Ordinary Time

February 11, 2022

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 15:12-20

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

I guess I cringe at scriptures like this because they have been misrepresented to make oppression holy. The great history of faith in Jesus Christ springing out of American slavery was formed in a time when slaves were taught to mind their masters well and their reward would come in heaven. Such theology runs through other caste systems including misogyny*. The miracle of God’s grace is that people came come out of oppression with an even deeper faith even though their oppressors tried to mislead them. God’s love transcends human distortions. Those of us who inherited our faith can too easily take it for granted and never take the time to delve into the depths of God’s love.

Paul was writing to the Christ-followers in his letter to the Corinthians who were apparently struggling with the idea that a dead person could come back to life.  This scripture nowhere says if one gives in to the powers-that-be they will inherit eternal life. He says not believing in Jesus’s resurrection separates one from God. The argument about the resurrection is a whole other theological discussion that has nothing to do with sanctifying oppression.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we twist words to salve our own sins. Thank you for your amazing grace that prospers your love in spite of human attempts to redefine it.  Amen.

*For more information on this, you might want to read Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, Robin Miles, et al.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.