2 Corinthians 2:1-4 – Restoring Gently
Another principle of Godly discipline is that we engage rather than avoid. Paul describes going to the Corinthian church knowing full well what he was going to find. There are two very typical ways that we will deal with conflict that are incorrect and sinful. Paul’s example warns us about both of those. The first one is to avoid the confrontation, to avoid the conflict, and to not correct. Ignoring the problem does not make it go away, does it? Paul does not ignore the conflict or avoid it, hoping that it will go away, thinking, maybe they’ll grow out of it, maybe they’ll work it out themselves. Instead, Paul goes humbly but boldly into that situation. In our relationships, it is very tempting to try to avoid conflict and to not deal with things. That can be applied to parents, to husbands and wives, to interpersonal relationships, to church relationships. Correction that is governed by love doesn’t turn away.
Another typical sinful response to conflict or correction that needs to be done, is to attack rather than engage, and to use authority or discipline in a way that brings grief and hurt to those that are being disciplined. Paul’s example is of a correction that does not attack. That comes through when Paul says that he determined not to visit the Corinthians again. Paul does something very important here. He gives the Corinthians time and space for repentance. Paul is acknowledging that it’s not his actions that are going to bring that repentance. God uses discipline, God uses those means, but it’s not by Paul their repentance comes. That’s by Christ.
In verses 3 and 4 Paul says that he was in anguish over their condition, and he wanted to make sure they understood his love for them. Remember that Paul is well along in this process of confrontation and of correction. The temptation at this stage is for the love for that other individual to start to go down, to start thinking of that other person in a way that is not loving and is not showing respect for them. Instead, Paul is engaging in this process in a way that demonstrates his love.
Paul also treated the Corinthian church as Christians, as brothers and sisters in Christ. The temptation is to look at correction and to think of it as demeaning. Either when you’re exercising it or when you’re under it. But instead, Paul says he has confidence that they share the same joy. And even though they’ve fallen into error, Paul corrects them as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Question
- What things can we learn from Paul’s example?
Prayer Points
- Pray that when necessary we would confront in love.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.