In all churches everywhere Christians from time to time fall into sin, whether enticed into a trap by temptations from within, or led astray by false teaching, or tripped up by the tests of suffering or the unloving behaviour of fellow Christians. For the leaders and pastors of these churches this is a painful experience, and the more lovingly committed they are to their flock the more painful these failures will be. In 2 Corinthians 11, as the climax to the list of all the sufferings he has endured as an apostle, Paul talks of the daily burden of his concern for the churches he has planted: “Who is weak, and I do not feel weak with them ? Who is enticed or stumbles into sin (‘is scandalized’), and I do not burn with indignation and eat my heart out with grief ?” (11.29). This loving concern for his flock distinguishes the true shepherd from the hireling (John 10. 12-13).
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
SKANDALON 3 (e): Paul's indignation at 'scandals'
In all churches everywhere Christians from time to time fall into sin, whether enticed into a trap by temptations from within, or led astray by false teaching, or tripped up by the tests of suffering or the unloving behaviour of fellow Christians. For the leaders and pastors of these churches this is a painful experience, and the more lovingly committed they are to their flock the more painful these failures will be. In 2 Corinthians 11, as the climax to the list of all the sufferings he has endured as an apostle, Paul talks of the daily burden of his concern for the churches he has planted: “Who is weak, and I do not feel weak with them ? Who is enticed or stumbles into sin (‘is scandalized’), and I do not burn with indignation and eat my heart out with grief ?” (11.29). This loving concern for his flock distinguishes the true shepherd from the hireling (John 10. 12-13).
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