I have worked in hypothermia shelters and they did much more for me than I did for them. They brought to the surface those parts of my spirit most needing to be surrendered. It made me do a major inventory of how I am doing as a servant. Every day there was a day with Jesus holding up a mirror of truth in my face. I was forged in that place and came out better for it. Every good work is a two edged sword. It is a blessing, a rebuke and a ministry all wrapped together. We are made more perfect every time we submit to a prepared work.
The Corinithian church was a hot mess- and I and II Corinthians looks like our modern church, good and bad. But we had a particular discussion about christian relationships, and how scripture directs us to hold each other accountable (1 Corinthians 5-6). Christians stink at this- we rebuke those who don't believe EXACTLY what we believe- whether it is scriptural or not (it is not a sin for women to study chemistry) but let some sins (gossip, gluttony, and pride) slide. Judgement is God's business but Paul makes it very clear that the church is to "mourn" and "cast out" immoral members. We have no business judging anyone outside the church (1 Corinthians 5: 13). What do you guys think?
Loved the comment the other night that sin is like cancer...what sort of bedside manner does a doctor have when he or she discovers a person has cancer?
I have worked in hypothermia shelters and they did much more for me than I did for them. They brought to the surface those parts of my spirit most needing to be surrendered. It made me do a major inventory of how I am doing as a servant. Every day there was a day with Jesus holding up a mirror of truth in my face. I was forged in that place and came out better for it. Every good work is a two edged sword. It is a blessing, a rebuke and a ministry all wrapped together. We are made more perfect every time we submit to a prepared work.
ReplyDeleteThe Corinithian church was a hot mess- and I and II Corinthians looks like our modern church, good and bad. But we had a particular discussion about christian relationships, and how scripture directs us to hold each other accountable (1 Corinthians 5-6). Christians stink at this- we rebuke those who don't believe EXACTLY what we believe- whether it is scriptural or not (it is not a sin for women to study chemistry) but let some sins (gossip, gluttony, and pride) slide. Judgement is God's business but Paul makes it very clear that the church is to "mourn" and "cast out" immoral members. We have no business judging anyone outside the church (1 Corinthians 5: 13). What do you guys think?
ReplyDeleteLoved the comment the other night that sin is like cancer...what sort of bedside manner does a doctor have when he or she discovers a person has cancer?
ReplyDelete