1 CORINTHIANS 4
14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countlessguides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sentyou Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
– 1 Corinthians 4:14-21
1 CORINTHIANS 4 TOUGH LOVE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When we are part of the communion of saints
We who are spiritually mature must build up the church
Tough love is needed for those who are still infants in Christ
The gospel is spread by those who bring truth, correction and life
We are all responsible to grow our faith and admonish one another
Let us all manifest brotherly affection and compassion for each other.
In this letter, Paul reminds the Corinthian church of the necessity to correct their wrong mindsets about the leaders of God’s church. According to David Guzik’s commentary “Some Corinthian Christians were so arrogant they thought Paul was afraid to visit them. When they thought Paul was afraid of them, it made them all the more proud in their hearts. Those among the Corinthian Christians who loved high-sounding words and their successful image had their own word, but Paul had the true power of the gospel. The final test of wisdom is power; the word of the cross not only has the power to mentally illumine, but also to morally save.”
In our society today, we are so concerned to be politically correct and so conscious of crossing boundaries that we fail to show tough love when it is needed in the church.
REFLECTION
- Share some insights as to the novelty of tough love in God’s churches these days.
