The opening section of 1 Corinthians obliges us to reflect on
the ambiguity of the church and to come to terms with it.
On the one hand, biblical Christians are not perfectionists
who dream of developing a perfect church on earth. As Billy
Graham has often wisely said, “By all means look for the perfect
church, and when you find it, join it. But remember, when you
join it, it ceases to be perfect!” On the other hand, biblical
Christians are not defeatists who tolerate all manner of sin and
error in the church.
To perfectionists we say, “You are right to seek the purity of
the church. The doctrinal and ethical purity of the church is a
proper goal of Christian endeavor. But you are wrong to imagine
that you will attain it. Not till Christ comes will he present
his bride to himself as ‘a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle
or any other blemish, but holy and blameless’ (Eph 5:27).”
To defeatists we say, “You are right to acknowledge the reality
of sin and error in the church, and not to close your eyes to it.
But you are wrong to tolerate it. There is a place for discipline
in the church, and even for excommunication. To deny the divine-
human person of Jesus Christ is antichrist (1 John 2:22).
To deny the gospel of grace is to deserve God’s anathema (Gal
1:6-9). We cannot condone these things.”
So this is the ambiguity of the church.
• The church is sanctified yet still sinful and called to be
holy.
• The church is enriched yet still defective, eagerly waiting
for the return of Christ.
• The church is united (the one and only church of God) yet
still unnecessarily divided and called to renounce personality
cults.
In these ways we are living in the painful tension between the
already and the not yet. Only when Christ comes will the ideal
become reality, and all ambiguity cease.