Indeed, we just had our yearly Easter festival.  Other church festivals will follow this year.  The apostle says, ”Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth!”  (1 Cor. 5:8).  He didn´t refer to any particular festival within some ecclesiastical year.  What he meant was a continuous, inner festival of joy in a cleansed heart and conscience, yes, cleansed from all known sin, including the smallest one, called ”a little leaven” (v.6)

The festival the word speaks about is equivalent to that joy of the heart to which every born again child of God may testify -  day by day.  In practice it is unfortunately not always so.  Our Christian churches, here and in my own country not the least, despite maybe their biblical profile, are not teemed with genuine happy and Spirit filled Christians.  Frivolity has often gained access instead.  Why?

The quoted words were to the Corinthians.  They were carnal, though theologically or doctrinally they had everything (1 Cor. 1:4-9) just like many churches do.  Their worldliness was diametrically opposite the life of Paul pointed out in no uncertain terms in 1 Cor. 4:8-13.  This epistle may be the most relevant one to modern, western Christians today.  However, it doesn´t have to be the truth of your and my personal life, does it?

Now, suppose you witnessed to those carnal Corinthians and told them of the continuous festival of joy the Lord has given in your heart, what would they say?  You wouldn´t get a heartfelt response, but they might say (like many would say to me over here):  ”Sure, I´m a Christian, and I go to church!” But he fullness of Christ and His transcendent joy is not there, for the Spirit may be quenched (1 Thess. 5:19).  It´s also a sad fact that many smiling church goers are not even born again, even if they may speak the language of the Christians..

I don´t believe that a born again child of God can go on for the rest of his life as a carnal Christian.  Sooner or later he/she will break down before God in deep humiliation, repentance and godly sorrow.  That happened – praise God! – to the Corinthians.  Read 2 Cor. 7:8-11.

What a joy it is to spread the fragrance of Christ through the gospel – to me it´s like an ongoing festival! Like feasting on my glorified Savior!  But inside the church building I often sense that something isn´t right.  What is it?  Hidden sin?  Things between believers that have estranged themselves from each other? Worldliness?  Hypocrisy?  Dishonesty?  Remember it´s often so called ”small” sins that make any festival look like a religious joke.

Our immediate need?  Honesty about sin, a conviction of the Holy Spirit, and a new step of obedience towards God.   And the festival is there.   Stop-gap solutions are not enough.  Streamlined church programs will not do.  Persuasive salesmanship in securing “decisions” can´t stand the test of eternity.  We need the real thing. A real feast of the Holy Spirit.

O, let this outpouring from Heaven (Isa. 44:3) begin with you and me right now.  “He yearns jealously over the Spirit that He has made to dwell in us”  (James 4:5).

But at the same time:  “He gives more grace!”  (v.6)  Yes, more and more and more grace! Blessed be His name!

-jn-

Clovis, Ca., April 6, 2010