After a break for the month of mission, we return to our journey through 2 Corinthians. Just to recap: Paul worked in Corinth for a long time and then moved on to plant more churches. Some things went wrong in the congregation at Corinth and he had to write two tough letters to them (1Corinthians and a "letter of tears"). These reproofs were not easy - they're not easy to receive and they're not easy to give... Paul indicates his own internal struggle: First he says "I do not regret it (causing sorrow by my letter)" and then he says "Though I did regret it -- I see my letter hurt you..." A good rebuke or reproof brings Godly sorrow. It shows people how far they have wandered from God and brings them back to Him. A good rebuke doesn't harm the person but addresses the behaviour without devaluing the person. But even Paul's reproof was misunderstood although only for a while. Paul makes it clear that a good correction brings "Godly sorrow" which brings "repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret." This is completely opposite to "worldly sorrow" which brings death. I love Paul's description of the effects of truthful, loving correction: Paul argues that their gracious and Godly response to his reproof means that they have learned from their mistakes and are free of systemic repeating sin - thus proving themselves innocent in that they have been forgiven and "will go and sin no more."
Good Reproof....
It's hard to confront people when they are doing wrong. It's hard to challenge people even when it's for their own good. It's hard to tell someone that their pride is excessive, that their ways are too harsh or that they have dropped the ball. We call this a rebuke or a reproof and it's never easy to give one. Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it--I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while-- 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. (2Corinthians7:8-11)
This, surely, is the purpose of a good reproof.
(We'll pick this up again tomorrow...)
