Quickly and Correctly

3.20.2011

1 Corinthians 5:2a 2a And you are proud! NIV

It is said that our national leaders are not so much a picture of themselves, but more a picture of the electorate who voted them into office. As picturesque as any town or city may be, it is the people who live there that make the difference of the true view. A pastor is not the embodiment of a local assembly as much at the congregation that sits under his teaching and how they respond to his teaching. However my child turns out in life, I must, as his parent, own up to some of the responsibility for some of the direction of his life.

The Church Paul started in first century Corinth had some issues – and they were proud. I’m not sure they were proud of the indecency of the member who slept with his father’s (not his mom) wife; but they certainly weren’t broken enough to address it as is fitting for New Testament church discipline. I think the pride Paul was accusing them of was the pride of how they thought they’d look to a watching world if they took what might appear to be politically incorrect action to address a grievous wrong. That pride is reacting to the perception of a watching world and not acting in obedience to a watching God.

For whatever reason, the great king of Israel, David, acted in pride when his one son, Amnon, raped his one daughter Tamar. David should’ve stoned Amnon. And then David acted in pride when his other son Absalom murdered Amnon because Amnon raped Absalom’s sister Tamar – David should’ve executed Absalom for murder. David’s inaction exalted his own name above the authority of God’s Law. Taking action requires courage and strength and humility because in the final analysis, even though we’re all guilty before God; God expects us to deal with sin – individually, and corporately – quickly and correctly.

The lesson for me is to beware of the pride in my own life of soft-pedaling sin in order to be thought the better of, because I don’t want to seem harsh, rash, or uncaring. God’s love is spelled out just as plainly in His discipline as in His encouragement…

Father in Heaven,
You know my heart and how I want to be perceived – I pray for courage, strength and courage in these thorny issues that Your Name may always and ever be exalted over my own… in Jesus’ Name, amen.