CONTENTIOUS CONTENDERS

"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ."

(Phil. 3:18)

Paul was one of the Church’s greatest contenders, but he was not contentious in doing so. Paul’s was the true way we are to confront apostate and sinful conditions. When correcting such situations it should be painful, not pleasurable. When Paul was faced with such a task, he dipped his pen in his tears, not acid.

When occasion arose Paul, as Jeremiah, was a weeping preacher. To the Corinthian church, with sin within, he wrote, “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears...that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you, (2 Cor. 2:4). And to the elders at Ephesus he spoke about apostates in their fellowship, “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears (Acts 20:30).

Paul didn’t flex his spiritual muscle; he didn’t need to: Black Belts know what they can do, when needed!  Paul was one of those who possessed a tough hide, but had a tender heart. He sowed in tears, the result being that he reaped in joy, as the Good Book promises us (Psa. 126.6).

Some weep in secret, but that is alright; "God seeth in secret and shall reward you outwardly,” (cp. Matt. 6:6; Isa. 38:5; Jer. 13:17).