THE JORDAN RIVER Is it possible that one can go to church somewhere every Sunday, give liberally of his or her means, preach, teach Bible lessons, have vibrant faith and still be deficient of God's expectations of him or her? Paul says so, for if love and its qualities do not motivate us in our relationships with others, Paul says we may do all the above yet "...gain nothing..." and be "...nothing..."(I Cor. 13:2,3)
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The most excellent way according to Paul is the way of love. The Interlinear translates "...the most excellent way..."(I Cor. 12:31) as "beyond comparison." And this way "...always protects..." (NIV) "...covers..."(Interlinear)
One popular commentator wrote of this particular quality of love that it does not divulge the faults of others publicly. How different that is to the way some treat their "sinning" brothers. The way the unloving violate I Cor. 13:7 is to rationalize the truth about love that Paul teaches here. Rationalization is an evasive tactic, a ploy, to excuse one's actions and allow opinionated people laterality in dealing with the weaknesses of others.
The most excellent way according to Paul is the way of love. The Interlinear translates "...the most excellent way..."(I Cor. 12:31) as "beyond comparison." And this way "...always protects..." (NIV) "...covers..."(Interlinear)
One popular commentator wrote of this particular quality of love that it does not divulge the faults of others publicly. How different that is to the way some treat their "sinning" brothers. The way the unloving violate I Cor. 13:7 is to rationalize the truth about love that Paul teaches here. Rationalization is an evasive tactic, a ploy, to excuse one's actions and allow opinionated people laterality in dealing with the weaknesses of others.
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Some rationalizations are based on pure prejudice or ignorance of the word. Some tout Bible knowledge but have mistakenly formulated a life-style based on rationalizations of the truth which negatively affect others, at least a few others, for convenience sake.
There are numbers of them but the most destructive of unity and proper relations I have heard in my 50+ years of being born again goes something like this. "The Bible tells us not to have fellowship with certain ones, including some brothers." On the surface that does not sound like a rationalization. But in practice it sometimes is. Actually there is Bible support for disfellowship. But so often this rationalization improperly uses scripture to ruin the lives and souls of others. And of course that is not the purpose of scripture.
Yet some who rationalize I Cor. 13:7 feel justified and even satisfied in doing so. It is very true that the Apostle Paul wrote that love "...always protects..."(I Cor. 13:7) It is also equally true that he wrote: "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."(Eph. 5:11)(NIV) Paul also wrote:"... I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."(I Cor. 5:11)(NIV)
Some rationalizations are based on pure prejudice or ignorance of the word. Some tout Bible knowledge but have mistakenly formulated a life-style based on rationalizations of the truth which negatively affect others, at least a few others, for convenience sake.
There are numbers of them but the most destructive of unity and proper relations I have heard in my 50+ years of being born again goes something like this. "The Bible tells us not to have fellowship with certain ones, including some brothers." On the surface that does not sound like a rationalization. But in practice it sometimes is. Actually there is Bible support for disfellowship. But so often this rationalization improperly uses scripture to ruin the lives and souls of others. And of course that is not the purpose of scripture.
Yet some who rationalize I Cor. 13:7 feel justified and even satisfied in doing so. It is very true that the Apostle Paul wrote that love "...always protects..."(I Cor. 13:7) It is also equally true that he wrote: "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."(Eph. 5:11)(NIV) Paul also wrote:"... I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."(I Cor. 5:11)(NIV)
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I have seen misguided religionists do great harm in their religious societies because they have overextended, misconstrued, misapplied and even selectively applied this passage. Often there is a dark, hidden motive in doing so. For if the passage were universally applied without some comprehension of what Paul is talking about here, then of course, there would be no possiblity at all of unity in the church.
I have seen misguided religionists do great harm in their religious societies because they have overextended, misconstrued, misapplied and even selectively applied this passage. Often there is a dark, hidden motive in doing so. For if the passage were universally applied without some comprehension of what Paul is talking about here, then of course, there would be no possiblity at all of unity in the church.
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How do we explain this? Perhaps we can use 9-11 as an illustration. The ones who flew those planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and attempted to fly another into Washington were calloused, brutal and uncaring destroyers of men's lives. The great tragedy of Christianity is that sometimes caring and uncalloused sinners are categorized with such uncaring and calloused because of the whims of those who rationalize the truth. Some have placed the broken and sinful brother who realizes his condition and is attempting to reach the healing of the Savior, to be forgiven and reconciled, in a hopeless predicament because of their rationalizations.
How do we explain this? Perhaps we can use 9-11 as an illustration. The ones who flew those planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and attempted to fly another into Washington were calloused, brutal and uncaring destroyers of men's lives. The great tragedy of Christianity is that sometimes caring and uncalloused sinners are categorized with such uncaring and calloused because of the whims of those who rationalize the truth. Some have placed the broken and sinful brother who realizes his condition and is attempting to reach the healing of the Savior, to be forgiven and reconciled, in a hopeless predicament because of their rationalizations.
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Lately I have been privileged to experience an opposite viewpoint. I have worshipped where numbers of sinful people have been accepted into fellowship. Their testimonies are heart rending. Their stories are tragic. They fall on their faces literally. The crumple to their knees. Tears stream from their eyes. How refreshing it is to see the acceptance of those around them. No sin is too great. Truly love "...cover..." "...protects..." the faults of others.
Lately I have been privileged to experience an opposite viewpoint. I have worshipped where numbers of sinful people have been accepted into fellowship. Their testimonies are heart rending. Their stories are tragic. They fall on their faces literally. The crumple to their knees. Tears stream from their eyes. How refreshing it is to see the acceptance of those around them. No sin is too great. Truly love "...cover..." "...protects..." the faults of others.
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Others who are prone to rationalize I Cor. 13:7 by using I Cor. 5:11 as an excuse simply do not see the whole picture. Certainly action was taken by the church at Corinth because of the immoral behavior of the man of I Cor. 5. Paul told them "...expel the wicked man..."(I Cor. 5:13) And they did. But that was not done as a spiritual life sentence. The instruction was meant to bring about repentance in the man's life. When he repented, they were told just a few weeks later: "...forgive and comfort him..." "...reaffirm your love for him..."(II Cor. 2:7-8). Those who rationalize seldom do that...
Those who major in rationalizations may need also to look very closely at what Paul says about the "...wicked..." and "...unrighteous..." in I Cor. 5:13 and I Cor. 6:9. This immoral man of I Cor. 5 was living with his father's wife. What a terrible sin. How wicked a life-style. But note some of the other sins Paul lists as being "...wicked...": "fornication"("male prostitute") "greedy man"("a defrauder for gain") "idolater"("worshipper of idols") "reviler"("railer") "drunkard"("drunkard") "swindler"("extortioner")(I Cor. 5:11(Interlinear)(Definitions: Zodhiates) In I Cor. 6 Paul adds to the list he already mentioned in I Cor. 5 and calls those who practice such sins "unrighteous." He adds: "adulterers"("involves at least one person who is married") "effeminate"("the effeminate who allows himself to be sexually abused") "homosexuals"("a man who lies in bed with another man") "thieves"("to take by stealth")(I Cor. 6:9-10)
Others who are prone to rationalize I Cor. 13:7 by using I Cor. 5:11 as an excuse simply do not see the whole picture. Certainly action was taken by the church at Corinth because of the immoral behavior of the man of I Cor. 5. Paul told them "...expel the wicked man..."(I Cor. 5:13) And they did. But that was not done as a spiritual life sentence. The instruction was meant to bring about repentance in the man's life. When he repented, they were told just a few weeks later: "...forgive and comfort him..." "...reaffirm your love for him..."(II Cor. 2:7-8). Those who rationalize seldom do that...
Those who major in rationalizations may need also to look very closely at what Paul says about the "...wicked..." and "...unrighteous..." in I Cor. 5:13 and I Cor. 6:9. This immoral man of I Cor. 5 was living with his father's wife. What a terrible sin. How wicked a life-style. But note some of the other sins Paul lists as being "...wicked...": "fornication"("male prostitute") "greedy man"("a defrauder for gain") "idolater"("worshipper of idols") "reviler"("railer") "drunkard"("drunkard") "swindler"("extortioner")(I Cor. 5:11(Interlinear)(Definitions: Zodhiates) In I Cor. 6 Paul adds to the list he already mentioned in I Cor. 5 and calls those who practice such sins "unrighteous." He adds: "adulterers"("involves at least one person who is married") "effeminate"("the effeminate who allows himself to be sexually abused") "homosexuals"("a man who lies in bed with another man") "thieves"("to take by stealth")(I Cor. 6:9-10)
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Interesting to me that Paul would mention among these heinous sins such things as those who defraud others, those who use stealth and take from others, and those who would slander a brother and apply them all to the wicked or unrighteous. And also interesting that after having listed all these sins Paul said to the Corinthians: "...that is what some of you were..."(I Cor. 6:11) Note he uses past tense. What had happened? He tells them "...you were washed..." "...you were sanctified..." "...you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."(I Cor. 6:11)(NIV)
Paul also told them "...you are the body of Christ."(I Cor. 12:27)(NIV) Isn't it amazing that people who had lives so steeped in sin could make up the Church of Christ in Corinth...What caused this? John tells us "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God."(I Jn. 3:1)(NIV)
Interesting to me that Paul would mention among these heinous sins such things as those who defraud others, those who use stealth and take from others, and those who would slander a brother and apply them all to the wicked or unrighteous. And also interesting that after having listed all these sins Paul said to the Corinthians: "...that is what some of you were..."(I Cor. 6:11) Note he uses past tense. What had happened? He tells them "...you were washed..." "...you were sanctified..." "...you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."(I Cor. 6:11)(NIV)
Paul also told them "...you are the body of Christ."(I Cor. 12:27)(NIV) Isn't it amazing that people who had lives so steeped in sin could make up the Church of Christ in Corinth...What caused this? John tells us "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God."(I Jn. 3:1)(NIV)
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What would happen to the wicked man who had been expelled from them who had committed a sin like those they had commited before they were forgiven? There would be no rationalization about it. He would simply be loved and forgiven and he was reinstated.
The paradox about all this is that those who rationalize the possibility of forgiveness and fellowship of their repentant brothers and disallow it are in danger themselves. So the perfect become imperfect. Those who accuse others of "fleshly" behavior become "fleshly" themselves.
What would happen to the wicked man who had been expelled from them who had committed a sin like those they had commited before they were forgiven? There would be no rationalization about it. He would simply be loved and forgiven and he was reinstated.
The paradox about all this is that those who rationalize the possibility of forgiveness and fellowship of their repentant brothers and disallow it are in danger themselves. So the perfect become imperfect. Those who accuse others of "fleshly" behavior become "fleshly" themselves.
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If one follows Paul's teachings in other places he speaks of "...works of the flesh..."(Gal. 5:19)(KJV) and "...former way of life..."(Eph. 4:22)(NIV) And the list should be revealing for those who rationalize their brothers' spiritual condition. Note they are: "hate" "malice" "falsehood" "anger" "unwholesome talk" "slander" "bitterness" "discord" "factions" "dissensions".
If one follows Paul's teachings in other places he speaks of "...works of the flesh..."(Gal. 5:19)(KJV) and "...former way of life..."(Eph. 4:22)(NIV) And the list should be revealing for those who rationalize their brothers' spiritual condition. Note they are: "hate" "malice" "falsehood" "anger" "unwholesome talk" "slander" "bitterness" "discord" "factions" "dissensions".
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John said very simply "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."(I Jn. 1:8-9)(NIV) Jesus said "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him."(Lk. 17:3)(NIV) "A new commandment) I give you: Love one another, As I have loved you, so you must love one another."(Jn. 13:34)(NIV
John said very simply "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."(I Jn. 1:8-9)(NIV) Jesus said "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him."(Lk. 17:3)(NIV) "A new commandment) I give you: Love one another, As I have loved you, so you must love one another."(Jn. 13:34)(NIV
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In view of all the scripture tells us about the "wicked" the "unrighteous" the "works of the flesh" and "the former way of life." And in view of what John said about all Christians being deceived if they claim to be "without sin" and God being willing to love and forgive us all, one would think those who try to rationalize their actions toward repentant folks in the church would give it all up. My experience has been that many of them won't do that.
In view of all the scripture tells us about the "wicked" the "unrighteous" the "works of the flesh" and "the former way of life." And in view of what John said about all Christians being deceived if they claim to be "without sin" and God being willing to love and forgive us all, one would think those who try to rationalize their actions toward repentant folks in the church would give it all up. My experience has been that many of them won't do that.
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That being the case those of us who would practice rationalizations and kick repentant brothers out of the church perhaps need to listen to another exhortation of Jesus. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."(Mt. 7:1-2)(NIV) Paul would say: "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."(Ro. 2:1)
That being the case those of us who would practice rationalizations and kick repentant brothers out of the church perhaps need to listen to another exhortation of Jesus. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."(Mt. 7:1-2)(NIV) Paul would say: "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."(Ro. 2:1)
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If ones rationalizations would cause him to doubt the repentance of another brother, or if one would use his spiritual perfection to justify his judgement of another brother may I simply direct that one to I Cor. 5, I Cor. 6, Gal. 5, Eph. 4, etc.,etc.,etc....
The brother of our Lord, James said: "If...you are observing the sovereign law laid down in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself', that is excellent. But if you show snobbery, you are committing a sin and you stand convicted by the law as transgressors. For if a man keeps the whole law apart from one single point, he is guilty of breaking all of it. For the One who said, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,' said also, 'Thou shalt not commit murder.' You may not be an adulterer, but if you commit murder you are a law-breaker all the same. Always speak and act as men who are to be judged under a law of freedom. In that judgement there will be no mercy for the man who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement."(James 2:8-13)(NEB)
If ones rationalizations would cause him to doubt the repentance of another brother, or if one would use his spiritual perfection to justify his judgement of another brother may I simply direct that one to I Cor. 5, I Cor. 6, Gal. 5, Eph. 4, etc.,etc.,etc....
The brother of our Lord, James said: "If...you are observing the sovereign law laid down in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself', that is excellent. But if you show snobbery, you are committing a sin and you stand convicted by the law as transgressors. For if a man keeps the whole law apart from one single point, he is guilty of breaking all of it. For the One who said, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,' said also, 'Thou shalt not commit murder.' You may not be an adulterer, but if you commit murder you are a law-breaker all the same. Always speak and act as men who are to be judged under a law of freedom. In that judgement there will be no mercy for the man who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement."(James 2:8-13)(NEB)
1 comment:
We all deserve Justice but desire Mercy. Let us extend it to others as we want it extended to us. Thanks for the time and study you put into these posts.
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