Read the passage here.
Our passage today is a brief one – we’re looking at 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. This continues what we discussed last week (vv. 1-16) and is likewise connected to what we will look at next week (vv. 25-40). So of course, we could have combined all of this into one discussion of chapter 7 as a whole, but I hope there’s some benefit to looking at these smaller parts.
To give you a bit of an idea of what’s going on from a wider perspective (and also give a bit of a spoiler), we should remember, firstly, that this whole discussion seems to be precipitated by the Corinthians asking Paul (in some way shape or form), is it true, as some say, that ““It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman” (v. 7:1)? If we remember, last week we suggested that this question arises from a context in which some in the Corinthian congregation believe that everything of the physical world is evil. This includes sexual relations in the context of marriage. So much so, that some believe that it is better to leave their marriages altogether (of course, there’s some nuance there).
So Paul’s basic response to this is that they should not seek to change their current circumstances. And this is what we are going to explore a little further today.
And in next week’s verses, Paul explores this same issue (“It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman,” from the perspective of those who are not yet married (but perhaps betrothed).
So to our passage today. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 says:
17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
1 Corinthians 7: 17-24
So as I said, Paul’s basic response to the over-arching question in this chapter is, “don’t seek to change your circumstance,” or as we read it in these verses here, “remain in [your] situation.” And we see this repeated throughout our passage today (as well as in the larger chapter).
Now in our verses today, to illustrate this principle, Paul gives us two examples. The first has to do with circumcision. As I’m sure you know, circumcision was tremendously important to the Jewish community – indeed, it was a sign of Jewish-ness. Circumcision was a mark of the covenant God had ordained with Israel. That is, to be circumcised meant you were part of the chosen people.
So this is no small thing. And we know that the congregation in Corinth was made up of both Jews and Gentile. And we also know (or strongly suspect) that the Jewish element would have insisted that the non-Jewish population get circumcised in order to conform to the Law. And here, Paul says that it’s simply not necessary. And not only is it not necessary, Paul seems to say that if one isn’t already circumcised, one shouldn’t then get circumcised. “20 Each person [says Paul] should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.”
The second illustration Paul gives has to do with slaves and freemen. Paul says that if you are a slave (or were a slave when you became saved), then don’t seek to become free. Now here we have to understand some nuance. Paul isn’t saying that it is a bad thing to become free. And, as he says, if the opportunity presents itself to become free, the slave should take it. However, what Paul seems to be saying is that one’s faith-walk, one’s obedience and faithfulness to Jesus, shouldn’t depend on, shouldn’t be determined by, and shouldn’t be constrained by one’s status as slave or free. The primary thing is that one belongs to Jesus.
Now at this point, it’s worth noting another motif in these verses (the first being, remain in your situation). And that is the motif of calling. Apart from, “remain in your situation,” we see the idea of calling repeated numerous times throughout this passage:
17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
1 Corinthians 7: 17-24
Now this motif of God’s calling is important because God’s calling is, firstly, more important than whatever situation one might find him or herself in. And secondly, it’s important to recognize that God calls people out of any circumstance. That is to say, God isn’t only calling people who meet certain criteria or have certain qualifications. Which is precisely what the Corinthians seem to be saying or have been led to believe. The Corinthians seem to believe that to be spiritual (in a nutshell) is more about what they have to do, or what they have accomplished, rather than what God is doing in them.
Now I may be reading too much into what’s going on in the text, but it strikes me as at least plausible that, as Paul’s first example is circumcision, his first concern (or one of his concerns) has to do with religion. Which is to say, Paul is speaking against the tendency to believe that we have to meet certain religious qualifications in order to be “spiritual.”
And as for slavery, we might interpret that as being social, economic, or political qualifications or standing. And Paul is saying that we don’t have to meet those criteria either. What matters is not how we measure up in the eyes of others; what matters is only that we have been called. What matters is only that God has called us out of darkness and into His glorious light.
Now last week, we pointed out N.T. Wright’s observation that Paul is addressing these concerns precisely because the Corinthians are feeling pressure – pressure to live up to something or someone. Following our reflections today, we might speculate that they are feeling pressure both from the culture at large and from within the church itself (though even that may be an over-statement).
As a church, as members of this church, we also feel pressure. We feel like, in order to “be spiritual,” we have to look a certain way, we have to speak a certain way, we have to be a certain way. We feel pressure to conform according to whatever set of criteria. But perhaps God doesn’t call us conditionally (i.e. if we live up to certain things). Perhaps God doesn’t call us provisionally (i.e. if we hit certain benchmarks). Perhaps God calls us precisely as we are and where we are.
The other day, several members of us got together with the new District Superintendent. This was basically a “meet and greet,” with his wanting to get to know who we are as a church. Obviously, this also gives us somewhat of an opportunity to think about who we are as a church.
Now whenever we think about such things, ask the question of “who are we?”, we are bound to do so with reference to other things. Usually, we think about this in relation to other churches we’ve experienced, or other churches we’ve seen or heard about. It may make us think about other communities – be it a workplace, a social club, or whatever else. And in thinking about such previous or other experiences, we are invariably inclined to make comparisons.
And without going too far off on a tangent, my simple point is that such comparisons may only serve to distract us from who we actually are. In thinking about what we might be, in comparing ourselves to what we think we should be, we lose sight of who we actually are.
To put it another way, God has called this people precisely as we are. We may wish we were other things – which isn’t necessarily bad or wrong, and doesn’t preclude the possibility that God will transform us into some of those things. We may think we have to become something else in order for God to “use us,” or work in and through us. But God has called this people with all our particular strengths and weaknesses, gifts and failings, and passions and vision. So then, how do we accept that God has called this people? How do we live into God’s calling for us? How do we respond to God’s calling for who we are and not who we think – because that’s what the voices keep telling us – we are supposed to be?
The Corinthians believed, among other things, that in order to be spiritual, in order to experience the spiritual, they had to do and be certain things and certain ways. They believed (or may have) that they were supposed to become something else in order for God to work in them. But Paul is saying, among other things, that God’s call is precisely to this people, in this time and in this place. Let us also accept God’s call, decide to respond to God’s call, not from where we think we’re supposed to be, not from where others tell us we must be, but precisely from where we are.