RECONCILIATION: RESTORING SELF AND OTHERS TO THE PLAN AND PURPOSES OF GOD ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
C O P Y R I G H T © 2 014 , M O A M FJ
Case study: Paul a testimony of grace Paul’s past behavior prior to salvation, was notably as a persecutor of the Church and a violent man (1 Timothy 1:13-16). As a result of grace, he changed giving us hope that if Paul could change anyone else could as well. In his experiences with the Thessalonian church he was seen to be a gentle man (1 Thessalonians 2:5-7). But before salvation Paul was on a collision course. Christ as Head of the Church loves and closely identifies Himself with His people (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25,28-30,32). The Church He has established as His pillar and foundation of truth in the universe (1 Timothy 3:15). To attack His people is to attack Christ Himself (Acts 9:4-5). To draw carnal or spiritual weapons on a believer is to attack Christ. Such action puts individuals on a collision course of derailment. Paul was initially on such a collision course and eventually was derailed by Christ (Acts 9:1-16). After his conversion and after being taught by Christ, Paul finally understood the full implications of his past actions (1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:1114; Ephesians 5:32; Philippians 3:6,7).
So in writing to believers Paul’s goal was to communicate the value of the Church to Christ to ensure that believers avoided being derailed as he once was (1 Timothy 1:14,15). So having understood the man and his journey, let us now examine his teachings to determine how we are to handle cases where believers are clearly in the wrong and need to be restored to the plan and purposes of God. Our being in the right does not mean we are to set ourselves on a pedestal and take an aggressive, abusive stance. When others are wrong and we are right, God through Paul has given us the approach we must take to ensure that relationships in the Church are strengthened and believers in the wrong are motivated to doing what Christ expects.
*At the heart of reconciliation issues is a person(s) with an incomplete understanding of God’s truth needing to have his or her eyes enlightened and to receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17,18). So the key to approaching reconciliation is to give greater insights and details to help counselees move forward in their life and ministry (Luke 24:27; Acts 18:26). If God’s servant takes on an abrasive, abusive, high-handed approach, the goal is missed because God’s servant chose to focus on the ungodly behavior of others, while the un-reconciled chose to focus on the ungodly manner of God’s servant. Since the focus of each was not on identifying gaps in knowledge and providing sound, practical teaching in an environment of caring, the goal of reconciliation was lost. This may even result in a loss of opportunity for reconciliation.
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. James 1:20 (KJV)
The approach: o Not high handed but with humility Galatians 6:1 o Not foolishly but with heavenly wisdom James 3:13 o With patience for all types of people 1 Thessalonians 5:14 o Without revenge 1 Thessalonians 5:15 o With peace 1 Thessalonians 5:13 o With confrontation to help the lazy change 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15 o With encouragement for the timid 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15 o With assistance for the weak 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15
Wisdom is proved by the actions it produces (Matthew 11:19). Proof of wisdom (James 3:13-18): • A good way of living (2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Peter 2:15; 1 Peter 3:15-17) • By humility (James 4:6) • From a heart without bitter jealousy or selfish ambition • Without attacking or boasting (2 Timothy 2:14,15; James 4:16) • Without disharmony and foul practices • With a harvest of righteousness
2 types of wisdom (James 3:15-18): A. Worldly, unspiritual and demonic B. Heavenly The nature of heavenly wisdom (James 3:17,18): i. Pure ii. Peaceful iii. Kind iv. Open to reason v. Full of mercy vi. Full of good fruits vii. Without partiality viii. Without hypocrisy
The inner character of believers is revealed by: 1. A gently and quiet spirit (women) 1 Peter 3:4; 2. Self-discipline (all) 2 Timothy 1:7; 3. A pure heart containing (righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace) 2 Timothy 2:22; A believer’s speech should be: • Full with God’s words (1 Peter 4:10,11) • Life giving (John 6:63) • Gracious i.e. meeting the felt needs of listeners (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6). People give us a listening ear and take heed when their perspective is seen and understood by us. When they feel judged, they begin to raise barricades to what we say or the actions we propose. • Balanced (1 Timothy 6:2-5)
In 1 Timothy 5:1,2 Paul links relationship to the kind of treatment we are to give as we handle different groups of people. There are five reasons why relationships are of value to the Church. As long as relationships among believers are strong, the Church by divine will, design, function and operation will run well. When relationships are faulty all sorts of issues come to the fore. Christ commissioned the Church to go make disciples. Today we are earnestly making backsliders. There are more believers outside the Church walls than there are within. The relationships with believers are the strongest relationships among humans because it will last for eternity. People don’t leave because of bad relationships at home, in the community or at work, but they do leave when relationships are bad within the Church walls. Those of us who are strong, and can see clearly must be reconciled to the plan and purposes of God when engaged in restoring others to their rightful place in Christ. Failure to do so makes us part of the problem and not part of God’s solution.
The inner character of believers is revealed by: 1. A gently and quiet spirit (women) 1 Peter 3:4; 2. Self-discipline (all) 2 Timothy 1:7; 3. A pure heart containing (righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace) 2 Timothy 2:22; A believer’s speech should be: • Full with God’s words (1 Peter 4:10,11) • Life giving (John 6:63) • Gracious i.e. meeting the felt needs of listeners (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6). People give us a listening ear and take heed when their perspective is seen and understood by us. When they feel judged, they begin to raise barricades to what we say or the actions we propose. • Balanced (1 Timothy 6:2-5)
Characteristics of God’s servant (2 Timothy 2:24-26): Avoiding fights Kind to all A good teacher* Not resentful when mistreated Gentleness seen when correcting others Characteristics of the person in need of reconciliation (2 Timothy 2:25,26; Galatians 6:1): Captured alive by Satan Trapped by Satan Pursuing Satan’s will Incomplete in knowledge of the truth* Needing to turn from past sins Overtaken by temptation