“All these (gifts of the spirit) are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? (1 Corinthians 12:11-14, 24b-30)” Discipline is defined, in part, as the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience. What does today’s scripture have to do with discipline? If you’ll give me few moments, I can explain.
“All these (gifts of the spirit) are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? (1 Corinthians 12:11-14, 24b-30)” Discipline is defined, in part, as the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience. What does today’s scripture have to do with discipline? If you’ll give me few moments, I can explain.
Church is family, not genetically so, but we share the blood of Christ and therefore become part of His family. Does our behavior reflect that? Or do we sometimes get into a I-knowmore- because-I’ve-been-in-the-family- longer mode? And what does that do to those who have recently joined the family? Must we be that my-wayor- the-highway person who frowns and speaks against the things that others find pleasing in the family?
Being part of a family - and keeping the peace in it! - involves a lot of give and take from all sides. Invariably, there seems ever to be the one who just won’t give in and will try to sow many, many seeds of discord, planting ideas that are as far from the truth as the east is from the west. Sooner or later, the entire family can easily be in complete shambles. I would point out Mark 8:36 - “For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and lose his life?” - in terms of family - For what good have you done yourself if all you’ve accomplished is breaking up the family? We are none of us alone, although sometimes we might feel that way. What we say, but more especially what we do, affects folks we may not even know. Isn’t it best that our influence is positive? Must we really be large and in charge of everything? Remember Jesus’ words - “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. (Mark 9:35)” And Paul told those in Corinth, “I try to please all men in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:33)” Whether it’s by name or Christ’s blood, we have family. Not everyone can be just like us, nor should we wish them to be. (That would make for an awfully dull world!) Our God has deliberately placed differences in us so that we might learn how to be more like His son - loving and forgiving, even as they may drive nails into our flesh. Don’t give up on family. Instead, pray for them. There may be underliers of which we know nothing that are causing the discordant behavior. Pray for yourself, that you receive wisdom and strength to deal with the situation. And pray for the Lord to intervene and allow peace, His blessed peace, to enter.
So what if these ways don’t work? Then a couple members of the family should speak to the troublemaker (see Titus 3:10-11). Should that not resolve the situation, it’s time to cut bait - “I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. (Romans 16:17-18)” Harsh treatment? No. It’s called discipline.