospel sure can take a toll on ya!
When Paul brought the message to Ephesus, things there started to change. Magicians left their wicked practices to turn to Christ, and the demand for mini-idols began to dry up. Glorious news for the Kingdom - bad news for the folks who had been making their living on these two areas of superstition. Someone would have to pay - and it's gonna have to be that guy who's talking folks outta buying what's feeding my family. I bet Paul would have really loved to see Charles Ingalls and Jonathan Garvey loading up the feed wagon instead of a mob coming to beat him up and throw him in jail. Oh well - life moves on, and so did Paul - right on out of Ephesus.
Dane then brings us onto the pastoral challenge Paul seems to have had with the church he planted in Corinth. This fresh, young church family - the face of Christ in their own neighborhood - seemed to having a bit of a challenge. Something had gotten into their corn-flakes and now they didn't like Paul or each other. The people began to separate over "party" lines. Some thought they were better because saw ultimate philosophical and behavioral freedom in the Gospel. Others said, "No Way!!! The rules are the rules, and good and godly people follow the rules." Yet others said that God is a mystical concept - "We should think about that!" And yet others saw themselves as holier-than-thou, because they pledged allegiance to an idea of Jesus (instead of the Savior Himself).
All these differences led to splits within the church, even though it seems they must have stayed "together." It must have been a tough deal for Paul, sitting in jail, writing to a fractious group about theology, church discipline, love and kindness, and many things we take for granted. Even though we know the lessons Paul tried to teach the Corinthians through his multiple letters, sometimes I think we too lose sight of them and end looking (if only just a little bit) like the Corinthian church. Maybe a few weeks / months spending time in the Corinthian letters would do all of us, and the Church, some good. Oh yeah - Rev. Alden never pastored in Corinth either, but some of us will.
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