Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power. What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?The final aspect of spiritual fatherhood that we’ll look at today is that of authority. Take careful note of the fact that this is the last one Paul mentions, after the loving care, and the godly example he has provided for them. It is in this context that Paul now has gained the right to exercise authority.
Just like with natural children, if you try to exercise authority without loving and caring for them, and leading by example, you’ll find that your authority and discipline only serves to harm them and provoke them to anger. That is not strange, because apart from love and godliness your only other possible motives for exercising authority and disciplining would be your own selfish desires.
I’m sure most of us growing up can remember a few days when we dreaded the sound of dad’s car pulling up in the driveway, because we knew that he would learn of something that we had done during the course of the day, and deal with us accordingly. It is something very similar Paul is threatening here. He’s saying to those who are arrogant that they’d better have the power to substantiate their words, because he’s coming back. And depending on their response he’s either coming with a rod or with love and gentleness.
Now they have the choice to respond in a way that removes the need for discipline, or if they truly do think themselves to be spiritually superior to Paul, to face his rod with divine power that matches their big words.
This is the last of a 3 part series on Spiritual Fatherhood Check out the other ones as well:
1 Cor 4:18-21 - A Father's Discipline
Posts
Good series! Nice work.
ReplyDelete