The city of Corinth, in biblical times, was extremely important, busy and diverse. Due to its location, in Greece, it touched both the Aegean and Ionian seas and was a port city, bringing people together from all different cultures, religions and parts of the world. Due to this diversity, people didn’t always get along, particularly in the church that the apostle Paul and others were working to establish there. As the saying goes, “where two people are gathered, three ideas emerge.” (You thought I was going to give another quote!)

It is in the first letter to the Corinthians where Paul gives the characteristic that should guide everything. The characteristic is love. I am sure you have heard the passage before, most likely at weddings.

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things… And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13: 4-7,13)

The irony here is that they were not written for the type of love that is celebrated between two people at a wedding. As mentioned, they were written for a group of people that were struggling to get along. They were struggling to get along because of a difference in ideas, values, and morals. Then, because of those differences, they were letting their anger get the best of them and prevented them from moving forward as a people. (That isn’t happening today, is it? )

As a country, we might have people with different ideas about ideas, values and morals, but as Christians, living in this country, all of it should be rooted in love. Love that is not only a word, but are actions. Actions that display humility and generosity and all of those characteristics that Paul lists above.

I don’t know what the outcome will be. I don’t know when we will learn of the outcome. I only know one thing. I know I want love to be what guides us. A love that conquers all divisions and enables us to all to see with new eyes and new hearts. A love that doesn’t allow us to return to our old ways, but leads us to a new life. A love that is patient and kind. A love that hopes and endures.

May you experience love in your day and may someone experience love because of you.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tim

p.s. I hope to see you in worship this Sunday, whether that is online or in-person (don’t forget to sign up and wear a mask!)