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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
As an apostle of Christ, Paul had more authority (power) at his disposal than any person now living! He could heal the sick, cast out evil spirits, strike certain people blind (such as Elymas the sorcerer), and even raise the dead (see Acts 9.12; 13.11; 20.9-12). Yet to Philemon, he wrote, "Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you…" (Philemon 1.8-10). In spite of his tremendous authority, Paul refused to command Philemon to receive Onesimus back; rather, he appealed to him out of love to do what was right.
This was not the only time that Paul chose to exercise restraint rather than issue commands. To the brethren at Thessalonica he wrote, "For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness--God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children." (1 Thessalonians 2.6-7). In the case of the Thessalonians, Paul specifically likened his actions among them to a nursing mother who cherishes her own children! What could be more loving, more giving, more caring, more peaceful, and more protective than a nursing mother? Yet, this attitude was used to portray Paul’s attitude towards the brethren at Thessalonica.
When it comes to our own accountabilities, we want to be asked to act, but when it comes to others, we all too frequently want to make demands. It is not scripture, but it is scriptural in principle to say that we ought to walk a mile in another’s shoes before we pass judgment upon them. When it is our faith that is being tested, or temptations that are especially troubling to us, we want mercy and second and third and fourth chances; when it is a weakness in a brother that is under scrutiny, we frequently want to make instant demands of growth and maturity. To say it another way, we want to measure ourselves by one set of rules while applying a more stringent set of rules to others. Paul refused to make such hypocritical judgments and would have erred on the side of restraint rather than make such a mistake.
We can call such hypocritical judgments "human nature" but Jesus identified them as sinful (see Matthew 7.1-6). It was in this very context that He uttered what we have come to call the Golden Rule: "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7.12). This attitude of preferring others before ourselves and erring on the side of constraint is biblical and it is noble – but it is anything but "human nature." The most difficult judgments about which to be unbiased are judgments about ourselves!
The attitude of appealing to another "for love’s sake…" might become a ruse for cowardice in facing issues, but in this writer’s opinion, principles of judgment are far too often abused in the other direction. "Oh Lord, let me be slow in judging another and help me to never do so out of selfish or hypocritical motives!" As a believer, this could be my daily, hourly, and sometimes, moment-by-moment prayer.
Questions:
1. What authority did Paul have as an apostle of Christ?
2. What motivation did he chose to use in the case of Philemon rather than issue a command?
3. Why is it more palatable to act out of persuasion rather than to be forced to act due to the edict of another?
4. What effect should the golden rule have on the way we judge others?
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