Called to be Holy: Turning from Theological Debates to the Essence of Grace

The First Epistle to the Corinthians is, at its core, a rescue letter. Written by the Apostle Paul to a church fracturing under the weight of severe internal crises, it addresses issues that would shock many modern believers: intense factionalism, sexual immorality, lawsuits between members, theological disputes over idol food, and even chaos at the Communion table where some fell into drunkenness.

While some of these historical issues—like getting drunk on Communion wine—seem foreign to our contemporary liturgical experience, the underlying root causes remain identical. Churches today still struggle with moral failures and structural divisions.

More than anything, the hallmark of the Corinthian church was their endless arguments over non-essential traditions. While we no longer debate circumcision, modern faith communities frequently alienate one another over theological interpretations, cultural nuances, social issues, or altered traditional worship styles. We easily mistake our cultural preferences for divine dogma.

1. The Historical Blindspot of “Sacred” Traditions
To understand how easily we fall into this trap, we only need to look at the history of sacred music. A year ago, our church choir performed a beautiful traditional Korean folk hymn titled “Eo-heo-ra-di-ya Sang-sa-di-ya” accompanied by traditional percussion instruments (Samulnori). While the vast majority found it profoundly refreshing, a few individuals raised severe objections. They argued that folk melodies had no place in a holy sanctuary, and that traditional instruments like the janggu (hourglass drum) and kkwaenggari (gong) belonged to shamanistic rituals, labeling them “instruments for demons.”

Is an instrument inherently holy or evil? Can a specific melody possess intrinsic moral guilt? History reveals that this anxiety is not unique to our era.

For over a millennium, medieval church music strictly enforced a rule of a cappella—only human voices were permitted, and exclusively male voices. Women were forbidden from singing in church choirs for nearly 1,900 years. This restriction gave rise to the tragic phenomenon of the castrato—male singers castrated before puberty to artificially preserve a high vocal range. Shockingly, the Catholic Church did not officially ban this practice until 1903, and women were finally permitted in choirs only at the dawn of the 20th century.

Consider the instruments we take for granted today. When I visited a rural church in South Korea two decades ago, acoustic guitars and drums were still viewed with deep suspicion. Traditionalists asked why the church should use instruments associated with secular pop music when a beautiful piano was available.

Yet, the piano itself was only invented in the early 18th century. When it was first introduced to ecclesiastical spaces, it faced fierce backlash. Critics argued that an instrument used in taverns, bars, and secular salons had no place in the house of God. At that time, the pipe organ was considered the only acceptable instrument. But go back further to the 15th century when the organ was first introduced, and you find the exact same controversy. Before entering the church, the organ was a secular instrument used in circuses and secular festivals.

Even Martin Luther’s monumental Reformation hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” borrowed its melodic structure from a popular tavern song of his era. The reformers took secular melodies that people sang while drinking and repurposed them with sacred lyrics to worship God.

Human beings naturally cling to what is familiar. We mistake our personal nostalgia for spiritual truth. But the Church is not a stagnant museum meant to preserve our cultural comfort zones; it is a dynamic living body.

2. The Identity of the Flawed: Called to be Saints
Despite the glaring, messy realities of the Corinthian church, look at how Paul opens his letter in 1 Corinthians 1:2:

“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people…”

Objectively speaking, the Corinthians were far from acting holy. They were deeply flawed, defensive, and divided. Yet, Paul addresses them as “sanctified” and “saints.” This is a profound testament to the nature of divine grace. God does not look at His Church through the lens of our current performance; He views us through the finished work of Jesus Christ. The Corinthians did not earn their sainthood through flawless behavior; they were called into it by unconditional mercy.

We are not called “saints” because we have achieved moral perfection. We are called saints because the priceless blood of Jesus Christ has paid for our shortcomings. We are covered in garments we did not weave ourselves. As Revelation 19:8 describes, the Church is granted “fine linen, bright and clean,” which represents the righteousness given to the saints.

One theologian beautifully illustrated this through a striking metaphor: By nature, we are as fierce and destructive as wolves. Yet, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, offered Himself as a sacrifice and draped His own lambskin over our wolf-like frames. When the Father looks at us, He does not see our predatory, broken nature; He sees the righteousness of the Lamb covering us.

Conclusion: Resolving Conflict Through the Lens of the Cross
Paul establishes this identity of grace in the first nine verses before spending the next twelve chapters systematically addressing the church’s structural failures. He concludes his argument in chapter 12 by declaring that the Church is “one body,” and in chapter 13, he delivers his famous discourse on love.

The structural blueprint of First Corinthians teaches us a vital lesson: every internal conflict, every traditional dispute, and every theological debate within the church must ultimately be resolved through the cross-centered reality of love.

You have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, not by your credentials, but by unearned grace. Let us lay down our endless debates over non-essential traditions. Let us stop fracturing the community over personal preferences. We are one body in Christ. Let us intentionally choose to love one another, cover each other’s vulnerabilities, and labor together to build a unified Church that honors the One who called us.

May you walk in the freedom of His grace and the unity of His love this week.