Thursday, April 30, 2015

The Line was Crossed...What Now? Part 2


The church in Corinth had it all:
Incest - check
Rampant drama - check
Unbridled hypocrisy - check
A full run of Springer episodes - check

Entrenched, blatant rebellion pervaded the church.  From open incest and internal squabbles, to greed and masked idolatry, professing-believers arrogantly redefined righteousness and lived as pagans.

As expected, Paul demanded the faithful to act.

The Corinthians were left with no other recourse than to exercise church discipline.  And while this may seem a lost art, those genuinely interested in pastoral shepherding and genuine Christian community would be well served to consider the apostle’s instructions:

Exercising biblical judgment is a central expression of biblical love

5:1-5.  Utilizing every ounce of authority, Paul resorted to extreme measures:
"...you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord."
Sense the weight of these words.
Signed, sealed, and delivered - to Satan?
Straight up, no nonsense.  

While questions might surge through our mind, the inescapable fact is that Paul wasn't playin' around.  As the professing believer had given himself to rebellion, the church was commanded to exercise swift discipline.  And while certainly, our modern sensibilities push against such staunchness we can not miss the apostle’s heartfelt intent.

Biblical discipline is not intended to be vindictive but restorative.
By exercising biblical judgment, Paul was exercising biblical love.       

This professing believer had opened the possibility for all manner of eternal judgment.  There would be hell to pay - a sobering reality that church discipline sought to circumvent.  Understand that the exercise of biblical judgment is based upon the hope that somehow the ‘destruction of the flesh’ might jar the wayward and resuscitate their spiritual life.1  

Such is the nature of biblical love. 
It is never shortsighted or silent. 

Rather than being enslaved by indifference or diluted by rhetoric of tolerance, biblical love seeks more.  Rather than allowing the wayward to drift toward eternal damnation, church discipline speaks and acts with eternity in mind.

Exercising biblical judgment is a central expression of corporate worship

5:6-8.  Don’t miss Paul’s point.  Where known rebellion is tolerated, God-honoring worship is diminished.  While the implications are staggering for our weekly meetings the principle stands: harboring the rebellious causes our worship to stink.

In response, the only recourse is to remove the “leaven” from the body.  Sin must be dealt with and the church is left with two paths, either we are worship in truthful sincerity or malice and evil. On one hand, we deal with the rebellious, gather for corporate worship, and our offering is pleasing. On the other, we acquiesce to the professing-believer's rebellious actions and our offering is distasteful to our God.  The choice truly is ours.  

Exercising biblical judgment is a central expression of spiritual depth

5:9-13.  Sense Paul’s exhaustion.  Verse 9 clearly indicates that I Corinthians is at least the second time the Corinthians were given a clear, apostolic command yet nothing changed.  The church was still entertaining their rebellious brother.  

Making matters worse, the church skewed Paul’s initial words.  Instead of disassociating from the sexually immoral within the church, as Paul taught, the Corinthians distanced themselves from the sexually rebellious outside the church.  

In five short verses, the Corinthian's shallowness is fully displayed.  They not only refused Paul's initial instruction but they deliberately twisted his directive.  Not only were they apparently uncomfortable with church discipline but they seem to have distorted Paul's intent, fitting it within their paradigm for Christian community.   

In response, Paul is clear.  With professing-believers who remain unrepentant in their sin, the Corinthians were not even to eat with such a one.  Contextually, the admonition is the same.  We are encouraged to eat with the pagans and discouraged to eat with the unrepentant, professing brother.   

Exercising biblical judgment is a central expression of our Christian heritage

6:1-11.  Interestingly enough, Paul grounds the practice of biblical judgment into the very fabric of our Christian heritage.  Note a few of the questions offered:
Will we not one day judge the world?
Why then can’t you handle these simple matters?
Will we not one day judge the angels?
Why is no one capable of discerning these trivial concerns? 
Throughout the section, Paul asks nine different questions each stressing that the church be skilled in making biblical judgments.  And while we could get bogged down with some specifics, questions such as 'how we will judge the world and angels', please don't miss the point!  The main idea is that we will be functioning as judges and that, even now, we should be able to issue accurate, God-honoring, humble judgments toward our wayward brothers and sisters.  

In closing, I'd encourage you to consider the following questions.  
  1. Why is it important to understand biblical love as having 'eternity in mind'?  How is this different than the love our culture champions? 
  2. Have you ever considered the effects of ignoring church discipline?  In what ways does this means of grace strengthen the church? 
  3. In what ways have you seen the modern church reject the Bible's authority and reduce the command of church discipline to fit within the modern idea of community and acceptance?
  4. We are to judge.  We are charged to watch over one another with eternity in mind.  That said, what makes us uncomfortable in this crucial role?  In turn, what are other biblical teachings on how we are to approach one another for correction? 

May we embrace church discipline as a means of grace, prayerfully seeking to grow in our biblical judgment.  Careful to reflect all that God intends as we seek to save others by snatching them out of the fire (Jude 23)

Grace and Peace



___________

1. As the ‘destruction of the flesh’ is but the natural end to any and all rebellion, Paul’s hope was that church discipline cause the wayward to pause and awake from their stupor.  The apostolic sanctioning of this drastic measure was intended to cause the professing believer to sense the downward spiral of duplicity and seek repentance. 


But in what way do the rebellious experience the destruction of their flesh? 

In the immediate sense, Paul understood this phrase to encompass two primary issues.  First, the destruction of the flesh is a straight forward recognition that those believers who harbor sin open themselves up to physical punishment.  Paul is clear in Corinthians 11:27-31 that if we partake of the cup in an unworthy manner we run the risk of God issuing physical retribution.  Conversely, Corinthians states that if we judge ourselves correctly, we will not be judged.  Meaning if we recognize our sin and seek repentance, we will not face divine punishment.  

Second, I would suggest that the destruction of our flesh involves the sheer futility of sin.  The degree to which the wayward suppress righteousness and chose rebellion, they relinquish mankind's truest joy and open themselves to the vanity of disobedience.  Ecclesiastes is clear, removing God from life reduces each and every pursuit to merely futile attempts to gain mastery, pleasure, recognition, and/or power.  By our rebellion, we position ourselves to taste the initial steps toward our inevitable end: the eternal ‘destruction of flesh’.  

Equally, in the eternal sense, Paul understood the urgency of the moment.  For those who choose active rebellion there is but one end: destruction.  An eternal sentencing that will include both a physical and spiritual damnation. 

With eternity in mind, Paul’s strategy is that the deployment of church discipline cause the rebellious to sense the initial stages of sin's ultimate futility and turn from their inevitable path.  For maybe, just maybe, the wayward is caught in time.  

Thursday, April 23, 2015

The Line was Crossed...What Now?



In our house, Sharpies are considered contraband.
Slightly more tolerable than your common street drug. 

And we’ve seen it all. 

From pants and table runners, to tabletops and hair coloring – nothing good ever happens mixing four pre-adolescent boys with permanent markers. 

Once that line is established, it is indeed permanent. 

Sure, remedies exist but these rely primarily on timely intervention.
Key word: 'timely'.  Timeliness requires candidness from the culprits. 

Let’s just say the ink dries ten-times over. 

Permanency

Far from being a mere social construct, morality is grounded in the very essence of God’s character.  In both general and specific ways God has graciously revealed his righteous expectation for humanity.  And while some might bristle at such simplicity, ‘right is right and wrong is wrong’.  Be sure of it.  The ink has dried on the divine mandates. 

Crossing the Line

As God identified the line of morality in Eden, we know man blew it.  We crossed the line.  In Adam, we all grabbed the fruit.  Famished in our self-interest, we feast on rebellion.  And herein is the beauty of the Bible’s story arch, at our lowest God reaches for us. 

From Genesis 3 onward, God works to free humanity from the tyranny of sin.  In Christ, we are set free from captivity.  He alone is our Victor, his blood liberates us from bondage to sin and his resurrection grants us power for daily growth in righteousness.

Christian Community

Even a brief moment of introspection shows that daily growth in Christ’s righteousness is incredibly difficult.  Elsewhere Paul actually describes this pursuit as war.  But as excruciating as the daily battle can be, victory is miraculously made possible.

That said, at times we get stuck. 

As all sin masquerades as an alluring alternative to the righteousness granted in Christ, there can be prolonged seasons of deep duplicity in our faith journey.  And, if candid, we may admit that the immediate gratification of our sin appears vastly superior to the acquired taste of obedience.  From subtle whispers to bold inquistions our flesh daily ponders: why grow in righteousness when the pleasures of forbidden fruit seem most rewarding? 

If this at all seems familiar, then you might understand the beauty of Christian community: it becomes a place where we are known.

Far to often the church is managed like Cheers.  Please understand our sacred communities must be much more than a place where everyone knows your name – they’ve got to know you.  And equally important, you need to know them. 

We need to know of these inner dialogues, these inner battles of the flesh.  Peter tells us that as the lions seek the isolated and lame, so the enemy of our souls seeks those spiritually maimed and alone.

In God’s economy the people of faith provide an incredible means of grace in our pursuit of Christ.  The church is designed as a place of intense grace and truth, a place where we not only find camaraderie and inspiration but a place that graciously and soberly offers biblical judgment and correction.  Put simply.  There are times when the church, for our own eternal good, must kick us in the pants.

Such is the nature and intent of church discipline.  Churches that embrace discipline understand the twisted nature of sin, the eternal implications of rebellion, and the divine charge to strengthen the weak and safeguard the wayward.  These communities of faith are to be embraced.  These brothers and sisters are to be cherished and their leadership praised.  Refusing to either ignore the wayward or excuse the rebellious, these churches actually champion the true fruits of grace and acceptance.

I Corinthians 5-6: Church discipline in review

Paul didn’t pull punches.

Entrenched, blatant rebellion pervaded the Corinthian church.  From open incest and internal squabbles, to greed and masked idolatry, professing-believers arrogantly redefined righteousness and lived as pagans.

Action was demanded.

Paul charged the congregation to exercise church discipline.  I’d encourage you to read I Corinthians 5-6.  Read and consider the following:
  • What does Paul say about judging others?  
  • What is the intent of church discipline? 
  • When is the church to administer discipline? 
  • What is the long-term effect of a church that doesn’t practice church discipline? 
  • If you’ve seen discipline done in a God-honoring fashion, what aspects did you find noteworthy? 
  • Conversely, if you’ve seen discipline handled contrary to the spirit of the Word, what aspects caught your attention? 
At some point in the next week or so, we’ll be looking more closely at I Corinthians 5-6.  Until then, blessings and may God allow us to grow in righteousness.  Careful to humbly guard one another from the enemy, prayerfully upholding one another in the pursuit of Christ.   

Grace and Peace.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Zechariah: Passion Week Foretold



The Book of Zechariah: A Crash Course

While the entire book Zechariah is apocalyptic in nature, it breaks down into two distinct sections.  Bear with me!  The first, 1:1-8:23, is a series of eight off-the-wall prophecies that were ultimately fulfilled in the 6th century BC.  And while these successive visions are certainly unique, they do follow a linear path.  Starting with Israel's return from captivity and concluding with the temple being rebuilt, these prophecies are largely localized within the post-exilic community's immediate history.

The second section, 9:1-14:21, follows anything but an accessible timeline.  Contrary to the tightly woven visions of the first section, this later portion follows a more sporadic rhythm.  Zechariah's visions become more global in nature, expanding beyond the nation and borders of Israel to include every nation, tribe, and tongue.  Along with an increased national scope, the time of fulfillment is also ambiguous. 

Even so, Zechariah 9:1-14:21 remarkably gives us glimpses into the Passion.  These visions identify four central, historical events embedded within the final week of Jesus’ life.

The Book of Zechariah and Christ’s Passion

  
                                                   
1.     The Triumphal Entry of Israel’s King: Zechariah 9:9-10; Matthew 21:1-11

Zechariah anticipated a king inaugurating unparalleled, global peace.      

With shouts of “Hosanna!” Matthew indicates the masses were keenly aware of the role Jesus assumed.  Rome would soon fall.  Israel's salvation was at hand, her Golden Age would be restored. 

Expectations ran high but soon anticipation turned to angst.    

Few would learn that peace had certainly been established but it was a peace not as this world gives.  And though Rome would not fall that Passion Week, on the foal of a donkey the forces of evil were duly warned.  The kingdom of peace had come.  

And while the King, atop a beast groomed for war, will one day return in all his glorious might - let us not lose sight of the kingdom marked by righteousness, joy, and peace in the Spirit but let us grow more ever more accustomed to its' daily rule and freedoms (Romans 14:17).   

2.     The Good Shepherd Rejected: Zechariah 11:4-17; Matthew 26:14-16; 27:3-10

Amid the apocalyptic oddities of chapter 11, one message is clear.  Israel blew it.  She not only rejected the good shepherd but she failed to recognize his supreme worth.  In spite of his exemplary service, Israel paid the shepherd an absurdly meager sum.  30 pieces of silver – the amount for which a slave is valued (Exodus 21:32).

As the King of Kings is sold for 30 pieces of silver, Matthew picks up this dual theme of devaluing and rejection but he does so in the most unexpected of ways: Judas.  

For all eternity Judas' name is synonymous with betrayal.  Someone from within the circle of twelve, ultimately rejected and devalued Jesus.   Note Judas' words in 26:15.  
"What will you give me if I delver him over to you?"  
Judas' personal gain and self-interest proved far more valuable to him than the glories of Christ.  The phrase "What will you give me" is telling.  Judas never trusted in Jesus' supreme ability to grant living water and abundant joy.  He was after something else and he turned to someone else.  And like all idolatrous acts, the broken cisterns proved far more tempting.  Let us be warned, even those closest to the King weren't beyond apostasy.  
  
3.     The Piercing of God and Opportunity for Cleansing: Zechariah 12:10-13:1; John 19:31-37

Zechariah envisions a day when the house of David will look upon Yahweh, the one ‘whom they have pierced’.  On that day divine favor will pour out a spirit of conviction, revelation, and restoration.  We then drink deeply from the fountain of God's good grace, attaining the waters the cleanse from all sin.  Like the woman at the well, Jesus offers to all who come - drink and never thirst again.    

4.     The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scatter: Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:31-32

The context of Zechariah 12-13 naturally links the one pierced with the shepherd who will be struck.  With the figurehead battered, the sheep will scatter. 

Jesus seamlessly recalls this prophetic word as he predicts his disciples’ imminent distress.  Indeed, they will flee but take heart – the Messiah offers profound hope and opportunity. 
“But after I am raised up, I will meet you in Galilee” 
Jesus knew.  He knew those closest would soon desert him.  Yet even with such intimate knowledge of their greatest failure, the Master offered a second chance.  I’ll meet you in Galilee.

I am becoming more aware of my greatest failure.  I suppose in time we all do.  But even in the darkness of our betrayal, may we hear the King calling, “I’ll meet you in Galilee.”

With these four brief snapshots, Zechariah foretold notable pieces of Jesus' Passion.  My prayer as we head into Good Friday is that we sense anew the magnitude of God's grace and goodness manifested in the person of Jesus Christ.  Indeed, Sunday is coming!

Grace and Peace