Before the smoking ban came into place in pubs, you would notice the smell of smoke when you went in, but sit there for a while and you would stop noticing it. It’s only if you went outside and came back in that you’d notice it. And as you sat there, you would take on the aroma of smoke.
It was a bit like that for the church in Corinth. They had stopped noticing the toxic smell of the culture all around them and the ways of the world had crept into the church. Corinth was like many cities today, it was full of ambition, mixed religious views, sexual promiscuity and drunkenness. And as we read the letter Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, we will see that in a number of ways the church had stopped noticing the stench off the culture all around them and had become just like the world.
The surprise in chapter 1 is that Paul gives thanks for the church! Paul still calls them “sanctified” – which means set apart from the world, becoming holy! He thanks God for the grace shown to them. As you read the thanks of Paul, count how many times he mentions Jesus. This is where Paul’s thanks and confidence lies. He trusts that Jesus is still able to work in this church with serious problems.
It’s not long before Paul begins his rebuke, the first area that they had become just like the world was in a sort of celebrity culture. Corinth had its patrons. If you wanted to get ahead, you identified with certain wealthy/wise people who could help you. This attitude had crept into the church so that people were identifying with different church leaders, some were following Apollos, some Cephas, some Paul. All of them preached the same gospel, but the Corinthians were latching onto the eloquence or style of the different leaders. Paul points them away from human leaders and towards Christ. Sadly we see similar things in the church today, perhaps it’s even worse with the internet allowing people to follow popular preachers who sadly do not always preach Christ, or who distort the gospel.
When we get to v18 we see Paul showing them that Christianity is not going to help you get ahead in the world. The world is never going to look at a man dying on a cross as the way to get ahead! Paul says the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. To the worldly people that want to get ahead, Christianity looks so weak. Why worship a man who was put to death. How weak. And yet, Paul says, this is where the power is! To those who understand the cross, it is the most precious place, the place of salvation. It is the place of Christ becoming sin for us, so that we can have life. You could not make this up! Here is the wisdom of God, giving His own Son to die for us. And yet, even though it may sound so foolish, its the way of salvation for all God calls.
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor 1:25)
Where is your church in danger of becoming just like the culture all around you? How can you keep your focus on Christ and help others to do so? Where are you in danger of smelling just like the world?
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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