1 Corinthians 10:7

Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play (KJV)

Then: Example #1 after verse 6: Written in Exodus 32:6, verse refers to the idolaters, blessed Israelites, with split minds made a golden calf while Moses was talking to God. Paul warns the Corinthians that if the Israelites could lose their place during the trip to the Promised Land, anyone can. They are eating at the communion table and going out to play - on the wrong temple grounds.

Now: Same message - if the Israelites could go astray, so can today's believers.

1 Corinthians 16:13

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong (KJV)

Then: These short, quick, stacatto-like warnings could be easily learned and memorized by the Corinthians. And when a situtation arose, the words could come flying into their minds. The best advice is often abbreviated. In all these ways, Corinthians could show their love for Christ and for their fellow men.

Now: Believers still need these thoughts to withstand temptations. Paul's advice can be looked at as advice and from the point of view of his concern for fellow believers. Church leaders today also need to keep looking for the sayings and slogans which will help their friends and neighbors.

1 Corinthians 5:12

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? (KJV)

Then: Plain and simple, Paul backs away from decisions about behaviors of non-church members. He has no part in the choices they make for their lives. Paul even turns the thought around and questions the Corinthians. Don't they do the same thing by focusing only on members within the church? For close listeners, the Corinthians hear Paul's unequivocal reason for no comments about the "father's wife," their member's partner in sin." Presumably she was not a church member.

Now: We take Paul's statement as a logical guideline for procedures in church discipline, but without thinking, also criticize the behaviors of non-church members. We look for high ethics in politicians, business leaders, newsmen, friends and neighbors, somehow expecting them to believe as we do. Part of that comes from living in a western Christian culture; part comes from paying no attention to growing cultural divisions.