Table manners (I Cor. 11)

Modern businessmen hold meetings. Ancient potentates had feasts. By sitting at the King's table, putting on the King's robes, and eating the King's food, the guests were symbolically incorporated into, and became extensions of, the King's body. These guests then went forth to represent His reign throughout the realm.

Manners are matters of life and death at high-stake dinners. In the Byzantine court, if a servant dropped a dish, he'd be executed for breaking the mood, spoiling the decorum. Now, imagine the shocking impropriety of profaning the Heavenly King's gracious feast.

1Co 11:20 Toplandığınızda Rab'bin Sofrası'na katılmak için toplanmıyorsunuz.
1Co 11:21 Her biriniz ötekini beklemeden kendi yemeğini yiyor. Kimi aç kalıyor, kimi sarhoş oluyor.
1Co 11:22 Yiyip içmek için evleriniz yok mu? Tanrı'nın topluluğunu hor mu görüyorsunuz, yiyeceği olmayanları utandırmak mı istiyorsunuz? Size ne diyeyim? Sizi öveyim mi? Bu konuda övemem!

Let's look at a few words:

• Yiyip -- To eat. Turkish can load a great deal of information into a single verb. Well, just to make life easier if you have several verbs in the same sentence, you only need to give the full treatment to one of them. Just tack a -ip onto the stem of the other verbs, to indicate that it represents the same person, tense, number, mood, etc.
  
• içmek -- To drink.
  
• için -- In order to.
  
• evleriniz -- your houses
  
• yok mu? -- are there not?

I went to the garden party (I Cor. 10)

As I drove from a father/son camp out with my 10 year old son, we discussed the social dynamics of the drug trade. Don't expect pushers to be unshaven old guys hanging playgrounds, I explained to him. If you are offered an illegal drug, it will be a trusted friend, who thinks he'd doing you a favor.

"Yes!" Greg replied. "It's like when an unbeliever invites you to a party, then tells you that the meat was offered to idols!"

That's my boy! He got the point, and used scripture to extend it. And here's the verse:

1Co 10:27 İman etmemiş biri sizi yemeğe çağırır, siz de gitmek isterseniz, önünüze konulan her şeyi vicdan sorunu yapmadan, sorgusuz sualsiz yiyin.
1Co 10:28 Ama biri size, "Bu kurban etidir" derse, hem bunu söyleyen için, hem de vicdan huzuru için yemeyin.

And, a few words:

• İman -- faith, belief
  
• etmemiş -- not doing
  
• biri -- one
  
• sizi -- you
  
• yemeğe -- to eat
  
• çağırır -- calls, invites
  
• siz de -- and you
  
• gitmek -- to go
  
• isterseniz -- you should want ...

The Amish have the notion that leading a pure, chaste, and holy Christian life requires them to withdraw completely from the world.[1] In this little case study, however, we see normal social interactions going on between believers and unbelievers. You friend invites you to a party. So go!

Just be alert! The world needs more lerts!

________________

[1] OK, so our family enjoys Weird Al Yankovic. You may also enjoy this satirical Amish Paradise video.

From the heart (I Cor. 9)

What do you find rewarding? In the movie Chariots of Fire, the protagonist tells his sister, "Yes, God made me for China. But He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His approval."

The amazing book What Color is Your Parachute? asserts that each of us is lovingly and carefully designed to fulfill a specific assignment. When we function in accord with our construction, we experience joy, fruitfulness, and productivity. Apparently, just doing one's special task, exercising one's special talent, is its own reward. Let's see how Paul described his motivation:

1Co 9:16 Müjde'yi yayıyorum diye övünmeye hakkım yok. Çünkü bunu yapmakla yükümlüyüm. Müjde'yi yaymazsam vay halime!
1Co 9:17 Eğer Müjde'yi gönülden yayarsam, ödülüm olur; gönülsüzce yayarsam, yalnızca bana emanet edilen görevi yapmış olurum.
1Co 9:18 Peki, ödülüm nedir? Müjde'yi karşılıksız yaymak ve böylece Müjde'yi yaymaktan doğan hakkımı kullanmamaktır.

And, let's look at a few words:

• Müjde -- the Gospel
  
• yaymak -- to disperse, distribute, spread around
  
• yaymazsam -- "if I do not spread around" -- 1st person subjunctive mood, present tense
  
• gönülden -- from the heart
  
• gönülsüzce -- without putting one's heart into something
  
• ödülüm -- reward
  

We will end up, sooner or later, doing what we were meant to do. It makes sense to get with the program as soon as possible, if one desires to get the most out of life.

I only read it for the articles (I Cor. 8)

As you roamed the streets of Corinth in Paul's day, from time to time the fragrance of sizzling meat would entice your nostrils. You would follow your nose, and find fresh barbecue, at a subsidized price. Pagan worshipers would offer up various beasts to their pet deities. The temple would then sell the meat to all comers. Hey, "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof!" All good things come from God -- and that steak looks great! But ...

1Co 8:8 Yiyecek bizi Tanrı'ya yaklaştırmaz. Yemezsek bir kaybımız olmaz, yersek de bir kazancımız olmaz.
1Co 8:9 Yalnız dikkat edin, bu özgürlüğünüz vicdanı zayıf olanların sürçmesine neden olmasın.
1Co 8:10 Eğer zayıf vicdanlı biri, bilgili olan seni bir put tapınağında sofraya oturmuş görürse, puta sunulan kurbanın etini yemek için cesaret almaz mı?

Suppose a neighbor who is considering the gospel sees you chowing down at the idol's table? In that case, "this your freedom" (bu özgürlüğünüz) sends the wrong message. Hey, maybe there ARE multiple channels to transcendence!

I would rather have dandruff than use a certain efficacious cure I read about many years ago. The cure was recommended by Edgar Cayce, a demoniac of frightening powers who led many unsuspecting souls to perdition. An itchy scalp is preferable to doing anything in any way to that tool of my ultimate enemy, Satan.

Hunker down and sit tight ... (I Cor. 7)

Speaking both as an astute cosmopolitan observer who traveled through much of the Roman empire, and as an inspired prophet of God, Paul had some advice for his readers. He could see that both the Roman and Jewish worlds were self-destructing, and on a collision course with each other. Social unrest was about to erupt on an unprecedented scale. This is, he told his contemporaries, a very good time to brace yourself, protect what you have, an not make dramatic career moves.

1Co 7:20 Herkes ne durumda çağrıldıysa, o durumda kalsın.
1Co 7:21 Köleyken mi çağrıldın, üzülme. Ama özgür olabilirsen, fırsatı kaçırma!
1Co 7:22 Çünkü Rab'bin çağrısını aldığı zaman köle olan kimse, şimdi Rab'bin özgürüdür. Özgürken çağrılan kişi de Mesih'in kölesidir.
1Co 7:23 Bir bedel karşılığı satın alındınız, insanlara köle olmayın.
1Co 7:24 Kardeşler, herkes ne durumda çağrıldıysa, Tanrı önünde o durumda kalsın.

Let's look at a few words:

• üzmek -- trouble, bother, sadden, worry
  
• üzülmek -- to regret, be sorry, be worried
  
• üzülme -- do NOT regret, be sorry, or worry! (2nd person imperative)
  
• özgür -- free. A popular male name in Turkey.
  
• köle -- slave
  
• durum -- condition, state
  
• durumda -- in the condition, state
  

There are times when it is wise to aggressively seek to improve your status. Then, there are times to mark time, refuse to worry, and save your resources for a better opportunity. In the current American political climate, for example, many small businessmen are "going Galt." They are curbing growth plans, perhaps even laying off people, and carefully keeping their incomes under the level that trips confiscatory taxation.

Dispute resolution (I Cor. 6)

As he answered the questions asked by the Corinthians, Paul came to the issue of lawsuits. Like contemporary America, the Roman Empire was a glory day for lawyers. Cases tended to drag on for ridiculous lengths -- there are some lawsuits that lasted more than 70 years. Jesus had little faith in the criminal justice system. If someone sues you to take away your shirt, He said, throw in your coat as well, settle out of court, take a small loss now rather than tie up your days making lawyers richer. Let's take a look at Paul's comments:

1Co 6:1 Sizden birinin öbürüne karşı bir davası varsa kutsallar önünde değil de, imansızlar önünde yargılanmaya cesaret eder mi?
1Co 6:2 Kutsalların dünyayı yargılayacağını bilmiyor musunuz? Madem dünyayı yargılayacaksınız, böyle önemsiz davaları görmeye yeterli değil misiniz?
1Co 6:3 Bu yaşamla ilgili davalar bir yana, melekleri bile yargılayacağımızı bilmiyor musunuz?
1Co 6:4 Bu yaşamla ilgili davalarınız olduğunda, inanlılar topluluğunda en önemsiz sayılanları mı yargıç atıyorsunuz?
1Co 6:5 Sizi utandırmak için söylüyorum bunu. Kardeşler arasındaki davalarda yargıçlık edecek kadar bilge biri yok mu aranızda?
1Co 6:6 Kardeş kardeşe karşı dava açıyor, üstelik imansızlar önünde!
1Co 6:7 Aslında birbirinizden davacı olmanız bile sizin için düpedüz yenilgidir. Haksızlığa uğrasanız daha iyi olmaz mı? Dolandırılsanız daha iyi olmaz mı?
1Co 6:8 Bunun yerine, siz kendiniz haksızlık edip başkasını dolandırıyorsunuz. Üstelik bunu kardeşlerinize yapıyorsunuz.

Let's look at a few words:

• Sizi utandırmak için söylüyorum bunu. -- To you / to shame / in order to / I am saying / this.
  
• Kardeş kardeşe karşı dava açıyor, üstelik imansızlar önünde! -- Brother / at brother / against / lawsuit / opens, / and even to the extreme / unbelievers / before!
  

Is there no one among the brothers who is wise enough to help you reach a resolution?

As this advice percolated through the Christian community, they did indeed set up their own internal legal system, a Christian sharia, a millet that managed its own affairs. It got to the point that even pagans asked Christian mediators for dispute resolution, since these leaders were famed for their incorruptibility, their honesty, and their common sense. When the first Christian emperor came to the throne, the legal system was in a mess. Constantine the Great summoned the Christian priests, and begged a favor of them. He asked them to put on the uniform of a Roman magistrate, and to resolve disputes on the spot, when accosted on the street. Today, more than 1,500 years later, when a Roman Catholic priest puts on his ceremonial vestments, that's the uniform he's wearing. It's a reminder that, once upon a time, we did something important, and did it right.

Who's for dinner? (I Cor. 5)

This chapter develops a theme we'll read discussed at greater length in the next -- we should treat believers and unbelievers differently. Strangely enough, we should be MORE hospitable to those who do not share our faith!

1Co 5:10 Kuşkusuz dünyadaki ahlaksızları, açgözlüleri, soyguncuları ya da putperestleri demek istemedim. Öyle olsaydı, dünyadan ayrılmak zorunda kalırdınız!
1Co 5:11 Ama şimdi size şunu yazıyorum: Kardeş diye bilinirken fuhuş yapan, açgözlü, putperest, sövücü, ayyaş ya da soyguncu olanla arkadaşlık etmeyin, böyle biriyle yemek bile yemeyin.
1Co 5:12 İnanlılar topluluğunun dışındakileri yargılamaya benim ne hakkım var? Sizin de yargılamanız gereken kişiler topluluğun içindekiler değil mi?

A few words to look at:

• Kuşkusuz -- undoubtedly. Certainly. (Kuşku -- doubt, + suz, without)
  
• Kardeş -- brother
  
• açgözlü -- Jealous. Envious.
  
• putperest -- Idolater.

US Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas is an erudite man who prefers to express his opinions in writing. His gullah accent marks him as a child of the poor, black, South Carolina barrier islands. The gullah translation of the word envious is -- "da big eye." The Turkish word açgözlü combines aç- (open) + göz (eye) + lü (with). A frequent element of Turkish folk art is the bavul, a lovely ceramic charm against "the evil eye." Ayn Rand described an element of American culture as "the age of envy" -- the hatred of the beautiful for being beautiful, the hatred of the successful for being successful, of the rich for being rich. Unleashed envy, a beloved mentor wrote, does to a society what an earthquake does to a city. The industrial revolution of the West came only after a thousand years of preaching against the sin that made capital formation impossible, envy.

When we fear our neighbor's envy, we achieve less. Africans with rich crops will sneak into their fields at night and destroy part of the produce, rather than risk being envied, and put to death for being a witch. They "enjoy" subsistance during good times, famine during bad. Some Native American tribes had periodic "potlatches," ceremonies wherein the richest members would publically destroy most of their wealth. American small businessmen who are hearing themselves described as "the evil rich" are beginning to talk about "going Galt." Retrenching. Laying people off. Delaying efforts to expand their businesses, since the folks in power are promising confiscatory levels of taxation if they dare cross a certain threshold.

Well, envy is just one of many sins that we simply have to tolerate in our neighbors -- unless that neighbor professes to share our faith. It's a sin we dare not tolerate in ourselves, or in our fellow believers.

An American writer scathingly and hilariously mocked the socialist impulse in his book Eat the Rich.