Sunday, February 21, 1999
Sunday, February 21, 1999
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us
who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18
NRSV)
Paul would have preferred a Japanese church, I suspect, to the church at Corinth. The church at
Corinth obviously had some people who didn't mind shouting, "I disagree! I disagree!" The
church experienced some problems after Paul left. Cliques formed and feelings were hurt. Some
thought of themselves as super Christians who had some special gift that made them better than
others in the church. Paul wanted them to see the error of their ways and work together as the
body of Christ. Thus, he sought to focus their attention once again on their primary mission to be
the church in mission.
Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA
Jonathan Rauch once wrote an article titled, "Why Is Japanese Baseball So Dull?" The article is
not about baseball at all. It is about business. In it he discusses some differences between the
Japanese and American ways of doing business. He tells of interviewing a well-known Japanese
political scientist who became very excited when he discussed American meetings. The source of
his enthusiasm was the fact that in American meetings he could jump up and down and call out, "I
disagree! I disagree!" In Japan, it is considered rude to disagree with someone outright. Japanese
men must sit through meetings without expressing positive or negative emotions for fear of
offending someone.
Prayer: Loving God, help me not to lose my focus of being in mission to those who don't
know you. Amen.
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