This thing called "Ministry" (Part 4)

This is the fourth of a series of thoughts regarding "this thing called ministry." I have been going through the book of 1 Corinthians and looking at how Paul "ministered" to the people of Corinth. You can go back to Part 3 to catch up and to read the previous blogs.

This thought is founded in 1 Corinthians 5. For those familiar with the chapter we find that Paul is scolding the Corinthian believers for their lack of confronting a man who is having a sexual relationship with his father's wife. The implication seems to grant that it is not incest, but it is an improper relationship and an unheard of situation, even amongst the Gentiles! Disgusting, Right? But the Corinthian believers were doing nothing about it and were allowing the man to continue to fellowship and interact with the Body of Christ as if there was nothing wrong.

Paul gives strong rebuke to the leadership of the church and direct council as to how they are handle the matter.

So, how do we see this connecting to ministry? I see that a minister (a member of God's family) must deal with the tough issues. Recently I was speaking with another pastor who was having an issue of discord among the members of the church. I have seen churches where one member is allowed to simply live in a lifestyle of sin and spiritual disruption causing harm to the testimony of Christ and that church, and yet no one is willing to confront or deal with the person. I have also spoken with people who have left good churches because the pastor would not deal with an erring and rebellious child and would even offer excuses or blame others for their own child's failures.

As a minister I need to deal with the tough issues and not sacrifice the standard of God's holiness for the comfort of apathy towards a believer's spiritual destitution.

It is interesting that in that same chapter Paul writes:

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.
(1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

Paul realizes that the sinners of this world will act like sinners, but believers are to be held to a different standard. In verse 13, Paul is apparently quoting from Deuteronomy 13:5. The context in Deuteronomy is what to do with those who wish to delude the people and pull them away from following after the council of God. They are to be put out! These are tough words and so we find here that Paul sees the need for dealing with the tough issues. Do it in love, but do it.

We have become concerned with financial support, personality conflicts, and family ties more than with the council of God's Word. We allow our fear of retaliation or concern over saving face dictate how we hold people accountable to the mandates of purity and righteous living. We need to follow the pattern of Matthew 18 and deal with the issues instead of covering them by our fear.

Minister, deal with it. We need to teach our people to deal with it. When it is confronted, and done out of a heart for truth and honesty towards God and His Word, then our people need to respond in favor. We need to deal with the tough issues and lead our people to honesty in light of the truth of God's Word.

On An Island

For about the last 10 days our family was able to escape the cold and blustery conditions of the great white north and travel to Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean. Grand Cayman is located just south of Cuba and west of Jamaica.


My parents have served there for nearly four years now and this was our second time to be blessed with the opportunity to travel there. My father, Ken Love, is the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church and has been greatly used of God to take this struggling work and see it grow and become very productive in the cause of Christ.

Grand Cayman is the largest of the three islands and is often called the Swiss of the Caribbean. It ranks in the top 5 nations for banking and financial investing. Not bad for an island that has less than 60,000 people.

While we were there we enjoyed the natural beauty but we were able to share in the spiritual beauty as we enjoyed our extended family in the church. I preached at a Valentine's Day banquet and then preached a meeting for my father from Sunday through Wednesday. God was good with many opportunities to help the many young converts who are so eager to grow and mature in their faith. Many nationalities are represented and it is a cultural experience in and of itself.

We are very grateful for the kindness of many in the church and for the strengthened friendships that we were able to renew and establish while visiting.

We traveled home on Saturday and were welcomed home with a snow storm, which only afforded us the opportunity to be reminded that we truly do live in the north. I was able to pull out the old shovel again and remove 6 inches of that great fluffy stuff. Oh for the white sandy beaches and 80+ degrees again!

It is truly a great blessing to be able to leave the US and travel to other countries. While you are away you realize that we do not hold the license on truth and Christianity. They may do some things differently, but it is alright. I come from these trips refreshed and challenged to keep my eyes on Christ and His Word and not upon man and what they may think.

I am very grateful for our church family here in Madison and excited to be home. We are ready to get back at it and looking forward to the continued blessings of God upon this place. However, if any of you want to send our family back again soon, don't fail to contribute to the "Cayman Escape Fund!"

Held

There is a song I have come to really appreciate. Loss, pain, suffering are all part of the Christian's life. Yes, but the hand of God and His tenderness is ever present. To be Held! God is ever present; He is there! May we never forget that this is but a shadow, a fleeting moment, and heaven, eternity holds the joy of all that God has waiting.