The Corinthian Canal-ism.

The Church in Corinth looked like the best fellowship in town — vibrant worship, tongues flying, prophecies booming, gifts on full display. From the outside, you’d think revival had pitched its tent there. But step inside and you’d realize it was also the worst of fellowships. It was like the throne room of God — His presence heavy, yet the devil walked in and out freely.

If a new believer asked me whether to join this church, I’d probably say, “Don’t even think about it.” But Paul would disagree. He saw something worth saving. They were a rich church, living in a rich city. Business thrived in Corinth, and their pockets were deep — but their generosity was shallow. They had no problem funding their fellowship, but supporting Paul? Not a chance. Their giving was inward, not outward.

The Corinth Canal is a man-made waterway in Greece that cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth to connect the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. Completed in 1893, this canal separates the Peloponnese peninsula from the Greek mainland, saving ships a 700 km journey around the Peloponnese. Although a feat of engineering, its narrow width makes it unusable for many modern ships, so it primarily serves as a major tourist attraction. 

Spiritually, they were blazing — yet broken. This was a church where saints gathered and sinners camped comfortably. Alcohol flowed freely even in the Lord’s table, a man shared his father’s wife, pride was fashionable, and pastors had fan clubs. “I follow Paul,” some said. “I’m of Apollos,” others insisted. Even Timothy, sent to bring order, returned home shaking his head. They were getting worse — and still calling it revival.🥺

They could speak in tongues louder than anyone, yet couldn’t speak kindly to each other. They could prophesy with power but lived with no purity. Their main disease? They had the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but not the fruit. That’s why Paul pauses his letter to pen three chapters about love — because these believers “loved church,” but didn’t love people. No wonder Paul wrote to them four times — twice more than any other church. Two of those letters got lost in time, maybe too sharp for public reading or too personal for preservation. We only see glimpses of them in 1 Corinthians 5:9 and 2 Corinthians 2:3–4; 7:8.

The Corinthian letters are not just history — they’re a mirror. As you read, ask yourself: Are you deep but devilish? Charismatic but canal? Gifted but not godly? Rich but not rich toward God? This isn’t a call to sound spiritual — it’s a call to wash the inside of the cup, where the stains hide best.

Jesus talked about this as recorded in Matthew 23. Read verses 13 to 39, but here's a bit to give you a feel of Gods heart when a Church digs itself into a Corinthian trench: “...Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness...”