I struggle with this text. I do. I struggle with it on a personal level, and I don't really even know why. In finishing off 1 Timothy chapter 1 I am once again confronted with this ugly issue of handing over members of our family to Satan...and I do not like it.
1 Tim. 1:18-20
Here Paul instructs Timothy to follow the prophecies made about him (which were?) in order that he may fight the good fight and keep the faith (Bon Jovi again....that guy just keeps popping up as we look at scripture...weird). He then brings up good 'ol Hymenaeus (tell me that guy didn't get made fun of in school) and Alexander, two guys who obviously had a problem with blaspheming and were handed over to Satan to be taught a lesson.
Here's where the struggle comes in. I don't really get how handing someone over to Satan helps the issue, and yet I am not sure how to discipline regarding these things. Church discipline. I am sorry that we ever had to come up with such a thing. I spose when it comes right down to it Sin has caused a lot of sorrow over the years. Sure won't miss Sin when it ain't around no more. Church discipline. Handing someone over to Satan. I am not entirely sure what that statement really means. I am assuming based on literature I have read that it means somthing along the lines of abandonning them to the world until they have learned their lesson, or essentially kicking them out on their cans until repentence takes place. Allowing them to have to deal with the consequences of their actions on their own. Thats why this is so troubling to me...cause it jsut seems like that is not what a family does. And yet, my family has.
Here is my experiences. First of all, and Paul will remember this well, Don Irvine. He was a man in our church that I really enjoyed being around. He had a great family, made a good living, even drove a Volvo. I was pretty impressed by this guy, and looked up to him quite a bit. He was with us as we took our youth group down the coast to California. Don and I wrote a song about the trip and preformed it live at church ("Passing Lilo on the Left Hand Side). I believe he was the original "Awesome Possum". We loved the guy. And he fell in love with another woman, left his family for her and was subsequently "disciplined". I didn't get it. It hurt to think that I as a member of the congregation was not to even sit down and have a burger with Don. It just didn't sit well with me. Shouldn't we journey with him at this dark time in his life? If all light leaves, what will be left but darkness.
I was kinda mad at the churchs' stand. At the time it was 1 Cor 5:5 that I was pointed to, much the same verbage as this passage. And even thought Paul clearly outlined it, it still didn't sit well with me.
Then my own father pulled the same bone-head move. And recieved the same result. And it still doesn't sit well with me. And yet, we have essentially given him over to Satan in our immediate family, to say nothing of the churchs' stand. I am angry with my father for his decision. I am dissapointed in the life he has chosen. I literally have no realtionship with him.
And even so, "handing him over to Satan"....just doesn't sit well with me. I'm not sure what to think or write, only that I struggle and know not how to get passed this hard truth communicated in this passage.
Tough stuff for sure. At least Paul can't get too much more controversial in the next few chapters, hey? Surely he wouldn't.
Yeah, surely.
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3 comments:
I wonder if handing over to Satan is removing him from the benefits of the community but I don't think that means we entirely abandon him. I think in 1 Cor that Paul is talking not sharing the love feast with the immoral brother (in our case, that would be refusing him communion). But in Gal 6 he tells us to bear the burdens of those in sin. I think we maintain a loving contact but that fellowship is damaged deeply because these people in 1 Tim clearly don't share the same values, teaching and lifestyle of Jesus and the rest of the community. Does that make sense?
That sounds more in line with what I believe about who Jesus wants us to be...but thats not how my past involvement in the church has worked itself out...sadly.
i thought i commented here already but i guess not.
like what Jerlight said, the issue is likely not about relationships more than it is fellowship.
i can still hang out with my dad, have forgiven him and understand that ultimately he makes the choices he makes...and because of that we cannot experience true fellowship, vulnerability, and spiritual connection. so we can hang out and to small talk, but the real relationship, the fellowship, isn't there.
the apostle was making a clear statement that you can't have the best of both worlds as it were. you can't have the benefits of true fellowship and also pursue selfish satisfaction...it is not in keeping with the kingdom he has established.
there should be something special about the "fellowship." it is a place of vulnerability, compassion, and humility. those who no longer live that out in their relationship with God or other believers will not "fit" into fellowship.
some churches have become so disconnected to the beauty of this fellowship from what it was in the early church. because of this, when situations like this arise for us today the lines are hard to draw.
as for our dads and donny...we should model Christ's love...but love is not synonymous with tolerance.
man, do you still have the words to "Passing Lilo on the Left Side?" that was awesome possom!
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