Recovery Devotional 328 Modus Operandi

JMD Devotional 328 Philemon 1:8,9 Modus Operandi

Therefore, though I have abundant boldness in Christ to charge you to do what is fitting and required and your duty to do, yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you just for what I am--I, Paul, an ambassador [of Christ Jesus] and an old man and now a prisoner for His sake also—

Restated in another translation:

Philemon 1:8,9a (NIV) Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love…

Under the Old Covenant, religious authority was supreme, justice swift and transgression could be fatal. At the time of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, some people were disappointed that the Kingdom He was setting up was apolitical, separate from the state, voluntary and relational. The authority of the early Church was limited to disfellowship; if a person persisted in a transgression or heresy, and would not submit to church discipline, he/she became unwelcome, a social pariah, anathema (a formal ecclesiastical ban, curse, or excommunication; a vehement denunciation). The early Church did not practice stoning nor torture. Many centuries later, when such heavy measures were employed, they were later seen as an abuse of power and as an exercise of intolerance and ignorance. In free societies, a Church cannot hold and control people under power and threat; in societies that are not free, the Church should set the example and not lord it over the laity. Jesus established the basis for our fellowship beginning with the Apostles in his High Priestly prayer (John 15-17), which is the bond of love and unity as we abide in Him and He in us. He also established the test: if we love Him we will obey Him, and love one another.

In my personal experience, I have felt the legalism of rule-driven churches. I have briefly sat under the oppression of dictatorial pastors. In one church, prominent families competed for power and influence, tearing it apart. I have also visited a church where the deacons were in charge and the pastor had no power what so ever. These churches all lost their warm, inviting spirit due to the power struggles that consumed them. I could not bear the strife and dysfunction, having had my fill of that growing up. Christ did not will to set up a harsh and impersonal institution; the Church was to be an extension of His body and of His fellowship with His followers. Most of what I have experienced has fallen far short of His ideal with a few exceptions. For those that put something other than love first, that lack of love snuffed out their candle.

Dear God,

The Church is a living, growing organism with Christ as its head. Anything that grows has the potential to grow wrong, as parts of it sometimes have. Help people like me to not judge the whole Church by a bad church experience; not even by a dozen bad experiences. Bring healing and restoration to Your people. Help us to put love and grace at the forefront of how we do business in the Church. May we each love the Church as Jesus did, and be willing to give our lives for it; because that is Your vision: a glorious bride.

Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by

the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

*New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

I originally produced these blogs between 2006 and 2007, which were then published in my book, JMD Recovery Devotionals. In 2010, I am sending these out to a few people as I review them and see if my point of view has changed.

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