1 Corinthians And Its Original Audience

We all know 1 Corinthians 13 for its elaborations on love. But I want to remind us of a few elements that tend to be forgotten: 

Paul did not write verses 4 through 8 as the happy memoirs of a marriage counselor. This famous passage on love was written as a rebuke against brethren! There were some at Corinth who had all sorts of fanciful gifts, blessings, and abilities, but they were not using them for or with love. As the Corinthians read this list they ought to have been ashamed of how they were behaving: 

They were not being patient with each other when they scarfed down the Lord’s supper before their poor brethren could arrive (ch 11). They were not being kind as they made fun of Paul’s speech, and likely each other’s (2 Cor 10:10). They were envying one another’s spiritual gifts and bragging about what they thought was special about their own (ch 12). Those with knowledge were puffing themselves up and putting their weaker brethren down by what they ate (ch 8). They were acting improperly and selfishly by ignoring each other’s conscience, and being unwilling to adapt preferences to open doors for the gospel (ch 9). They were being irritable in their complaints (ch 10) and resentful of their gender roles (ch 11). They were reveling in their abuse of the Lord’s Supper (ch 11), rejoicing in the adultery of one of their members (ch 5) and turning up their nose at prophesy (ch 14). They did not bear with one another as they segregated into their social and spiritual clicks (ch 1, 3). They doubted the resurrection, lost site of the eternal, and begun to think that their toil was in vain (ch 15). Their mindset was on the carnal, the temporary, the momentary pleasures of self-service and pride, rather than the eternal nature of love. 

Paul’s point is: your abilities and talents are worthless the way you are using them. You are nullifying the grace of the Spirit by trusting in your exalted blessings to save you. This is all headed toward the resurrection of Jesus and His example of self-sacrifice. What they should have been seeking is the greater gifts which are endued upon the Apostles, Prophets, and Teachers (12:28-31). Why? Because the Apostles witnessed the resurrected Jesus, the Prophets spoke through His resurrected authority, and teachers draw people’s minds, hearts, and actions to His resurrection through the word. The resurrection was that which is of first importance (ch 15). Likewise, the greater gifts lead people to it. The connection, then, between the resurrection of Jesus and love should be apparent. The resurrection of Jesus is what displays the love of God to the fullest. Conformity to His resurrection is how we display our ours. It is specifically because we shall join His resurrection that we dedicate ourselves to loving the brethren as He did. I believe this is the “perfect” which Paul anticipates at the end of chapter 13: conformity to the resurrection of Christ upon the last day (see also Philippians 3:10-14 and 1 Peter 5:10). No wonder some of these Corinthians had trouble with Love, when they doubted the implications of the resurrection! 

Can we really say we are living a life of love if we doubt His resurrection? Can we really love as God intends if we doubt our own? Lots of people engage in acts of service and compassion with honesty and fervor, but Paul has pointed out that it’s possible to do so without love (13:3). Lots of people claim the Lord and even engage in the highest visible displays of spirituality, but Paul has pointed out that it’s possible to do so without love (13:1-2). Love endures forever because the resurrection endures forever. Love never fails because Jesus’ resurrection never fails. The more we come face to face with the resurrected Jesus, seeing His re-birth and glorification as the highest symbol of sacrifice, selflessness, and service, the greater our faith will be, the greater our hope will be, and, most applicably, the greater our love will be. 

If we are to make the most pertinent applications for today, then we should not read this list as validation of our current lives or as only applicable to marriages. We should deeply reflect on this as an admonition and rebuke to an audience who, to be honest, is not all that different from our culture today. As we read, we need to see the example of Jesus. We need to think of specific ways in which each trait needs to indisputably shine through in our actions and words. Can your network of neighbors, co-workers, contacts on social media, family, and friends say each of these things about you? If we are honest, I think we all will admit we have some work to do. 

1 Corinthians 13 and Social Media

After we have understood Paul’s primary intention of bringing the Corinthians audience face to face with the implications of the resurrection, we can look for our own application of the love manifesto in 1 Corinthians 13. Briefly restated, this description of love matters because it shows how the resurrection of Christ should be witnessed in each of His resurrected disciples. 

As I reflected on this chapter, I have considered some dangers on social media and how we need to reflect on our behavior in an online setting. I approach this from an admonition standpoint, because that is Paul’s intention to his audience. 

Love is patient- 

Social media encourages short interactions. Shorter comments, shorter blips, shorter peaks into peoples minds and lives. In this setting, it can be tempting to get frustrated with people as they don’t grasp our view in only a few short words. We tend to have more patience with laboriously writing out our own comments than sitting to read other people’s already expressed thoughts. When we read something which we perceive needs correction, do we stop to see if someone else has already corrected it adequately? Or do we just jump in and chew someone out and add disgrace upon disgrace? Being patient on social media means being willing to calmly explain ourselves as many times as is necessary. Being patient on social media means giving someone else the chance to explain themselves as fully as they may. Being patient on social media means not making rash comments, but waiting a while for either more information to come in, or for your own thoughts to simmer down. Being patient on social media means not sharing the first outrageous or bad news story that hits the tabloids (or the major news, you take your pick which one is typically more uninformed), but waiting for the story to come to full light first. Being patient on social media means not interrupting or dismissing someone’s comment or post. You can be short in words without being short in tone. 

Love is kind-

Social media makes it very easy to be snide and dismissive. There are far more acronyms and abbreviations for insults than for complements. There are a lot more ways to come across as sarcastic and offensive than sincere and encouraging. Sometimes we need to put a few more seconds into our comments, reading and re-reading, just to make sure we are coming across as kind, even to those who are not kind in return. We show kindness by being sympathetic to distress rather than dismissive. We show kindness by offering prayers and love and offers of help (which will will actually follow through with). We show kindness by not playing the grammar nazzi when someone is already having troubles, by letting people voice doubts and concerns without ridicule. We show kindness by not poking fun of persons in politics when they make choices we disagree with, and by not name-calling or poisoning the well with other souls who take those views. We show kindness by sending a private message as correction or rebuke when something is not yet circulated. We show kindness by treating others the way we want to be treated.

Love is not jealous-

This is one of social media’s greatest temptations. We tend to see people’s best sides: their profile pictures with their gut sucked in, the filters on, the makeup on, the blemishes photoshopped, and the cleanest room of the house. Moms get discouraged when they see other mom’s with magazine worthy houses, the smiliest children, and the perfect crafts, and Mr Incredible. Dads get discouraged when they see huge houses with perfect lawns, the all-happy family photoshoots, the perfect couples dates, perfect body builders, over-fantasized (invented?) sex lives, unfaithful players who always get what they want. Barren couples get discouraged when they see photos of their friends with their second, third, fourth, and fifth healthy child. Lonely people get discouraged when they see other couples who deride singleness and paint the picturesque scene of relationship bliss. Young people see success, old people see health, everyone sees the attractiveness of someone else’s spouse. Most often, the social media depiction is missing the ugly side. The irony is that the person you may be jealous of is drooling over someone else’s blessings too. If we are not careful, all social media becomes is a platform to compare and get jealous. Not being jealous means rejoicing with those who obtain what we are longing to have. Not being jealous means not stalking our friends’ posts and photos to drool over their perfect life/children/spouse/job. 

Love does not brag-

This is the other side of the coin of jealousy. Our culture teaches us to be jealous until we get to our goal, and then we can start bragging. Social media is all about sharing accomplishments and being happy and confident when a goal is met. These aren’t the problem, but they are often abused by the boaster. There can be great uses for posting things which may encourage others to pursue their own goals and promote that which is good, but “take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak” 1 Corinthians 8:9. It is super easy to focus on our liberties and rights on social media. “Haters gonna hate” “If you don’t like it, unfriend me” and the likes become grounds to continue in our boasting in our liberties and blessings. The often overlooked aspect of bragging is attention-seeking. Social media often tempts us to brag about our troubles. If we can’t achieve the picture-perfect life like others have, then perhaps we can gain attention by our problems and how bad we have it. Complaining, then, becomes the result of one who is both jealous and boastful at the same time. It’s good to share struggles, confess sins, ask for prayers. But make sure you first consider your motivations. If all we are after is validation, attention, or excuses, then Social Media becomes a most dangerous platform for boasting, either in blessings or struggles. 

Love is not proud-

Pride is the mentality which refuses to seek correction, refuses to learn, and assumes that self knows more than anyone else who disagrees. Pride clouds our minds. It makes us think people of other opinions are more stupid or ignorant than we are. This is quite evident in the way the world uses its social media. People do not enter discussions to learn but to put others down or show off. It’s not about bringing people to truth but about ‘winning.’ Pride assumes that it is already correct. Therefore any argument which disagrees has no validity. Pride tends to zero in upon first impressions rather than what is actually said. Pride looks for ways to validate its own position. How many people only research and share a view insofar as it agrees with them? Our pride does not even acknowledge when we are wrong, so we just keep on assuming we are right. It’s okay to apologize on social media. It’s good to admit someone else is right. We are not required to excuse our behavior, to defend our wrongness, or fight to the last key-stroke. Neither are we required to do any of these things even when we are right. Pride can be a problem for both those who are wrong and those who are right. 

Love is not rude-

This is similar to unkindness, but specifically applies to acting in ways which intentionally run over people’s conscience or situation. Some translations say “does not dishonor others.” When we know someone in our social influence struggles with alcoholism, don’t talk up the local bar or event with drinking. If one struggles with pornography or lust, don’t be promoting TV shows with those in them, don’t share photos with outfits (or lack there-of) which you know cause problems (even if you think they shouldn’t cause problems) (btw, there are a lot of inspirational memes and quotes which often portray outfits in the background which require a certain level of maturity or mental fortitude to ignore. Be really, really, mindful of things in the background). If someone struggles with saying unclean words, don’t use unclean acronyms or euphemisms. These things become rude towards people’s conscience. In addition, social media often forms subcultures and contexts. Sometimes there are certain days dedicated to focusing on an issue. Sometimes there are pages, walls, posts, threads, and tags which intend to teach or honor a sensitive issue. Do not use those occasions for sharing insensitive thoughts or tearing down people who share in them. Do not use those times to mock, make jokes out of, or make light of those contexts, cultures, and discussions. Yes, this applies to politics, to social justice, to race, to gender/sex discussions. We can discuss matters without being rude or insensitive. 

Love does not insist/demand its own way- 

This is other side of the coin of rudeness. Rudeness runs over other people’s sensitivities and customs, while this self-seeking demands that other people adapt to our own sensitivities and customs. The beauty of social media is that it has the ability to represent vast quantities of views, customs, and cultures. These each tend to segregate into their own circles. But when those circles collide, as they inevitably do, do we demand that other people treat us and our view with preference? If we perceive that someone is being rude to our views or environment, do we reprimand them because they are not “like us,” don’t talk like us, or don’t share our opinions? This is a temptation to all groups. Even groups which pride themselves on diversity are often vehemently intolerant of those they perceive as intolerant. Intolerance typically comes from this kind of self-seeking, demanding and insisting our own way. It’s okay to let people have their own opinion, even when you disagree. It’s okay to let people have their own way of saying things, even if it’s not the way you would say it. We are allowed to stress and uphold what we believe is right without demanding that other people think the way we do or conform to our decisions. Wherein we have authority to set rules, we set the rules we believe are right and honorable. But the decision to act in conformity with rules is their decision to make. Don’t rob people of their capacity to make decisions or voice their opinions. The unfortunate times of disfellowship, unfollowing, unfriending, booting from groups, etc should be in the offenders ball-court. Such cases are fair administration of the rules of relationship which we communicate ahead of time. As far as it depends on us, we want to seek peace, even with opposing views. 

Love is not irritable-

Social media often becomes a platform for venting.  People tend to post and share their initial anger rather than contemplate and share a well-thought admonition or critique. If we search for something to get mad at, I guarantee we will find something. Not only do people share rash comments, but we tend to get easily angered by those rash comments and follow them up with rash comments of our own. This cycle can get perpetuated unwittingly into endless comment streams of name-calling and back-at-yous. There are topics and issues which easily get us riled up. Social media is a really dangerous place for such a struggle, for there is a never-ending list of issues and people to fight. It is also common to find sources who intentionally present issues to hit maximum anger. They try their best to present issues in their most riling light so that people will get angry enough to ‘do something.’ Decisions made from irritability and rash anger are themselves rash and will only agitate problems. If an issue has enough validity to be acted upon, then it shall be convincing without the need for anger-inducement. People who feel desperate for validity use anger tactics to win people over instead of reason, facts, or love. If we are not careful, we will absorb ourselves into this “outrage” culture where we are constantly seeing things which anger us. Especially given social media’s algorithms of suggested material, when we “interact” with certain posts or videos by viewing or commenting on them, we are only asking the algorithms to give us more of the same. Don’t make your social media about anger and irritability. Focus on what is more worthy, even if it’s the same issue presented in a more godly way. 

Love is not resentful-

Social Media becomes a trap for those who harbor resentment. Everything is recorded for you, convenient for you to revisit and relive. Every bad thing someone said, every insensitive comment, and every offensive post can be dug up and resurface. Even with the ‘delete’ feature, our minds connect names, images, and ways of speaking with past events. Social media thrives on name and brand recognition, and capitalizes on association of ideas and images. This makes it hard to let go of offenses. This attribute of Love is best connected to forgiveness. While it is not healthy to ignore the past, we must all strive to do better at not holding grudges or chips on our shoulder. We need to improve letting relationships move forward. It is tempting to avoid resentment by just blocking someone so we will never encounter them again. Ironically this is exactly what resentment looks like: ‘someone wronged me therefore I shall never trust them again and never establish a relationship with them again.’ There is, surely, a time and place for disfellowship of evil, for removal of temptation and those who cause it, and setting a certain ‘tone’ in our social settings. These things may call for removing individuals who work against these goals. But take care that your motives are not about blocking any opportunities for a renewed relationship. If someone repents, changes, or works with you in your goals, should you not accept them back? Make sure there is still opportunity for this. Make sure you don’t shut all doors because you were offended. Don’t hold on to comments which someone makes, looking for ways to bring them back up, take them out of context, or twist them in their face. Don’t think poorly of your social contacts for times which they may not have meant what they said, were under strain or duress, or were ignorant. Sometimes you just misunderstood. Sometimes they just misunderstood. Don’t permanently look down your nose at them. We want to provide the chance for them to be ‘redeemed’ in our eyes rather than resented permanently. 

Love finds no joy in evil- 

There are two aspects of this for social Media. One of them is related to our previous discussions of jealousy and irritability. Why do we seek those things and surround ourselves with a culture which brings them out? It is often because there is some base form of satisfaction and pleasure that we get from getting jealous and mad. Something about the way our brains release those endorphins gets us emotionally attached to those feelings. We must be really careful that we do not seek joy from those previous attitudes. The second aspect has to do with our entertainment. Social media has become the place to share entertainment of all kinds. Music, Videos, and Pictures are common, as well as stories. In each of these, Satan has his thumbs. So much of our music is filled with sexual innuendoes and filthy language. How much joy are we taking in those songs and in the genres which are most apt to show them? So much of circulated videos is centered around sex, arousal, private anatomy, cheating, disobedience, rebellion, disrespect, violence, and hatred. Most of these come under the guise of comedy, but make no mistake, most of these are just socially acceptable porn and bigotry. Viral videos tend to be those which are about shouting matches, name-calling, fist-fighting, and righteous indignation. There are a lot of memes which utilize innuendoes, slurs, and filthy language as their punchline. Many viral political and social commentary text-based photos are full of slander, name-calling, and putting people down. We sometimes gain great satisfaction when people “get theirs” and “get what’s coming.” We overlook the hatred because it’s a conclusion we agree with. How many times as we read and watch stories do the romantic couple finally hook-up? We feel joy that they got together, and are glad to overlook fornication. How many times do we enjoy the antagonist get a beat down that we ignore compassion. How many times do we enjoy the protagonist get their well deserved come-back that we overlook the obscenity and language they use to get it? Brothers and sisters, we ought to take no joy in the evils. Sometimes our root emotions are righteous, but Satan is lacing our entertainment and righteous joy with evils all throughout. My solution is not to get rid of every form of entertainment and shut ourselves off from culture. But we need to be on guard for what we actually take joy in. 

Love rejoices with the truth-

In contrast to the dangers of taking pleasure in evils, we need to promote a culture of truth and righteousness. If a portion of entertainment is worth viewing at all, then you should be able to find and promote the good and righteous without promoting the evil in it also. If you cannot salvage your entertainment thusly, then that’s your indication to change your entertainment. Jesus said “the eye is the lamp of the body, if the body is full of light then the whole body will be full of light.” Paul said “whatever is honorable, right, pure, lovely, good to talk about, excellent, and worthy, think about these things.” This applies to our social media in what photos you share, what posts you share, what videos you watch, what memes you laugh at, and what culture you absorb and identify with. We need to take joy in what is true, not what is hidden or deceiving. From a Christian standpoint, we call all agree that the Word of God is the epitome of all Truth. Are we taking joy in God’s word? Are we letting the stories, the teachings, and the example of God’s Truth invade and proliferate our social media? Would you sooner share a meme which slanders your political opponent than a scripture which calls you to pray for enemies and do good for them? Rejoicing with the truth does not preclude shedding light on evil (Ephesians 5:11) but keep that with good and true the focal point in your activity, rather than what is dismal and vile. 

Love never gives up- 

Similar to the comments on resentment, bearing all things means that we are going to have to continue in our relationships even when others do not conform to our ideals. Most people have interactions with people who just. Won’t. Stop. They won’t stop harping on the same issues, won’t stop complaining about their circumstances, won’t stop misunderstanding you no matter how many conversations you have. It is tempting to just give up those relationships. While there can be factors which make that a wise decision, make sure that it’s not based in your personal weariness. Perhaps there are more healthy ways for you to interact with them or more productive topics to focus on. We can get rid of toxicity without closing doors (insofar as it depends on us. If they shut the door that’s on them). When they relapse into toxic conversations, when they become annoying for the umpteenth time, bear with them. They are showing a level of persistence in things which matter to them. They desire relationship, they desire camaraderie, they desire love. We may not agree with them, we may not like the things they like or be uplifted by their attentions, but we can display love through forbearance. Be honest with them. Tell them your concerns. Don’t lead them on in a false relationship. But make it clear that you love them, and that you won’t give up on them. 

Love always trusts-

This is not about gullibility. God knows we need wisdom on social media more than ever to siphon out false news and fake information. The most applicable English phrase of speech which I believe gives the proper sense is: give people the benefit of the doubt. Don’t start by doubting people’s incentives and motives. Believe they mean the best. Don’t assume people are out to get you or hurt you. If there is doubt, then you deal with it. But social media is very limited in presenting all the information at once. You can’t often see every piece of the puzzle, and you are left to interpret what you have available. We must interpret everything we see and read. So assume innocence until proven guilty. Do not judge according to first appearances, but judge with righteous judgement. When you are tempted to get mad and upset over someone’s ignorance or lack of prudence, give a fighting chance for them that they didn’t mean it that way. This is the opposite of being irritable; you are looking for ways to work things out rather than cause problems. Don’t pick a fight with the way someone says something if it could be read a different way. Seek clarification. Don’t presume peoples motives (this is a really, really tough one!) If they say they are honest, move forward with that baseline until they prove otherwise. But we are not seeking to corner people. We are not looking for the “Gotcha!” moment. If someone messes up and repents or seeks restitution, give them that 490th chance. Deal with them honestly, create safeguards and healthy rules for the relationship, but believe that people (especially brethren) can love each other as Christ has loved them. 

Love hopes all things-

At the end of our walk on earth, we must fix the hope of heaven and the eternal in sight. This vision infiltrates the way we interact with other people and what we seek to fill our time with. Hoping all things means that we are wanting to fill our mind, time, and social interactions with the eternal goals of heaven. Social Media becomes a place which so easily distracts us from our heavenly goal if we choose to fill it with trash. We are in charge of this process by how we interact, share, post, and view content. Instead of complaining about what you see, start engaging in spiritual, Bible-based, and loving interactions with other people. These people are not a nebulous internet entity. These are souls you interact with. Hoping all things means hoping the best for them too. You desire to be with them in heaven. You desire to use your influence to guide them there. 

Love endures through every circumstance-

Should Christinas expect to be majorities or minorities? Should Christians expect to get patience, understanding, and support from the world? Why is it, then, that sometimes we feel that being persecuted on social media for our Christianity is unacceptable? Of course we are going to get derogatory comments. Of course people of a different faith are going to misunderstand us. Of course people who hate Christ are going to hate us too. This is expected. We didn’t enter Christianity with blinders on about this. So when we get insulted, made fun of, dismissed, and charged with bigotry and closed minded-ness, what do we do? We do not return their language, do not seek to get them back or one-up them, and do not like it when they get served. Endurance of all things mean that we continue seeking the good of others when they hate us in return. Endurance of all things means that instead of quitting social interaction entirely, we resolve ourselves to express the love of Christ to a greater degree. Endurance of all things means that we continue to encourage all our contacts to grow in their knowledge of Christ. Even when you don’t get any post shares. Even when you don’t get any likes. Even when you get negative feedback concerning your faith. Even when no one seems to care. You don’t have to be on social media. That is no requirement. But if you are reading this, you are probably already on some digital interactivity. Which means you have, at least at one time, seen value in connecting to the lives of other people and influencing their minds and souls. You are free to leave, but don’t let it be because you grew disheartened by the difficulties of being a Christian. 

Love lasts forever-

Let’s not lose sight of the trio at the end here. Faith/trust is important, but faith will no longer be unseen once Heaven roles around. Hope is important, but will not longer be anticipation when we get to heaven. Love, on the other hand matters now, and will be even more substantial in Heaven. Faith and hope will be realized; love will be perfected. The final thing I want to stress in regards to social media is if we refuse to get along with our brethren now, how shall we expect to do so for eternity? Everything we say or post, whether commentary, arguments, teaching, rebuke, pictures, entertainment, videos, humor, politics – all of it – needs to reflect a recognition and/or desire for an eternal relationship with that person. We expect to be with this person forever, or otherwise have dedicated ourselves to trying to get them there with us. The eternal mindset, when doing anything on Social Media, will effect the tone of our words, the attitude we present, the stances we defend, and even the content we share. Paul ends his letter to the Corinthians by saying in 16:14 “Let ALL that you do be done in love.” Our digital interactions are no exception. 

-Luke M