Dad's Ramblings -- Tough Love

TOUGH LOVE
I Corinthians 4:4-7a
 
"In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened."
 
It can happen in a church, and it can happen in a family. One member of the group is rebellious in his or her sin and needs to be excluded so that others are not drawn into sin. Discipline is tough business, but is absolutely necessary. When blatant and unrepented sin is allowed to remain in the church, it is like untreated cancer that will spread to the whole body. God knows the danger. That's why He commanded the Israelites to destroy all of the heathen inhabitants of the land they would possess. If the ungodly were allowed to remain, they would become a snare to God's people (Deuteronomy 7:16) and their children would be drawn away to worship the heathen gods (verse 4). Jesus gave instruction for church discipline: confront alone, then confront with other witnesses, then bring the unrepentant person before the church (Matthew 18:15-17). Paul gave the purpose: loving the person enough to want to see them saved. Now we don't just kick out all the sinners in the church. That would exclude everyone because we are all sinners in need of forgiveness and cleansing. Jude said to make a distinction – treating some with compassion, and saving others with fear, pulling them out of the fire (Jude 22-23). Church disciple is tough, but it is tough love. The question in my mind is: How serious are we about holiness? If we truly are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (I Peter 2:9), then we need to strive to preserve that character.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Church discipline is tough love in action.
 
Have a holy day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Pride of Grace

THE PRIDE OF GRACE
I Corinthians 5:1-3
 
"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles – that a man has his father's wife. And you are puffed up, and have not mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present ) him who has so done this deed."
 
The Corinthians were proud that they were people of grace. They were not judgmental but opened their arms to everyone regardless of their lifestyle, so much so that they disregarded God's standards of holiness and morality. (Incest is included in the prohibited sexual practices of Leviticus chapter 18). They were such loving people that they could overlook sin in order to make people feel welcome in their assemblies. Paul called the church to judge sin. There is a difference between being judgmental in the sense that Jesus taught ("Judge not that you be not judged." Matthew 7:1) and making judgments about sin based on God's standards. I can remember the time when holy living was a requisite for church membership. Now we wink at sin so that people will feel welcomed and accepted. We don't want to offend people. We are proud of our grace. Since Jesus' bride is called to be "a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, that she should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27), shouldn't we rather mourn that the standards are so low in our assemblies? It may be old-fashioned, but I believe that God still calls us to holiness.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: People of grace do not have to lower their standards of holiness.
 
Have a judging day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Balancing Correction and Nurturing

BALANCING CORRECTION AND NURTURING
I Corinthians 4:18-21
 
"Now some are puffed up [marg. arrogant] as though I was not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?"
 
Paul was filling two roles – as an apostle with the rod of correction, and as a nurturing father with love and gentleness. Both correction and nurturing are important when dealing with children (no matter what age). The rod is necessary for the arrogant and rebellious, but nurturing is important for the repentant. When applied wrongly, both the rod and nurturing can produce even more rebellion. The wise father knows the difference. I sense that Paul's threat of correction was not just empty words. He had the authority to use the rod. But I also sense that he would rather come with the grace, love, and gentleness of nurturing. Our Heavenly Father uses both with His children at the appropriate times, but I think He would rather nurture my humility than correct my pride.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: The rod of correction is necessary for the arrogant, but the gentleness of nurturing is appropriate for the repentant.
 
Have a balanced day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Faithful Sons

FAITHFUL SONS
I Corinthians 4:17
 
"For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in the church."
 
Timothy was a younger man – a "son in the Lord" – who had spent time soaking up Paul's doctrine, so that he was prepared to faithfully teach others. Discipleship is vital to the transmission of sound doctrine in the church. Jesus did it, pouring Himself into twelve men who, minus one, were able to lead the young church after the Ascension. Paul followed Jesus' example, pouring himself into Timothy.  Later, Paul wrote to Timothy, "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2). This is the pattern that is so desperately needed in today's church, especially among men. But It takes two to tango – an older man who will take the time to pour his life into a younger man, and a "son" who is willing to learn.  It takes willingness, time and commitment from both.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Discipleship is an integral part of the development of godly leaders.
 
Have a "discipleship" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- A Solid Faith

A SOLID FAITH
I Corinthians 4:14-16
 
"I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have 10,000 instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me."
 
A father's joy is to see his children become independent adults, not in a rebellious way, but able to stand on their own two feet. For the Christian father, it is to see his offspring mature in the faith so they "should no longer be children, tossed to an fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14). Mature Christians are teachable, yet they are grounded in their faith so that when faced with various teachings or trials, their faith in Christ is secure. Paul had a faith that withstood hard times, and he could say to his children – "Be like me."
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Maturity brings stability.
 
Have a secure day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- What a Job!!

What A Job!
I Corinthians 4:9, 13b
 
"For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men .... We have been made as the filth of this world, the offscouring of all things until now."
 
The job description of leaders in the early church was not something glamorous or to be coveted. They were considered fools, weak, dishonored, hungry, poorly clothed, beaten, homeless, laboring, reviled, persecuted, defamed, and considered trash (verses 10-13). Any volunteers? Who would want this job? This is quite different from the modern church leader who drives an expensive car, wears Armani suits, owns two or three houses, and has status in the community. On the contrary, working for Jesus is not always easy, but as the saying goes, the rewards are out of this world.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: Working in the Gospel field is tiring, dirty, and unappealing work, but there is great reward.
 
Have a rewarding day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Blind Spots

BLIND SPOTS
I Corinthians 4:8
 
"You are full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us – and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you."
 
I think Paul is using sarcasm to drive home his point about their pride. They had the attitude that they had everything and needed nothing. They were like the church that the Lord Jesus spoke of at Laodicea who said, " 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked – " (Revelation 3:17). Pride does that to a person. It inflates the ego and causes blind spots so that we don't see ourselves as we really are. Christians sometimes become proud in their spiritual knowledge and think they don't need to be taught. They know it all! Humility says, "I recognize and confess my needs and my weakness. I need help." Oh God, I desperately need You.
 
TODAY'S THOUGHT: When a person thinks he don't need anybody or anything, he are truly poor and blind.
 
Have a "needy" day. Love you.