You need a dad

Only a person can bring needed clarity to the smattering of information.

You need a father.

1 Corinthians 4:14-21 [NET]

I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children. 15 For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. 17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power. 20 For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

You need a father.

You have lots of tutors but one father. While this was a claim to Paul’s authority, it was also a statement of compassionate clarity. There were lots of teachings, and disputes and arguments, and they didn’t have peace and maturity as a body. They needed a father to give them a clear direction. This father figure was the one who gave birth to the church and one whose character they knew well.

As we disciple people in the church, there are many resources available in the English world to throw information at them: Bookstores, radio stations, podcasts, live-streaming church services, bible studies, Right Now Media, Bible Project, ad infinitum. While they all have an abundance of truth and helpful information, they remove the personal aspect of walking with someone like a dad walking with his son. Parents know their children better than the paid tutors. Dads also have a sense of direction that will challenge the kids in ways that the mothers don’t have. In discipleship, you need a father who knows you, who will walk with you and who’s character you also know well.

“Imitate me.” Pretty strong language. Just quit trying to find out what’s going on in latest evangelical fad and what’s trending on Christianity Today. I’ve been with you and I’ve suffered for you – I know you’re strengths and weaknesses – follow me.

That presumes a confidence in Paul that a lot of Christians don’t have. Most Christians say something like, “don’t look at me, look at Jesus.” Paul said, “look at me because I’m looking at Jesus.” If you can’t live with that kind of confidence, then start looking at Jesus and find it!

That also means that there will be a need for significant humility with the church. In today’s world, there are so many ways that you can feed your brain with Christian content that you can get so arrogant. The Gospel still remains personal. You need to find more than a book or bible study or channel – you need to find the man whose life, faith and faithfulness inspires you to walk like Jesus. As you walk like him, you’ll see more practically what it means to walk like Jesus.

And there’s the question of discipline. Dads have to discipline. No one likes that, especially not the dad. There’s always the chance that the child won’t heed and will rebel. But that never ends well for anyone.

As a father, Paul was warning them to get their act together so that he did not need to bring the rod. The rod is not the preferred method of maturing people.