A number of wonderful things are said about love in 1 Cor. 13, but we too often let the words flow over us soothingly, rather than letting them do what they do best, which is to arrest us, bring us up short, make us think hard about our responses to others. Among other things, love …
Not the Same as a Judge
I have recently given a couple of exhortations on receiving slanders and misunderstandings about us with joy. That is all good, and remains important. But if we are to live peaceably in community, there is another side to it, and that is that we must not slander or misrepresent others. The judgment with which you …
Inner and Outer Darkness
We know that when we are lied about and misrepresented, our response is supposed to be that of gladness and joy. Rejoice, Jesus said, when they tell all sorts of slanderous stories about you. Rejoice, He said, and be exceeding glad (Matt. 5:12). Too often we regard this as simply a tough assignment, that of …
Grim Punishment Indeed
We know that as a community of God’s people, we have to help one another as we deal with temptation and sin. Our lives, generally speaking, are not hidden from one another, and the people who know you usually know you pretty well—just as you know them. Scripture encourages us in this task of helping …
Love in Trifles
All communities experience friction, and wise communities develop manners and customs designed to minimize that friction. It has been well said that manners should be defined as “love in trifles.” But there is a trap to be avoided at the very beginning. When someone blunders in the manners department, through ignorance or thoughtlessness, those who …
Remembrance and Anticipation
One of the standard ways we can bother one another in community is by not picking up after ourselves. We do something messy, move on, leaving a legacy behind us. This is why your roommate has to deal with your breakfast dishes. This is why other members of the family have to clear a place …
Best Thing Ever
We know that we are supposed to give way to others, we do know that we are supposed to honor one another. As with so many things, there is a wrong way to do this as well as a biblical way. Sexual immorality is to be avoided because it is important not to give your …
Friends Don’t Let Friends . . .
The Christian life is a life of true expectancy. The corporate Christian life—life together in the church—is a life of corporate expectancy. It does not yet appear what we will be, but we know that it will be glorious and good. Even prior to the last day, the day of resurrection, we expect to see …
Wood From Outside
What does true Christian community look like? We have a snapshot in the early chapters of Acts, in the weeks and months following Pentecost. Let us leave out of the discussion those things that marked the epochal change from the Judaic aeon to the Christian aeon—the mighty rushing wind, the reversal of Babel in the …
Wrong Broom, Wrong Carpet
When people come together in community, we soon discover that forbearance is most necessary. “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Col. 3:13). This comes out in many areas—in preparing for weddings, in doing business together, in dealing …