190 likes | 313 Views
Visible Models of Christianity IV. 1 Timothy 5:1-2. Treatment of Church Members. “Do not rebuke an older man , but exhort him as a father , younger men as brothers , older women as mothers , younger women as sisters , with all purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1-2. Treatment of Church Members.
E N D
Visible Models of Christianity IV 1 Timothy 5:1-2
Treatment of Church Members • “Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.” • 1 Timothy 5:1-2
Treatment of Church Members • “Paul instructs Timothy (tothePastors (s)), howtotreatthevariousmembers in theChurch: • Oldermen as fathers • Young men as brothers • A maturewomen as mothers • Youngerwomen as sisters, and withpurity
Treatment of Church Members • “Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.” • 1 Timothy 5:1-2
“Do not rebuke…but exhort him • 1 Timothy 5:1-2 • Επιπλεσσο[ep-ee-place'-so] • 1)to strike upon, beat upon • 2) to chastise with words, to chide, upbraid, rebuke
Treatment of Church Members • Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. • Proverbs 12:18
Treatment of Church Members • It has often been said that 10 percent of communication is verbal (actual content) • and the other 90 percent of communication is nonverbal (tone and body language).
Treatment of Church Members • example alone can't get the job done of “command[ing] certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer”
Treatment of Church Members • A confrontation was brewing, and Timothy needed to know what to say and how to say it. • As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine” I Tim. 1:3
Treatment of Church Members • “Correction [discipline] is like medicine that always carries a certain measure of bitterness, and therefore it is undesirable” • -John Calvin
Timothy needed to “exhort” [to come alongside of] those elders. • This word has a sense of gentle asking, pleading, and encouraging. • It is a word indicating that one is looking toward the future, not the past.
Crisóstomo wrote: by nature a rebuke is offensive when it has been directed to an older person, and when it has come from a younger person… • prudence then is a requirement, gentleness in order not to offend. • William Barclay
Treatment of Older Believers • “Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father 2 older women as mothers” • Eph 6:2-3 – “Honor” [prize, fix a valuation upon, revere] • Deut 27:16 – “Cursed is the one who treats his father or mother with contempt” [despise, dishonor, make light] • Prov 20:20 – “Whoever curses [to be trifling, light. YLT: “Vilifying”, spread negative information] his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in deep darkness.”
Treatment of Older Believers • “Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father 2 older women as mothers” • HINDERENCES to Correction: • Awareness of personal sins • Laziness • Fear • A misunderstanding of Matthew 7:1--“Do not judge lest • you be judged.” • Relative morality • Uncertainty as to whether or not to correct
Preparation to Correct: • 1. Is my life an example? • 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul exhorts Timothy to set an example of godliness. • 2. Do I have an adequate relationship with the person? • 3. Do I have the facts? • Proverbs 18:13 states, “He who gives an answer before he • hears, it is folly and shame to him.” • Biblical communication is based on truth
Preparation to Correct: • 4. Do I have the right motives and objectives? • Your motive should be to obey God by loving your neighbor (Matt. 22:39). • 5. Do I have the right wording? • Jesus says (Matt. 18:15) that we are to “reprove” our brother with a view to winning him. • “Reprove” was a legal word used of a lawyer convincing the court of his case. • 6. Is it God’s time for me to go? • 7. Am I prepared to risk rejection and attack
How to Correct: • 1. Be as private as the wrong. • If it’s a private matter, don’t correct the person in front of • others. Don’t take someone with you at first if it is a strictly personal matter. Matthew 18:15-17 • Some matters require public confrontation. In Galatians 2:11-14, Paul confronted Peter “in the presence of all.” It was a public matter affecting many people, so Paul dealt with it publicly. • 2. Be cautious and wise. • Paul tells Timothy to deal with the younger women as sisters “in all purity” (1 Tim. 5:2).
How to Correct: • 3. Be direct and open • 4. Be humble, not judgmental [be cautious of spiritual pride] • 5. Be gentle, but firm. • “Do not sharply rebuke” (1 Tim. 5:1). The word means, don’t • strike him with words. Don’t ride roughshod over the person. • “Appeal” is the same word translated “exhortation” in 4:13. It • means to come alongside to help.
How to Correct: • 6. Be able to point him to God’s Word and to the necessary steps toward restoration • 7. Be persistent if necessary