1 Corinthians 16:13-24
Paul’s conclusion his letter to the most dysfunctional and problem-beset church in the New Testament is both powerful and beautiful. It is loving and gentle without being sentimental and weak. Paul’s five instructions in verses 13-14, if followed by the church, would almost completely restore it to good health. They are instructions that we in our chaotic time would do well to heed. These instructions are progressive; each of these directives connects to the principle or behavior preceding it and prepares for the one following.
Paul begins with, “Be on the alert”; have some basic, situational awareness. Realize that troubles are coming, both for individual Christians and for congregations. Too often Christians act as if we live in a world that is or should be “pro-Christian,” that opinion is not supported by Scripture, history, or experience. Once problems have infected the church or our lives, it is often too late for the best solutions. So, be looking for trouble.
When facing these problems, we do so in “the faith”. Notice that Paul doesn’t say, “faith,” but rather, “the faith.” It is not our personal or subjective faith, but rather, the orthodox faith once and for all given to the saints. If we address our troubles based on the Christian faith rather than opinions, fads, or the latest psychobabble, the problems and solutions would be much clearer.
Seeing these problems Biblically in advance will still require courage to respond effectively. Paul says, “Act like men.” This is the only occurrence of this word in the New Testament. It means to act mature, full-grown, responsibly, and courageously. Knowing the truth is great, but acting on the truth will require resolve and determination. So many times congregations face problems, and rather than confront and deal with the problems, leaders run away from the conflict and pretend that if everyone acts nice, the problems will go away. A child left to himself will never do the hard work of studying or cleaning his room, will play endlessly with video games, and eat only ice cream and cake. A mature grown-up will work and do the hard things that need to be done. In most church disasters there was a moment when a wicked person or group should have been confronted forcefully but was not. Because the leaders were weak, the wicked won the day or moment, but ultimately the ministry died. Children left to themselves will only do what feels good in the moment. Too many times church leaders act the same way to the ruin of many congregations. Such leaders deserve nothing but the most pure form of contempt.
Dealing with problems in the church is not easy; in addition to maturity, it requires strength. So, Paul adds to alertness, orthodoxy, and maturity the character of strength. The word Paul uses here is also rare, being found only 4 times in the New Testament. It comes from the root word that means “complete.” It carries the idea of complete domination. To use a sports metaphor, it is the kind of domination when Georgia Tech beat Cumberland University in football 222 to 0, never allowing Cumberland to make a first down and at the same time amassing 1,650 yards of rushing. When confronting problems or wicked people, this is how Christians and church leaders are to express their power over evil.
The last point that Paul makes is that it all has to be done in love. It is easy for us to procrastinate dealing with evil. When we procrastinate, we only put off what must be done. We generally put it off until it becomes personal, and when it becomes personal, it is easy for our actions to become vindictive and unloving. The church must be aggressive in its oppression of evil, and it is easier to do that in love if we do it sooner rather than later. This loving suppression of evil requires the strength that will endure from maturity in the faith and clear-sighted concern for the future. Loving the sinner while hating the sin is no easy task; but it is the hallmark of a mature Christian. Ideally, we develop a very thick skin so that nothing really bothers us while maintaining a tender heart for all people, even wicked people. Ironically, what we often find and universally find in church troublemakers is a person who is both thin-skinned and hard-hearted. If they won’t repent, such people will wreck a church.
“Thank You, Lord, for the guidance of how to deal with problems in the church. AMEN”
