MPC, 29th July 2001.2 Corinthians 7 - "Correcting - A Risky Business"
Maurie Cropper MPC, 29th July 2001.
Just the other day I was reading a magazine article about an interview with Charles Colson. He was a close friend of Richard Nixon, the President of the US in the 70's. Colson was one of those sent to gaol for his part in the Watergate Scandal, ...a scandal which utimately brought down the President.
The article was about crime. In it were lots of words used to describe people who have committed a crime. Words like offender; lawbreaker, criminal. And words describing the treatment they recieve like imprisonment; in-carc-er-ation; jail; and rehabilitation.
It was an interesting article that referred to a concept called "restorative justice". It takes crime seriously. But the emphasis isn't simply on punishment.
It works like this. Where the peace of a community has been shattered, ..they focus on finding a way to bring back together the wrongdoer and the one wronged, ...and restore peace back into the community. So while there's restitution, it's aim is to get people back on track and together.
It hit me while reading: HEY! This is what Paul is on about here in chapter seven. The article didn't say it, BUT I reckon they got the idea straight from Paul's handling of the situation in Corinth! Paul isn't interested in condeming people, or locking them up. He's main concern is to see them restored into fellowship, ...by getting back on track with God, with each other and with him as the one who brought the Gospel to them.
And if you've been here over the past few weeks ...you'd have heard that the big crime the Corinthians have carried out is they turned their back on Paul's apostolic leadership and began to follow fakes, and inturn, ...have been lead astray in all sorts of corrupt behaviour which has derailed them.
So as their Apostle, Paul had to show leadership, he had to give leadership. And for Paul it could have been done in a couple of ways. He could have travelled to Corinth and sorted out the whole mess in person or send a letter. You can just imagine Paul anguishing over such a decision. In the end he decided to write a letter.
To confront the Corinthians and the trouble-makers head on was certainly an option, but it could have easily been simply too distressing, and end up in one big bung-fight. In sending a letter, Paul hoped that it would challenge and help change the situation in Corinth.
Turn with me back to chapter one, verse 23 ...and hear what Paul has to say.
"I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm."
Paul's intention was never to lord it over them. Which, in response to what he's heard happening, is just how a trip to Corinth could have been interpretted.
Pick it up at chapter two verse 1.
"So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you."
So instead of charging off to Corinth, Paul, motivated by love, wrote to them.
IT WAS A REALLY DIFFICULT LETTER.
BUT THINGS CHANGED.
The difficult things that Paul had to say were because of his deep love for the church family in Corinth. A church family that he had started. A family of people that he had poured so much of his life into. He wasn't about to let them slip away. To be diverted from the Gospel of Christ.
Paul owed Jesus his life. The church in Corinth owed their salvation to Jesus. Paul was not going to let them throw it away.
Yet to write like he did was a huge risk.
I mean, those in Corinth could have simply ripped up the letter and continued on their merry way of following the fake apostles. They could have given Paul the flick.
That's the risk that Paul took. Because of his great love for them ..he risked losing their love for him.
Yet it was a risk he took.
A number of years ago a friend of mine who was leading a church was approached by his leadership team. Compelled by their love for him, they approached him with their concern of a potential danger regarding his relationship with a woman he was helping. They lovingly, and gently, spoke to him about the situation. It was a difficult time for all involved. It was a risky business. The minister took heed of their concern. He also agreed not to take part in any leadership activity for three months. He met regularly with a small core of leaders for counsel and prayer. The issue was resolved and fellowship was restored.
In the Sunday talk a couple of weeks ago, we heard that Paul and Timothy and others like Titus were compelled by Christ's love to never give up on them.
And last week we read that while Paul and the others had opened their hearts to those in Corinth, they felt that the church in Corinth was holding back their affection for them. And he pleaded with them to once again open up their hearts to him.
Paul's aware that the letter has hurt. He's aware of the impact on their lives. So here in chapter 7 verse 2 he once again encourages them to and I quote: "Make room for us in your hearts."
After reminding them of the place that they have in his heart, and reminiscing on the hard work that had been carried out in Corinth, and the confidence he had in them, ...Paul tells them of the great comfort that had been brought to his downcast heart.
News of their change of heart had reached him.
Titus had returned with the news ...that Paul's previous letter had brought a change in their hearts.
Paul was overjoyed!
Listen to Paul's reaction to the news.
Verse 6. "But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever."
I mean isn't that great! That Paul's plea for them not to be bitter about the letter and to still make room in their hearts for him has been heard. And how about this bloke Paul? He immediately contributes his comfort to being a work of God. Doesn't that teach us something about being humble before our great God?
So let's take a look at this remarkable change that has come over the Corinthian church. The change that brought so much joy to Paul. The change that came from Paul being willing to take the risk of writing to them. A letter that at first he had great regrets writing. But now, ..NO REGRETS AT ALL! Because he and they were now back in fellowship with each other.
It's a horrible thing to be out of fellowship with another believer.
I remember a time like that. I was at fault. Someone I knew well had asked me to speak to a youthgroup. Give my testimony sort of thing. I agreed. Probably because I was full of myself more than anything else. But I harboured jealousy and was full of envy for my friend.
He and one of the young people picked me up from the station in a mini panel-van. I had to get in the back. And on the way to the meeting I was overcome by the conviction that God wasn't going to honour this occasion unless I admitted the wrong stuff inside me. So I shared it with my friend ...along with a fair bit of blubbering. It turned out he had no idea. Which only shows you how deceitful we are and how we disguise so much.
The difference here for Paul is that he knew what the Corinthians were up to. And his letter convicted them of their wrong-doing.
This conviction lead them to be sorrowful for what they had done. Inturn, their remorse lead them to repentance, ...which in turn lead them to salvation, ...and in doing so ...leaves neither them or Paul with any regrets about the process. And Paul is quick to point out that there is difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow.
Because while worldly sorrow leads to death, that is the broken relationship with God, godly sorrow produces a sincerity and earnestness that seeks to clear up the mess that has discredited them as followers of Jesus. They are startled into action, to see that things are put right ...or as Paul puts it: "..to see justice done."
Let's pick it up again at verse 8.
"Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it - I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while - yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, BUT BECAUSE YOUR SORROW LEAD YOU TO REPENTANCE. For you became sorrowful as God intended and therefore not harmed in any way by us. v. 10 Godly sorrow [sorrow as God intended] brings repentance that leads to salvation [right relationship with God] and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, WHAT READINESS TO SEE JUSTICE DONE."
And Paul goes on to say in verse 12 that he didn't write "on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. By all this we are encouraged."
The big picture for Paul, ..the two things that he's so passionate about is the salvation of people and the bringing together of them into fellowship one with another under the sovereignty of God!
He's not so interested in taking sides, as he is in bringing sides together. Oh yeah! As we can see, Paul's no whimp. He'll tackle issues head-on. He's a risk-taker. But Paul's trust and faith in Jesus spurs him into loving action.
And Loving action involves forgiving others.
The restoration of people into fellowship ALWAYS INVOLVES FORGIVENESS.
When godly sorrow leads to repentance, we need to forgive and reaffirm our love for the person or persons.
We must give genuine comfort. We must reaffirm our love. So that the person is not overwhelmed by their sorrow, nor left out of fellowship.
Satan is always interested in destroying our fellowship with God and with each other. We mustn't be outwitted by him.
When someone has done wrong, and punishment has been followed by repentance and godly sorrow, ...then we are to forgive and reaffirm our love for them.
It's all here in chapter 2.
Flip back to chapter two and we'll read from verse 5 to 11.
"If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent - not to put it too sverely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. The reason I wrote to you was to see if you could stand the test of obedience in everything. If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven - I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes."
I've been challenged by this letter sent originally to the church at Corinth.
I've been challenged by how easy it is to get it all wrong. What terrible hurt people can go through because of the clumsy and even self-righteous way we go about things.
We shouldn't be quick in taking sides, ..but work hard at focusing on and addressing the problem. This is very difficult, ...yet restoring fellowship is an important goal.
I've been challenged as to just how deceitful and corrupt our hearts can be. ALL PARTIES!
I've been reminded that in correcting others there are many dangers to avoid. Dangers like reacting on hearsay; being impatient or giving a knee-jerk response; operating from harsh, unloving motives; re-acting defensively.
I've been reminded that these passages are as much, ..if not more to do with our response to being corrected, than they are about doing the correction! Yes, we need to correct. But are we willing to be corrected? Are we open to correction?
I'm thankful to God for the Apostle Paul having having the guts and taking the risks that he did. I'm thankful to God that He has shown us a way to correct, and a way to recieve correction from others that brings about the godly response of being truly sorrowful, ..of repenting, ..of being restored to fellowship with Him and to one another. A way ...that involves forgiveness, ...comfort, ...and love, ....and no regrets.