Introduction
Our entire blog wrestles with the question: how do I (personally) and my church congregation (corporately; see point 1 below) grow into Christlike maturity?
We know from the Bible that this is God’s plan. (see Meditations 45-48)
We have seen that both, personal and corporate Christlike maturity manifest themselves in two ways:
(a.) in wholehearted love for God and (b.) in wholehearted love for others. (see Meditation 56).
Since Meditation 63 we have explored the first aspect of the second theme and have asked ourselves: How does corporate Christlike maturity manifest itself in wholehearted love for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ?
So far we dealt with the following themes:
1. God sees my church as a ‘corporate personality’. (Meditation 63)
2. My church needs a common ‘Spirit-given vision’ for Christlike love for God. (Meditation 64)
3. My church needs people, guided by God’s Spirit, who are bearers of that divine vision for corporate, Christlike love for God. (Meditation 65)
4. My church needs to grow in unconditional and persistent devotion in prayer. (Meditation 66)
5. My church needs to grow in fellowship with God in true worship. (Meditations 67-73)
6. My church needs to learn how to study and obey God’s Word. (Meditations 74-75)
7. My church needs to learn how to pursue Christlike holiness in preparation for Jesus’ return in glory. (Meditations 76-84)
This time we want to see how God responded to the leadership controversy in the Corinthian church (see Meditation 84). We also will ask ourselves what He might say to us and to our churches through the way He dealt with it.
a.) God reminds us by the apostle Paul of the fact that the community of Jesus’ followers is God’s residence on earth:
-- “You are ... God's building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9)
-- “ Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
-- “God's temple is holy, and you Christians are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)
b.) The apostle Paul shows us that the beginning of a solid church project is based on God’s calling of people who are trained by Him for this specific ministry:
-- “We are God's fellow-workers ...” (1 Corinthians 3:9)
-- “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder.” (1 Corinthians 3:10)
c.) The person, the teaching and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, are the basis of any healthy church:
-- “No-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)
d.) God calls every follower of Jesus to contribute to the growth of his church in quality and quantity:
-- “...someone else is building on it (i.e., the foundation) . But each one should be careful how he builds.” (1 Corinthians 3:10)
e.) God calls us to build with ‘Christlike building materials’ so that the church may grow into Christlike maturity:
-- “If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones...” (1 Corinthians 3:12)
In his letter to the Christians in Ephesus (modern Turkey), the apostle Paul explains how these ‘Christlike building materials’ look like in practice:
“... we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)
f.) God warns us not to use ‘unchristlike building material’ which would obstruct the church in growing into Christlike maturity:
-- “If any man builds on this foundation using ... wood, hay or straw...” (1 Corinthians 3:12)
Paul told us earlier in this letter what wood, hay and straw look like. First he mentions the brouhaha about church leadership (1 Corinthians 1:10-12 and 3:4). Then he writes to the Corinthian church: “ ... you are still controlled by your own sinful desires. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. ... You are acting like people who don't belong to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 3:3)
g.) Paul declares by order of God that each of us will be called to account for the way we act in our church: “... his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.” (1 Corinthians 3:13)
h.) Obviously, if we build our churches with ‘Christlike building material’ (see point e.), our work will have eternal value. The apostle declares: “If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.” (1 Corinthians 3:14)
i.) God warns us that in the Day of judgment, we will lose it all if we have built our church with ‘unchristlike materials’ (see point f.): “If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:15)
Nothing of what we have built in our own strength, will survive this Day of reckoning. ‘Christlike building materials’ are produced by God’s Spirit in our hearts and in our churches. That’s why it remains eternally!
God’s only comfort is that, even if ‘all my unchristlike behaviour in church’ will burn up on Christ’s judgment day, my very soul will be saved, if I have accepted Christ as my Saviour during my life on earth. Elsewhere the apostle Paul declares: “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
j.) The apostle closes this section with a very severe warning to anyone who ruins the church by destructive behaviour: “If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)
It is clear from what we have just read in Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, that his statements on church behaviour are not only meant for that specific church in the first century.
God has used the misbehaviour of this church in Corinth to address any local church throughout the centuries until Christ’s return! Therefore, my church and I need to ask ourselves the following questions:
-- Does my church congregation realise that the church is God's building, God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in us?
-- Is our church a ‘sound project’ in God’s eyes? Is it governed by people who are called by God and trained by Him for this divine ministry? Are they in God’s opinion ‘expert builders’?
-- Is my church based on the person, the teaching and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
-- Am I and the other members of my church contributing to the inward and outward growth of our church by means of ‘Christlike building materials’, so that our church may grow into Christlike maturity?
-- Would I or other members of my church be in danger of using ‘unchristlike building materials’ which would obstruct our church in growing into Christlike maturity?
-- Would I or other members of my church need to heed God’s severe warning not to ruin our church by destructive behaviour?
1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 3:17, Ephesians 4:15-16 and Romans 8:1 are quotes from the New Living Translation. All other quotes are from the New International Version.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
84. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (v): Pursuing holiness (9)
(continuation of
Meditation 83)
Introduction
We saw earlier that in the New Testament God couples Christlike holiness in individual and church life with disciplining churches to safeguard that holiness. The letter to the Hebrews encourages individual Christians and churches, saying: “Make every effort ... to be holy; without holiness no-one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
Furthermore, Hebrews reminds us that “God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.” Hebrews 12:10
So, what might God want to say to our churches today through the way He disciplined New Testament congregations? Let us carefully reflect upon all the cases mentioned previously.
The Church in Corinth
Today we want to find out what God might say to me and to my church through the way He dealt with the church in Corinth:
Controversy because of leadership preferences
As we noticed in Meditation 78, the lack of Christlike holiness first of all came to light through the controversy because of leadership preferences (1 Corinthians 1:10-12 and 1 Corinthians 3:1-4). This caused divisions in the church and a tragic loss of unity and peace, mutual love and care and a joint cause of action. Through it all it seems that the congregation had lost its God-given vision for the salvation of the lost. Instead, it was locked up into shameful infighting.
In 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 the apostle Paul describes the state of this church: “...I couldn't talk to you as I would to mature Christians. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn't handle anything stronger. ... you are still controlled by your own sinful desires. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. ... You are acting like people who don't belong to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
Proverbs 13:10 exposes pride as the root of quarrels: “Pride only breeds quarrels...”
Jesus points to the fact that the human heart is the seat pride: “It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts ... envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you...” (Mark 7:20-23)
When the apostle Paul speaks in his letters about our sinful or evil nature, he means the same as said by Jesus in Mark 7:21 about the human heart. Paul says: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: ... hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group ... and other kinds of sin.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
Referring to our sinful or evil nature, Paul writes to the church in Ephesus: “You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.” (Ephesians 2:2-3)
Jesus declares that such sinful attitude of the human heart “... makes you unacceptable to God.” (Mark 7:23)
The apostle Paul restates this declaration of Jesus in Galatians 5:19: “Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Here are some other examples from the New Testament where the apostles warn the churches for ‘unchristlike’ and unholy behaviour:
-- Paul’s laments in his second letter to the church in Corinth: “I am afraid that when I come to visit you I won't like what I find, and then you won't like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfishness, backstabbing, gossip, conceit, and disorderly behavior.” (2 Corinthians 12:20)
-- He warns the Galatian Christians, saying: “... if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.” (Galatians 5:15)
-- Again in Galatians 5:26 the apostle writes: “Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.”
-- The apostle James cautions Christian congregations: “If you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don't brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.” (James 3:14-16)
How does a church escape this kind of power struggle?
By focusing on God’s Word. The apostle Paul shows the Christians in Corinth that focusing on God’s Word prevents us from quarrelling. He writes : “Dear brothers and sisters, ... If you pay attention to the Scriptures (i.e. the Bible), you won't brag about one of your leaders at the expense of another.” (1 Corinthians 4:6)
By seeking God’s Will. David asks God: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.” (Psalm 143:10)
By the guidance of God’s Spirit. Paul explains to the Galatian Christians: “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
I think this is an appropriate moment to reflect prayerfully on the disposition of my church:
-- Is my church affected by quarrels, divisions or power struggles regarding our church leadership?
-- Do envy, gossip, slander or pride prevent unity, peace, mutual love and care to blossom in my church?
-- If one or more of these attitudes are found in my church, Christlike holiness might not be a pursuit of my church.
-- Here is a personal question: do I hinder Christlike holiness to flourish in my church because of my involvement in any of the above-mentioned attitudes?
How good to know that God wants to encourage and comfort me and my church with the words from 1 John 1:7: “If we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.”
Next time we will see how God responded to the leadership controversy in the Corinthian church and what He might say to me and to my church through the way He dealt with it.
Hebrews 12:14, Hebrews 12:10 and Proverbs 13:10 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
Introduction
We saw earlier that in the New Testament God couples Christlike holiness in individual and church life with disciplining churches to safeguard that holiness. The letter to the Hebrews encourages individual Christians and churches, saying: “Make every effort ... to be holy; without holiness no-one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
Furthermore, Hebrews reminds us that “God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.” Hebrews 12:10
So, what might God want to say to our churches today through the way He disciplined New Testament congregations? Let us carefully reflect upon all the cases mentioned previously.
The Church in Corinth
Today we want to find out what God might say to me and to my church through the way He dealt with the church in Corinth:
Controversy because of leadership preferences
As we noticed in Meditation 78, the lack of Christlike holiness first of all came to light through the controversy because of leadership preferences (1 Corinthians 1:10-12 and 1 Corinthians 3:1-4). This caused divisions in the church and a tragic loss of unity and peace, mutual love and care and a joint cause of action. Through it all it seems that the congregation had lost its God-given vision for the salvation of the lost. Instead, it was locked up into shameful infighting.
In 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 the apostle Paul describes the state of this church: “...I couldn't talk to you as I would to mature Christians. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn't handle anything stronger. ... you are still controlled by your own sinful desires. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. ... You are acting like people who don't belong to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
Proverbs 13:10 exposes pride as the root of quarrels: “Pride only breeds quarrels...”
Jesus points to the fact that the human heart is the seat pride: “It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts ... envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you...” (Mark 7:20-23)
When the apostle Paul speaks in his letters about our sinful or evil nature, he means the same as said by Jesus in Mark 7:21 about the human heart. Paul says: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: ... hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group ... and other kinds of sin.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
Referring to our sinful or evil nature, Paul writes to the church in Ephesus: “You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.” (Ephesians 2:2-3)
Jesus declares that such sinful attitude of the human heart “... makes you unacceptable to God.” (Mark 7:23)
The apostle Paul restates this declaration of Jesus in Galatians 5:19: “Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Here are some other examples from the New Testament where the apostles warn the churches for ‘unchristlike’ and unholy behaviour:
-- Paul’s laments in his second letter to the church in Corinth: “I am afraid that when I come to visit you I won't like what I find, and then you won't like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfishness, backstabbing, gossip, conceit, and disorderly behavior.” (2 Corinthians 12:20)
-- He warns the Galatian Christians, saying: “... if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.” (Galatians 5:15)
-- Again in Galatians 5:26 the apostle writes: “Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.”
-- The apostle James cautions Christian congregations: “If you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don't brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.” (James 3:14-16)
How does a church escape this kind of power struggle?
By focusing on God’s Word. The apostle Paul shows the Christians in Corinth that focusing on God’s Word prevents us from quarrelling. He writes : “Dear brothers and sisters, ... If you pay attention to the Scriptures (i.e. the Bible), you won't brag about one of your leaders at the expense of another.” (1 Corinthians 4:6)
By seeking God’s Will. David asks God: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.” (Psalm 143:10)
By the guidance of God’s Spirit. Paul explains to the Galatian Christians: “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
I think this is an appropriate moment to reflect prayerfully on the disposition of my church:
-- Is my church affected by quarrels, divisions or power struggles regarding our church leadership?
-- Do envy, gossip, slander or pride prevent unity, peace, mutual love and care to blossom in my church?
-- If one or more of these attitudes are found in my church, Christlike holiness might not be a pursuit of my church.
-- Here is a personal question: do I hinder Christlike holiness to flourish in my church because of my involvement in any of the above-mentioned attitudes?
How good to know that God wants to encourage and comfort me and my church with the words from 1 John 1:7: “If we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.”
Next time we will see how God responded to the leadership controversy in the Corinthian church and what He might say to me and to my church through the way He dealt with it.
Hebrews 12:14, Hebrews 12:10 and Proverbs 13:10 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
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