9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.
12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”
Okay, so parts of this are really hard for me...I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. But, here we are, wrapping up this chapter where Paul speaks to the specific disorder in the Church. I can see the good things in here, and I trust them, but even many parts of Truth can be hard to swallow.
"When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that." So, he's saying right off the bat -- don't worry about the non-believers. Of course they will act the way they do, because they have no reason not to! Why should they? And there are MANY of them with this thinking...it's everywhere in our culture, right? In order to avoid people like this, we would literally have to die. So, Paul understands that there's no way around it. In fact, we are called TO associate with these people that perhaps they might find Christ because of our relationships with them!
11" I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people." Yep. We found it. Here's the tough part. We aren't to associate with anyone who claims to be a Believer yet indulges in sexual sin, greed, idol worship (has other "gods"), abuse, or drunkenness. We are not even to EAT with them? What?! Well everyone I know, even many Christians, go out and party regularly, and I don't know hardly anyone who is still a virgin! Yes, the incredibly hard part for me is that I do currently know people -- people whom I really love -- who do indulge in some of these things and have justified their behaviors. What am I to do? I love them! Even when I have tried to question them on some of this, they continue to live the way they want to live. But so do I, right? I'm not perfect either.
It all boils down to the name of Christ. What kind of Christ-follower chooses to boldly proclaim to be a follower of Christ, while at the same time boldly proclaiming that their explicit sin is not sin? That is not a Christ-follower at all! That is a Self-follower. Here's what I've discovered...of the people in my life who are making the choices I wish they weren't making, they aren't boldly proclaiming to the world how they're choosing to spend their time because deep down they know that their current choice is not inline with God's best for them. I really think they know and feel this...the Lord has not allowed them to be fully okay with this. So, instead of shunning them, I am praying for them. I don't think they are fully settled with the decisions they are making, so I'm praying the Lord will show them that He has a better plan, a perfect plan, and it is good. The boundaries and "rules" are really saying, "Molly, don't hurt yourself. Do it this way instead."
12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.” As we've said before on this blog -- it is never my responsibility or right to judge the salvation of another -- we can never know where someone stands with God because that is purely between that person and the Lord. But I can make judgements of other people's choices and behaviors, just as I hope my teenage child will someday make judgements about which friends would be good influences in their life or not. If our heart is loving and our actions are out of that love for our Christian brothers and sisters, we should acknowledge and question actions which may harm them, someone else, or the depth of their relationship with Christ. I have appreciated when someone took the time to bother to ask me questions about my actions.
Above all, Christians are called to be holy and blameless...if we don't encourage one another in this, who will?
I'm not claiming to be perfect at all. Far from it! But in this community of Believers, I do want people who will catch me before I fall off the cliff...and sometimes that can mean some pretty serious questions and conversations. Don't be afraid to have them. It's part of loving each other WELL.
Coffee with Jesus
Friday, March 23, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
1 Corinthians 5:3-8 (When To Give 'Em The Boot...Lovingly)
3 "Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man 4 in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus. 5 Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns."
If Christians are supposed to be so loving, then why is Paul telling the Christians to kick this man out of the church? Isn't the church supposed to be welcoming and accepting of everyone? Well, yes...and no. We are accepting of non-Christians for sure, because they have no reason to behave in any way other than their sinful nature, as they do not have Christ. But, as Christians, we are to be as iron again iron, sharpening one another and holding one another accountable in the pure and blameless life to which Christ has called us. Again, if this man, a self-proclaimed Christian, has decided that the way God set things up (i.e. NOT sleeping with your mother) is not really meant for him, too, then something must be done.
Kicking someone out of the church is the absolute last resort when words and loving confrontation were not enough. Even still, the purpose in kicking the man out of the Church is not for punishment. Notice this! The reason for kicking him out, or in other words, handing him over to his sinful nature and to Satan, is "so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns." Kicking him out is the loving thing to do in the hope that he will hit rock bottom and decide to come back to the Lord. This man is living with a wall of sin between he and God. He cannot possibly be behaving this way WHILE communing daily with his Lord. But as long as the people around him continue to keep him comfortable in his choices, then why would he ever want to change? Again, he has changed his VALUES so that he can ACT the way he wants to! How will he ever go back without a little painful prodding and poking in the the right direction?
Remember that all hurt is not harmful. I think I've shared the story before that my mom watched as I, her high school daughter, made some really sinful and selfish decisions one season. She even warned me as we were driving in the car one day that the direction I was headed was not going to end the way I wanted it to end. I didn't listen, of course, and sure enough, I quickly hit bottom. I lost leadership positions, respect of others, and many of my freedoms for a while. It HURT for about 6 long months! And my mom stood back and allowed me to make the choices I was so set on making. But as a result of my hurt, I was not harmed -- in fact, I grew! And I became closer to Christ during that season.
This is what I see Paul saying here. For this man's GOOD, he needs to be cut loose to do what he's going to do. Eventually, as sin does, he will feel enough pain in the way he's living that he will want to make some changes, and we will pray that he ultimately decides to come back Home with a repentant, softened heart.
6 Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. 8 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth."
The other reason that the man needs to be kicked out, is that the Corinthian church is a mess. They think they have it all together, but they don't. They don't think they need a leader, but they do because they are a new church with a lot of "baby Christians". So, Paul uses the analogy that just as a little bit of yeast can spread quickly throughout a whole batch of dough, so will the sin amongst the church.
And not just back then! There is a reason Jesus is the Shepherd and we are SHEEP. Sheep follow each other, right? Not only that, but they follow blindly sometimes. We follow what's comfortable, what's popular, and what's easy a lot of the time. Perhaps your church isn't struggling with a lot of people who might quickly fall into sleeping with their mothers, but I can assure you that your church is not perfect because the people in it are not perfect. Paul is not expecting the people to be sinless -- all believers struggle with sin daily. Instead, he is speaking about people in the church who deliberately sin, feel no guilt, and refuse to repent. That kind of sin, he says, cannot be tolerated because it affects others. Blatant sins left unaddressed can begin to blur lines and cause great confusion among a church. It's easy for us to just ignore our big problems and hope they go away on their own while continuing to pray for and encourage one another. But sometimes, the most loving thing to do for an individual and for the Church is to lovingly but assertively address a heart that has hardened.
After all, Jesus, our Passover Lamb, came to change our hardened hearts, and He doesn't desire that they ever go back to the way they were before.
If Christians are supposed to be so loving, then why is Paul telling the Christians to kick this man out of the church? Isn't the church supposed to be welcoming and accepting of everyone? Well, yes...and no. We are accepting of non-Christians for sure, because they have no reason to behave in any way other than their sinful nature, as they do not have Christ. But, as Christians, we are to be as iron again iron, sharpening one another and holding one another accountable in the pure and blameless life to which Christ has called us. Again, if this man, a self-proclaimed Christian, has decided that the way God set things up (i.e. NOT sleeping with your mother) is not really meant for him, too, then something must be done.
Kicking someone out of the church is the absolute last resort when words and loving confrontation were not enough. Even still, the purpose in kicking the man out of the Church is not for punishment. Notice this! The reason for kicking him out, or in other words, handing him over to his sinful nature and to Satan, is "so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns." Kicking him out is the loving thing to do in the hope that he will hit rock bottom and decide to come back to the Lord. This man is living with a wall of sin between he and God. He cannot possibly be behaving this way WHILE communing daily with his Lord. But as long as the people around him continue to keep him comfortable in his choices, then why would he ever want to change? Again, he has changed his VALUES so that he can ACT the way he wants to! How will he ever go back without a little painful prodding and poking in the the right direction?
Remember that all hurt is not harmful. I think I've shared the story before that my mom watched as I, her high school daughter, made some really sinful and selfish decisions one season. She even warned me as we were driving in the car one day that the direction I was headed was not going to end the way I wanted it to end. I didn't listen, of course, and sure enough, I quickly hit bottom. I lost leadership positions, respect of others, and many of my freedoms for a while. It HURT for about 6 long months! And my mom stood back and allowed me to make the choices I was so set on making. But as a result of my hurt, I was not harmed -- in fact, I grew! And I became closer to Christ during that season.
This is what I see Paul saying here. For this man's GOOD, he needs to be cut loose to do what he's going to do. Eventually, as sin does, he will feel enough pain in the way he's living that he will want to make some changes, and we will pray that he ultimately decides to come back Home with a repentant, softened heart.
6 Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. 8 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth."
The other reason that the man needs to be kicked out, is that the Corinthian church is a mess. They think they have it all together, but they don't. They don't think they need a leader, but they do because they are a new church with a lot of "baby Christians". So, Paul uses the analogy that just as a little bit of yeast can spread quickly throughout a whole batch of dough, so will the sin amongst the church.
And not just back then! There is a reason Jesus is the Shepherd and we are SHEEP. Sheep follow each other, right? Not only that, but they follow blindly sometimes. We follow what's comfortable, what's popular, and what's easy a lot of the time. Perhaps your church isn't struggling with a lot of people who might quickly fall into sleeping with their mothers, but I can assure you that your church is not perfect because the people in it are not perfect. Paul is not expecting the people to be sinless -- all believers struggle with sin daily. Instead, he is speaking about people in the church who deliberately sin, feel no guilt, and refuse to repent. That kind of sin, he says, cannot be tolerated because it affects others. Blatant sins left unaddressed can begin to blur lines and cause great confusion among a church. It's easy for us to just ignore our big problems and hope they go away on their own while continuing to pray for and encourage one another. But sometimes, the most loving thing to do for an individual and for the Church is to lovingly but assertively address a heart that has hardened.
After all, Jesus, our Passover Lamb, came to change our hardened hearts, and He doesn't desire that they ever go back to the way they were before.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
1 Corinthians 5:1-2 (Values vs. Actions)
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?
3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
Woah! I've included this whole chapter today because it simply needs to be read all together -- some of the most powerful and convicting pieces to me are at the end, which I may not have time to get to today, but I wanted you to see all of this in context. So, here we go...
After the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians, where Paul has basically written broad brush-strokes about what is going on in Corinth, he now begins to confront specific issues. The first issue being that a man is sleeping with his mother (or perhaps a step-mother according to come of my notes).
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?" Something that even pagans don't do or tolerate. Wow. That should shock us, because though we are not perfect, our lives should look drastically different than the rest of the world as Jesus continues to change us and make us more like Himself. More loving, more humble, more pure...to name a few. If we don't see that fruit, we should have cause to be concerned about people who are Christians.
But in these two verses, Paul seems to be concerned with something other than the man and his mother. He says, "And you are proud!" He's appalled at the Corinthians. Paul's teaching here is not meant to teach us how to condemn one another, but here Paul wished his church had gone into mourning for the sake of the man who is living his life this way. Their hearts should have broken that he was not living how God intended, but that he had decided he knew a way that would be better and more fulfilling than God's design. But they weren't sad for this man and his choice of actions; instead, they were proud.
Why would the people be proud? That's a strong word. Well, we know from the last couple chapters that they thought they knew it all, had it all together, didn't need Paul to teach them. They were focused on all the wrong things.
1. Maybe they are proud of themselves for being so accepting of this Christian brother and his choices, and how they would never interfere into something that isn't their business?
2. Maybe they are proud that at least it isn't them doing it, and it gives them something about which to talk amongst themselves -- that will make us proud in a heartbeat, won't it?
3. Or maybe they are so above this, thinking about other things, that it doesn't even faze them! Do you know what I'm talking about? The first R-rated movie I saw had such a shocking impact on me, but sadly, now with all that I see in our culture, it takes a lot more to shock me these days. More than ever, we have to guard what we let into our hearts and minds SO THAT we don't become accustomed to and impacted by the darkness, destruction and death we see all around us.
A friend of mine who studied Psychology was telling me how we humans would rather change our VALUES before we'll change our ACTIONS. Can you believe that? Hearing those words shocked me, but then I thought about my own life, and it's true. If I want to do something, and my conscience tells me not to, I would rather seek the pleasure than listen to my conscience....so I decide that I don't believe what I used to believe. Then suddenly, I don't feel badly about what I'm doing because I have a "new" thinking now. We take the easy way out, don't we?
I am only three steps away from being this man. A few more decisions to change my values instead of my actions, and I could be right where he is. And what does Paul say to do with this man? Verse 2 says that he should be put out of the fellowship or removed from the church! Now, it is Biblical to say that the man must not be wanting to change his actions or repent, because a changed heart would be the best solution here, and we as Christians are all about granting forgiveness. But a Christian who wants to continue to live in flagrant opposition to God's plan and design...that's a different story, and the further down we read, the more we will understand why Paul says what he says here.
For now, I'd like to ask us...why do our hearts not BREAK over the sins of others, especially other Believers? Perhaps one of the three reasons above strikes a chord with you, or perhaps you know of another reason. Instead of judging, talking about, or feeling prideful when others stumble, I want my heart to break for them
And how are your values and actions lining up these days? You know what His Word says...are you doing it? Or are we changing our belief systems so that we can do what we want without as much guilt?
There are no fingers pointing here! I am guilty in both of these areas. But rather than allow myself to go on in that way, I want to look at my heart honestly, and ask God to help me change the dark places He sees in me.
Hmm...only got through two verses...I was planning for much more today. Well, that must be enough to think about for now.
Hopefully, this takes us one step closer to loving God and loving others.
3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
Woah! I've included this whole chapter today because it simply needs to be read all together -- some of the most powerful and convicting pieces to me are at the end, which I may not have time to get to today, but I wanted you to see all of this in context. So, here we go...
After the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians, where Paul has basically written broad brush-strokes about what is going on in Corinth, he now begins to confront specific issues. The first issue being that a man is sleeping with his mother (or perhaps a step-mother according to come of my notes).
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?" Something that even pagans don't do or tolerate. Wow. That should shock us, because though we are not perfect, our lives should look drastically different than the rest of the world as Jesus continues to change us and make us more like Himself. More loving, more humble, more pure...to name a few. If we don't see that fruit, we should have cause to be concerned about people who are Christians.
But in these two verses, Paul seems to be concerned with something other than the man and his mother. He says, "And you are proud!" He's appalled at the Corinthians. Paul's teaching here is not meant to teach us how to condemn one another, but here Paul wished his church had gone into mourning for the sake of the man who is living his life this way. Their hearts should have broken that he was not living how God intended, but that he had decided he knew a way that would be better and more fulfilling than God's design. But they weren't sad for this man and his choice of actions; instead, they were proud.
Why would the people be proud? That's a strong word. Well, we know from the last couple chapters that they thought they knew it all, had it all together, didn't need Paul to teach them. They were focused on all the wrong things.
1. Maybe they are proud of themselves for being so accepting of this Christian brother and his choices, and how they would never interfere into something that isn't their business?
2. Maybe they are proud that at least it isn't them doing it, and it gives them something about which to talk amongst themselves -- that will make us proud in a heartbeat, won't it?
3. Or maybe they are so above this, thinking about other things, that it doesn't even faze them! Do you know what I'm talking about? The first R-rated movie I saw had such a shocking impact on me, but sadly, now with all that I see in our culture, it takes a lot more to shock me these days. More than ever, we have to guard what we let into our hearts and minds SO THAT we don't become accustomed to and impacted by the darkness, destruction and death we see all around us.
A friend of mine who studied Psychology was telling me how we humans would rather change our VALUES before we'll change our ACTIONS. Can you believe that? Hearing those words shocked me, but then I thought about my own life, and it's true. If I want to do something, and my conscience tells me not to, I would rather seek the pleasure than listen to my conscience....so I decide that I don't believe what I used to believe. Then suddenly, I don't feel badly about what I'm doing because I have a "new" thinking now. We take the easy way out, don't we?
I am only three steps away from being this man. A few more decisions to change my values instead of my actions, and I could be right where he is. And what does Paul say to do with this man? Verse 2 says that he should be put out of the fellowship or removed from the church! Now, it is Biblical to say that the man must not be wanting to change his actions or repent, because a changed heart would be the best solution here, and we as Christians are all about granting forgiveness. But a Christian who wants to continue to live in flagrant opposition to God's plan and design...that's a different story, and the further down we read, the more we will understand why Paul says what he says here.
For now, I'd like to ask us...why do our hearts not BREAK over the sins of others, especially other Believers? Perhaps one of the three reasons above strikes a chord with you, or perhaps you know of another reason. Instead of judging, talking about, or feeling prideful when others stumble, I want my heart to break for them
And how are your values and actions lining up these days? You know what His Word says...are you doing it? Or are we changing our belief systems so that we can do what we want without as much guilt?
There are no fingers pointing here! I am guilty in both of these areas. But rather than allow myself to go on in that way, I want to look at my heart honestly, and ask God to help me change the dark places He sees in me.
Hmm...only got through two verses...I was planning for much more today. Well, that must be enough to think about for now.
Hopefully, this takes us one step closer to loving God and loving others.
Monday, March 12, 2012
1 Corinthians 4:9-21 (Being Foolish)
I sure would like to meet Paul. Second to Jesus, I think a cup of coffee with him would change my life entirely -- there are so many things I would like to ask him. One thing I have noticed about him is that his passion is just part of who he is. Before he met Christ, he was passionate about killing Christians. Now, after Christ's death, he still has that same passion, but for killing the sin of the Christians. Multiple times in Scripture, we see that Paul even uses a bit of irony or sarcasm to really make his points, and today's verses are such an example.
8 "Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!" Paul uses sarcasm here to get the Corinthians to see how poor they really are because of their haughtiness and spiritual immaturity in comparison with apostles. They think they fully participate in Christ's reign and have no need of the apostle's ministry. I wasn't sure what exactly was meant by humans reigning, but in Romans 5:17 it says, "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!" Or as another version puts it, "For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." Because of Christ in us, we can reign over or triumph over sin; however, from Paul's observation, it appears that the Corinthians look just like the world still -- there have not been changes in their behavior and attitudes -- and they think they have it all together and don't need the apostles' help to learn and grow.
9 " For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings." Here Paul refers to a triumphal roman procession, where the captives of war are led in at the end of the procession, and they will be killed in front of a victorious crowd as they combat with gladiators or ferocious beasts. Paul pictures all the world, even the angels, looking on while the apostles are brought in for their last fight, a fight to the death.
10 "We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!" Again, more sarcasm, perhaps with the hope that the Corinthians will see the vast differences in their lives and the apostle's lives, and realize that maybe the way they are currently living is really not what following Christ is meant to be. Then, he continues with some more examples of what has happened to them and how they are living.
11 "To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment." In contrast to the Corinthians wanting to be on top of the world, having everything they desire, Paul shows them a different way to live. In fact, I could easily sense in that last sentence that Paul is at the end of his rope with these people. So next, he gives them his plan for them.
14 "I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church." I think it's so important to think about verse 14. When we discipline or scold, is it to shame them or is it because we want to warn them our of our love for them? Are we reacting emotionally, or are we trying to turn them in a new direction for their own good? I'm sure Paul feels frustrated, but his motivation is not himself, but for their good. Here Paul urges the Corinthians to imitate him instead of living the way they are living. And because he knows their condition, he's going to send help -- Timothy. These people need a pastor, someone to physically be with them and to guide, encourage and love them as Christ.
18 "Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?" Paul promises to come to them, to see them for himself. He wants to see who these people are that are leading others, and he wants to see more than just talk, he wants to see if they do, in fact, have God's power and spirit in them or not. Finally, he gives the Corinthians a choice: keep talking like you have Christ, but no evidence of Him, and Paul will need to get firmer, or do begin to see about truly following Christ, and Paul will come in gentleness. That is the end of his introduction to them.
Starting tomorrow, we will begin to see why Paul is so seemingly harsh with the Corinthians. Why all this sarcasm and these threats of discipline? Paul has such a passion for the Kingdom of God, and he fights for it. Our early Christian brothers and sisters in Corinth were not living lives that reflected the Kingdom of God.
What about us? Are we fools for God? Do people find our lives and actions actions perhaps a bit foolish when we don't look out for our own good and what we deserve, but instead look out for another? Do our beliefs coincide with the culture or do we look foolish and ignorant because we refuse to just do or say what looks or feels good in the moment (and I don't mean only sexually here)? Paul looked foolish to the world. Are we prepared to look foolish in our lives at times because of what we do or don't do? I am not my own; I was bought at a price. Therefore, I want to honor God with my life...even when it makes me look foolish.
8 "Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!" Paul uses sarcasm here to get the Corinthians to see how poor they really are because of their haughtiness and spiritual immaturity in comparison with apostles. They think they fully participate in Christ's reign and have no need of the apostle's ministry. I wasn't sure what exactly was meant by humans reigning, but in Romans 5:17 it says, "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!" Or as another version puts it, "For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." Because of Christ in us, we can reign over or triumph over sin; however, from Paul's observation, it appears that the Corinthians look just like the world still -- there have not been changes in their behavior and attitudes -- and they think they have it all together and don't need the apostles' help to learn and grow.
9 " For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings." Here Paul refers to a triumphal roman procession, where the captives of war are led in at the end of the procession, and they will be killed in front of a victorious crowd as they combat with gladiators or ferocious beasts. Paul pictures all the world, even the angels, looking on while the apostles are brought in for their last fight, a fight to the death.
10 "We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!" Again, more sarcasm, perhaps with the hope that the Corinthians will see the vast differences in their lives and the apostle's lives, and realize that maybe the way they are currently living is really not what following Christ is meant to be. Then, he continues with some more examples of what has happened to them and how they are living.
11 "To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment." In contrast to the Corinthians wanting to be on top of the world, having everything they desire, Paul shows them a different way to live. In fact, I could easily sense in that last sentence that Paul is at the end of his rope with these people. So next, he gives them his plan for them.
14 "I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church." I think it's so important to think about verse 14. When we discipline or scold, is it to shame them or is it because we want to warn them our of our love for them? Are we reacting emotionally, or are we trying to turn them in a new direction for their own good? I'm sure Paul feels frustrated, but his motivation is not himself, but for their good. Here Paul urges the Corinthians to imitate him instead of living the way they are living. And because he knows their condition, he's going to send help -- Timothy. These people need a pastor, someone to physically be with them and to guide, encourage and love them as Christ.
18 "Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?" Paul promises to come to them, to see them for himself. He wants to see who these people are that are leading others, and he wants to see more than just talk, he wants to see if they do, in fact, have God's power and spirit in them or not. Finally, he gives the Corinthians a choice: keep talking like you have Christ, but no evidence of Him, and Paul will need to get firmer, or do begin to see about truly following Christ, and Paul will come in gentleness. That is the end of his introduction to them.
Starting tomorrow, we will begin to see why Paul is so seemingly harsh with the Corinthians. Why all this sarcasm and these threats of discipline? Paul has such a passion for the Kingdom of God, and he fights for it. Our early Christian brothers and sisters in Corinth were not living lives that reflected the Kingdom of God.
What about us? Are we fools for God? Do people find our lives and actions actions perhaps a bit foolish when we don't look out for our own good and what we deserve, but instead look out for another? Do our beliefs coincide with the culture or do we look foolish and ignorant because we refuse to just do or say what looks or feels good in the moment (and I don't mean only sexually here)? Paul looked foolish to the world. Are we prepared to look foolish in our lives at times because of what we do or don't do? I am not my own; I was bought at a price. Therefore, I want to honor God with my life...even when it makes me look foolish.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
1 Corinthians 4:6-8 (We Have Everything)
6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!
From the beginning of this book, 1 Corinthians, until the end of Chapter 4, Paul continues to write his introduction of this letter, addressing general concerns regarding his people in Corinth and their behavior. Starting in Chapter 5, he will get into the specifics, but until then, he continues with a central theme: "But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ" (Chapter 2, Verse 16). As we read the first four chapters, its quite clear that this is what Paul wants his readers to understand and believe. Our wisdom, our actions, our desires...they have all been replaced once we have become followers of Christ. We now have Christ IN us!
So now, in verse 6, Paul says, "Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other." He reminds them again, it's not about what men you follow (because remember they were bragging about whether they followed Apollos or Paul). Paul has just finished telling them how he and Apollos are just mere servants, mere men, of Christ. And that everything of importance points to Christ. The focus is not to be on Paul or Apollos. It's all about Christ!
"What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?" Okay, here are the heart-cutting verses of the day! Paul wants them to examine their Source. Three great questions for us to examine in our own lives this morning...
What makes you better than anyone else? Do we not need to be asked this daily? I sure do! Our culture is constantly telling us that we are better than others if we _______ (fill in the blank) make more money, have more degrees, look better on the outside, drive a nicer car, etc. But Paul reminds us that NONE of us are better than anyone else in and of ourselves. We have all sinned, and that pretty much makes us all equal in worth. How many times a day do I compare myself with the people around me? And when I do, whether I come out on top or they do, both conclusions are incorrect. We are all of equal value to Lord, and if He says so, then that's the truth.
What do you have that God hasn't given you? So we do have gifts and abilities, right? I cannot play sports that require a lot of hand-eye coordination, but I can sing. I can't crunch a lot of numbers quickly, nor do I really care to, but I can write a fluid sentence or two. We absolutely do have areas where we excel better than others, but does that really give us more value? No! But what we do have, God has given us. All that we are is a gift from Him, and He continually is working to make us even better if we are open to the work He wants to do in us. Even our possessions are not ours about which to boast, because as we learned from the tornadoes this past weekend, they can all be gone in a matter of seconds. All that we have, our possessions, our personalities, and the people around us, are a gift from our loving God to us while they are in our possession. Everything good, every single good thing in your life is from the Lord, even our ability to know Him is a gift!
And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own? Again, this is not something we see in our culture. We, as a people, are all about giving glory to people -- think of all the awards shows recently, the awards given in your work place, and the awards we give our students for the sports they play, the music they make, the grades they earn, or for just being good citizens. Without the knowledge of God, it is easy for one to think that all my success is my own. I agree in that it takes some initiative on our part to get of the couch and DO something with our lives, but even the ability to "get off the couch" is a gift from God because some people are not able to do even that! I think this is one of the reasons why Tim Tebow is such a sensation these days. Now there's a man who could easily, and understandably, take all credit for himself, but even in the spotlight, with everyone singing his praises, he continues to give glory to God, the giver of his athletic ability. God gives the gifts; we use them for His glory. What a partnership!
"Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us!" We do have everything we could want -- we have full access to God! We are rich in Him! And we have everything we need without the Christian leaders of our day because our relationship with Christ is personal. He can teach us and mold us even without the use of other leaders -- we don't HAVE to have them. So we don't need to rely on others. We already have all of Christ!
Think about you and God today. Are you aware of how He has blessed you recently? Slow down for just two minutes to think about the gifts He has lavishly given you. The people in your life? The abilities and talents? The possessions -- house, car, clothes, food, fun? And what about your relationship with Him -- where would you be without that today? We don't need other leaders to direct us all the time...we just need Him. You have everything you need today, because you have Him.
Have you thanked Him for that recently?
8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!
From the beginning of this book, 1 Corinthians, until the end of Chapter 4, Paul continues to write his introduction of this letter, addressing general concerns regarding his people in Corinth and their behavior. Starting in Chapter 5, he will get into the specifics, but until then, he continues with a central theme: "But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ" (Chapter 2, Verse 16). As we read the first four chapters, its quite clear that this is what Paul wants his readers to understand and believe. Our wisdom, our actions, our desires...they have all been replaced once we have become followers of Christ. We now have Christ IN us!
So now, in verse 6, Paul says, "Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other." He reminds them again, it's not about what men you follow (because remember they were bragging about whether they followed Apollos or Paul). Paul has just finished telling them how he and Apollos are just mere servants, mere men, of Christ. And that everything of importance points to Christ. The focus is not to be on Paul or Apollos. It's all about Christ!
"What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?" Okay, here are the heart-cutting verses of the day! Paul wants them to examine their Source. Three great questions for us to examine in our own lives this morning...
What makes you better than anyone else? Do we not need to be asked this daily? I sure do! Our culture is constantly telling us that we are better than others if we _______ (fill in the blank) make more money, have more degrees, look better on the outside, drive a nicer car, etc. But Paul reminds us that NONE of us are better than anyone else in and of ourselves. We have all sinned, and that pretty much makes us all equal in worth. How many times a day do I compare myself with the people around me? And when I do, whether I come out on top or they do, both conclusions are incorrect. We are all of equal value to Lord, and if He says so, then that's the truth.
What do you have that God hasn't given you? So we do have gifts and abilities, right? I cannot play sports that require a lot of hand-eye coordination, but I can sing. I can't crunch a lot of numbers quickly, nor do I really care to, but I can write a fluid sentence or two. We absolutely do have areas where we excel better than others, but does that really give us more value? No! But what we do have, God has given us. All that we are is a gift from Him, and He continually is working to make us even better if we are open to the work He wants to do in us. Even our possessions are not ours about which to boast, because as we learned from the tornadoes this past weekend, they can all be gone in a matter of seconds. All that we have, our possessions, our personalities, and the people around us, are a gift from our loving God to us while they are in our possession. Everything good, every single good thing in your life is from the Lord, even our ability to know Him is a gift!
And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own? Again, this is not something we see in our culture. We, as a people, are all about giving glory to people -- think of all the awards shows recently, the awards given in your work place, and the awards we give our students for the sports they play, the music they make, the grades they earn, or for just being good citizens. Without the knowledge of God, it is easy for one to think that all my success is my own. I agree in that it takes some initiative on our part to get of the couch and DO something with our lives, but even the ability to "get off the couch" is a gift from God because some people are not able to do even that! I think this is one of the reasons why Tim Tebow is such a sensation these days. Now there's a man who could easily, and understandably, take all credit for himself, but even in the spotlight, with everyone singing his praises, he continues to give glory to God, the giver of his athletic ability. God gives the gifts; we use them for His glory. What a partnership!
"Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us!" We do have everything we could want -- we have full access to God! We are rich in Him! And we have everything we need without the Christian leaders of our day because our relationship with Christ is personal. He can teach us and mold us even without the use of other leaders -- we don't HAVE to have them. So we don't need to rely on others. We already have all of Christ!
Think about you and God today. Are you aware of how He has blessed you recently? Slow down for just two minutes to think about the gifts He has lavishly given you. The people in your life? The abilities and talents? The possessions -- house, car, clothes, food, fun? And what about your relationship with Him -- where would you be without that today? We don't need other leaders to direct us all the time...we just need Him. You have everything you need today, because you have Him.
Have you thanked Him for that recently?
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