Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was a man circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts(1 Corinthians 7:18-19).

For the last several verses Paul has been talking about marriage. Now he segues into the religious sphere. Apparently the Gentile Christians were feeling pressure to become more Jewish-ish, while the Jews who had come to Christ were feeling pressure to de-Jew themselves. 

They were missing the point–subtle pun intended.

Beloved, it’s not about the outward things. Yes, before Christ the people of God had abundant outward measures they had to take to show that they were in the club. But the Cross wiped all that away. Jesus proclaimed the Law fulfilled and our priorities shifted from outward to inward, as in “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength.” The Corinthians tended to forget that, and tended to look to ritual and appearance–things they know well–to measure up. 

Silly Corinthians. I’m so glad we’re beyond all that.

Happy Monday, Beloved