QT 14/07/2024 Sun. 1Cor 11 The courtesy of waiting & bestowing honour. 等待和给予荣誉的礼节。
QT 14/07/2024 Sun. 1Cor 11
READ http://www.esvbible.org/1cor11
For a messed up congregation, Paul now regulates their worship services. In 1Cor 11, the issues of man and woman, and the LORD's supper. In 1Cor 12, Spiritual Gifts, Holy Spirit and the Body Metaphor. Next in 1Cor 13, the need for love in exercising the gifts. Thereafter, prophecy, tongues and orderliness in 1Cor 14.
While the distance in culture makes our understanding of "covering of heads" challenging, the results are clear:
The covered head of a man in 1Cor "dishonours his head" (1Cor 11:4) or potentially Christ (in view of 1Cor 11:3, where "The HEAD of every man IS CHRIST");
The uncovered head of a woman "dishonours her head" (1Cor 11:5).
REFLECTION (1): Have I said anything or done anything in front of anyone or behind anyone that DISHONOURS that person in our current cultural context, especially in church gatherings?
Their communion meal conduct (1Cor 11:21) reveals the disunity, disparity and dismissive attitudes a person can have for another when they assemble (1Cor 11:17).
Waiting "for each other" (1Cor 11:33), especially if the hungry/poorer ones are present, is not only courteous, it's a necessary testimony of a BODY of believers assembling for worship and Holy Communion.
REFLECTION (2): Are we one body, or just body parts disconnected and strewn all over the worship hall?
星期日 2024年7月14日 今日读经：哥林多前书11章. 等待和授予荣誉的礼貌
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/1Co/11/
听 https://www.bible.com/bible/41/1cor.11.cnvs
面对一个糟糕的会众，保罗现在要规范他们崇拜的聚会。在林前11章，提到男人和女人的问题和吃圣餐的问题。在林前12章，提到属灵恩赐、圣灵和身体的比喻。接下来在林前13章，谈到了以爱心使用恩赐。再来，林前14章谈到说预言、方言和次序。
尽管文化上的差异使到我们对于“蒙着头”这件事的理解颇具挑战，得到的结果却是清楚的：
(1) 蒙着头的男人就是“羞辱自己的头”(林前11:4)或基督(因为在林前11:3提到，“基督是男人的头”);
(2) 不蒙头的女人就是在“羞辱自己的头” (林前11:5)。
反思(1):在我们所处的文化背景里，我是否在人面前或背后说了羞辱他的话或做了羞辱他的事，尤其是在教会的聚会当中？
他们在吃圣餐时的行为(林前11:21)揭露了当众人在聚集时，彼此所表现出来的态度是不团结、分歧和不屑一顾的(林前11:17)。
要“彼此等待”(林前11:33)，尤其是当那些饥饿的/贫穷的在场，这不仅是礼貌，这也是肢体聚集在一起敬拜和吃圣餐所必须要有的见证。
反思(2):我们是一个肢体、或只是断开、散落整个崇拜正堂的身体部位？
