1 Corinthians 4:14-15
Ps Paul Cheng
Dear Bethelites,
The Apostle Paul had been very straightforward and honest with the Corinthian church. He had told them that they were wrong in evaluating the ministers with unbiblical methods; they were proud, puffed up, immature, worldly. They did not understand what the ministry and the Christian life was all about. Those were very harsh words, and it might be difficult for anyone to accept those words. But Paul explained to the Corinthians that the reason why he was speaking to them so “harshly” was because they were his spiritual children.
In a normal physical family, there would be parents and children. Similarly, the church is a spiritual family, and God has raised up spiritual fathers (pastors and elders) to lead the spiritual children (members).
In the preceding passages, Paul had described the pastors and ministers as farmers, builders and stewards. Generally, people can accept the concept of pastors as farmers who plant and cultivate the seeds, or builders whose job is to establish and strengthen the church, or stewards who take care and manage the work. But to accept the pastors as spiritual fathers, that is a totally different thing, because that would not only mean submission but also to accept the fact that the recipients are spiritual children. Nobody likes to be known as a child!
However, that is precisely how God has ordained the local church to be; whereby there is a relationship of authority, submission and accountability. The leaders have the responsibility to watch over the souls of the people, while the people have the responsibility to submit to the leaders’ authority.
Sadly, the modern-day idea of the church is like a social club or convenience store where you visit to get what you want and need, without being told what to do. People have this misconception about the church, “The church is to provide me with the programs, facilities, activities and support groups that will help me in my needs, encourage me when I am down, uplift me when I am depressed and make me feel better in life. And pastors are people who will make sure that these services are being offered to me accordingly.” They cannot accept that the pastors have certain authority over their lives and they do not want to be told what to do or not to do. They are happy to hop around and “shop” for a church that will fit their needs. That is a sad worldly view of the modern-day church!
Paul began by saying, I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you (1 Corinthians 4:14). His purpose was not to shame or embarrass them, but to warn them.
The original word for warn (noutheteo) is from where we get our English word for “nouthetic counselling” or biblical counselling. When you know that the person is doing something wrong, you want to correct him or her. Your purpose is to warn the person to change and turn to Christ in repentance. Therefore, you use the Word of God as the tool of correction. For all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17). That is what it means when Paul says, as my beloved sons I warn you.
I. His love
On several other occasions, Paul had referred to the Corinthians as his brothers, but here he addressed them as his sons, which represents an intimate relationship. But they were not simply his sons, they were his beloved sons. Though the Corinthians were rebellious, proud, immature, disobedient and divisive, yet they were greatly loved by Paul. The word beloved (agapao) refers to the strongest kind of love, or the deepest love. It is the love patterned after the sacrificial and unconditional love of God. So, as a spiritual father, Paul lovingly warned and counselled the Corinthians by teaching, reproving, correcting and instructing them with the Word of God.
In 2 Corinthians 12:14-15 Paul said, Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you. In other words, Paul was saying, “I never wanted to be a burden to you, and I am not seeking for what you have. I am seeking for you, because the children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but rather the parents for their children. Therefore, I am willing to spend everything for you, including my life.” That was the love Paul had for the Corinthians! That must be the love of every spiritual leader for his congregation and every parent for his or her children. Our attitude must be, “It is not what you can do for me, but what I can do for you - especially for your spiritual well-being.”
II. His relationship
For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel (1 Corinthians 4:15).
Let us take a moment and think of a natural fatherhood. In order for a person to be a father, a child must first be born, and then he can proceed to love, care and train up the child. And no child can have more than one natural father. In the spiritual realm as well, the Corinthians might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers, which means they might have many other instructors but as far as spiritual fathers were concerned, they only had one. Paul was their spiritual father, for he was the one who brought them to the Lord Jesus Christ through the gospel.
In those days, the people had slaves who were responsible for bringing the children to school. They were like guardians and tutors to help in the basic training of the little ones. They were known as instructors. Most of the time, a child would have more than one instructor.
Similarly, a believer could have been taught by many spiritual instructors through the years; sometimes he has been instructed by ministers through church camps, or visiting preachers, or sermon audios. He may have many spiritual instructors who have helped him in one way or another. But there is always one person whom he is closest to, the spiritual father, especially the one who has brought him to the Lord, or the one who has nurtured him when he was a spiritual babe in Christ. Somehow, he will always be very close to the spiritual father whom he will run to in times of trouble, or when he needs godly counsel and prayers.
Dear friend, who is your spiritual father, or that one person whom you are really close to? Or is there no one who is a spiritual father to you? It is not by chance or coincidence that God has placed you in a particular church. The church is to be a spiritual family where the members are your spiritual brothers and sisters, and the leaders are to be your spiritual fathers. If God has called you to a local church, then you must work closely with the spiritual fathers and siblings so that you may grow spiritually.
A man can be a man without having children, he can even be a husband without having children (some people are married but without children), but no one can be a father without having children.
A Christian becomes a spiritual father when God uses him to bring life to spiritual children.
In a sense, all believers are supposed to be spiritual fathers one day. In the past, someone has shared with you the gospel, and you were given life. That person has helped to train you in the ways of God, and now you are expected to share with someone else, and impart spiritual life to him or her. This spiritual reproduction of life will go on and on.
The Apostle Paul was not claiming to have the power of spiritual procreation because he said, for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. The source of spiritual life is the power of God in Christ Jesus and the gospel which is the Word of God. But God has chosen to use human instruments like you and me, to be spiritual fathers imparting life to His spiritual children. That is why Jesus commanded us to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send labourers into His harvest. The fruit of the harvest is entirely in the Lord’s hands. We do not know who will be saved, but what we do know is that He has called us to be His labourers in the harvest fields. And if we are truly faithful to do His work, it is not maybe but definitely, that one day we will be spiritual fathers begetting spiritual children in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
This is how the church ought to operate, and that is the relationship between the leaders and the members, spiritual fathers and spiritual children!
With love in Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng