2 Corinthians 2

Paul had a visit to Corinth that he calls “painful” in the beginning of this letter. That is a sad fact. Paul was a significant figure in the early life of the church in this region. He suffered to bring them the message of Christ, and he suffered with them in the persecution that they faced. This is the stuff that good reunions are made of for those who are soldiers of the cross. It is sad and disappointing when a visit with companions in the gospel does not go well. There is some breech that needs to be addressed.

But Paul is more than a friend. He is an apostle. He brings more than sympathy, or even advice; he brings commands. If he brings pain to those who he is desiring to build up in the faith, it may mean a more permanent rupture in their hope of working together for Christ. This is a family, and disagreements and troubles within families are often painful. Sometimes a strategic distance can de helpful for a time. Rather than visit in person, Paul sent a letter to the church, either First Corinthians or some other letter. He poured out his heart to them as parents might write to a child that was straying from the right path. Sometimes love requires this kind of careful, serious communication, and parents then have to wait to see how the letter is received.

Apparently the church has taken action on a matter that involved Paul in some way, perhaps the situation of church discipline that he addressed in First Corinthians 5. Whatever action has taken place is enough as far as Paul is concerned. There was some measure of damage to the peace of the church, at least for a time, but now the offending party is repentant and is seeking restoration within the communing fellowship of the church. This is good news, and should be received as such by all. Depending on the circumstance of any particular case, there needs to be some understanding of the way of restoration for someone who had to be excluded in some way for some amount of time. One of the goals of the church in this kind of action is to see a great work of God’s grace in the life of the one who was wandering from the Lord, and to see that person brought near again to Christ and His people. Paul’s begs the church in this case to reaffirm their love for this person who they fairly recently must have excluded from the church.

As the Lord’s apostle, he expects their obedience to his instruction. When he said that the man needed to be excluded, he needed to be excluded. When he said that the many needed to be restored, he needed to be restored. Paul is aware that there is some kind of danger at every turn, danger that needs to be avoided for the name of Christ. Is there immorality that is not being adequately confronted? It needs to be confronted for the glory of God. Is there some true repentance that needs to be officially received with forgiveness and grace? Then this needs to be done as well. In all matters we are expecting that spiritual leaders must be considering the demonic dangers that come from disobedience, and steering clear of the right hand and the left.

It is not that the apostle has no respect for the judgment of the church on these matters. He knows that he will not be there forever looking over their shoulder and insisting that they do the right thing. They need to understand the heart of Christ on these matters for themselves. If they will address each situation with the heart and mind of heaven according to the available word of God, then Paul will recognize this, and will be happy to affirm what they have done. But he will not stand idly by in these early years of the church and see Satan win a foothold whether through a lax use of church authority or through a heavy-handed and unforgiving leadership. When any court of the church acts, they act for the whole church. In this case, Paul is quite content to affirm the decision of the local Corinthian leadership.

Satan is crafty. He can upset gospel labors by actions that are too loose; he can do the same thing through decisions that are obstinate, unrealistic, and unmerciful. We need to see the Christ-like path in all situations, and be willing to take action accordingly.

These are things that concern ministers and elders who have been charged with maintaining the order of gospel purity and love within the church. Paul found himself distracted by his care for the Corinthian church. He is not some peddler of Christ and the word of God willing to do whatever seems to work. He was commissioned by God as a messenger of Christ and has a true sense of the seriousness of the charge he has received.

Just as our Lord had a narrow pathway to travel in obedience to the Law and to the plan of the covenant of grace, a road that sent Him to Jerusalem and to His death on the cross, those who represent Him must also follow on a narrow road of obedience to the word. We long for the triumphal procession of the church into the heavenly Jerusalem, but we are not permitted to settle for a false peace that is only a whitewashed wall.

To some, the words that we speak for Christ and the actions that we take in His Name are an aroma of death. To others they are the fresh smell of life. Either way they are offered up to God in obedience to His Word as the true aroma of Christ on this matter, the perfect offering to the Father. We may err, but we must speak and act as those who do what we do for the King who died for our sins, and who lives and reigns forever at the right hand of the majesty on high. Other models of ministry may seem more successful for a time, but they will not stand when the judgment comes. Of course, we feel our insufficiency for such important tasks, but through the Word and prayer we commit ourselves to the One has given us eternal life, trusting that He will take our faithful efforts and perfect them for His own glory.