Ye Are Yet Carnal
The sermon emphasizes the importance of following God's pattern for church gathering and worship, as outlined in Scripture, rather than making choices based on personal preferences.
G.W. North addresses the issues within the Corinthian church, emphasizing its carnal state and the need for correction in behavior, purity, and unity. He highlights that while the church's original order had become disordered, its method of worship was still fundamentally correct, as established by Paul. North stresses that personal preferences should not dictate church practices, but rather adherence to the inspired patterns set forth by God. He underscores the importance of striving for God's highest and best, as exemplified by Paul's relentless pursuit of the high calling of God. Ultimately, North calls for the church to align with the divine order prescribed in Scripture.
Text
When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church it was yet carnal. To take a censorious view, we may say that the general spirit within it was wrong. It was functioning wrongly; its behaviour was wrong; its power had gone, so had its purity and unity; in fact almost everything seemed somehow to have gone awry. But although its original order had at that stage become disorder, at least its way or method of worship was more or less right. Paul had to rebuke and eradicate many things from it, but not all; some things only needed correcting, reshaping and regulating. These included this form of gathering and worship, which had sprung into being under his leadership.
The apostle does not plainly say that this is the only form and function of church gathering and worship acceptable to God, but this is obviously the one laid down by the Lord, or else why the challenge in 14:37? It cannot be demonstrated from scripture that any other than this is disapproved of God, but even so it is surely unsafe to presume that anything other than this most natural order is commended of God. Paul must have written this for the purpose of setting before all hearts God's highest and best.
Man's aesthetic preferences or traditional forms or any of his likes or dislikes are not the criteria upon which choices may be made and church systems or forms of worship developed. To persist in one's own choices upon the flimsy grounds of personal preferences, when they are so plainly contrary to this inspired pattern, must surely bring God's disapproval. What God has set forth about any matter is always the ultimate perfection. Beside this, what is written here is the command of an apostle who for himself counted all things but dung that he may win Christ.
In order to accomplish this ambition, Paul was specially harsh against the things which were either religiously, racially or aesthetically gain to him (Philippians 3). He ever pressed toward the mark for the high calling of God, and being so with him, it must also be the standard of life for the entire Church. He knew that the things he wrote were, and still are, the only way, the only right way for the Church.
Sermon Outline
- The Carnal State of the Corinthian Church
- The Inspired Pattern of Church Gathering and Worship
- The Dangers of Personal Preferences
- The Flimsy Grounds of Personal Choices
- The Consequences of Disobedience
- The Standard of Life for the Church
Key Quotes
“What God has set forth about any matter is always the ultimate perfection.” — G.W. North
“To persist in one's own choices upon the flimsy grounds of personal preferences, when they are so plainly contrary to this inspired pattern, must surely bring God's disapproval.” — G.W. North
Application Points
- We must be careful not to make choices based on personal preferences, but rather follow God's command as outlined in Scripture.
- Following God's pattern is essential for the health and purity of the Church.
- We must be willing to submit to God's authority and follow His design for the Church.