Fathers in Christ and Instructors

Fathers in Christ and Instructors

Knowledge has greatly increased among us, God be praised. Unfortunately, most people lack the mind of a father. Paul says, “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers . . . .” 1 Cor. 4:15.

“We all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.” 1 Cor. 8:1-2. It is possible to use this knowledge to gratify the flesh, and become wise in your own opinion. “You have reigned as kings without us,” Paul says.

Christ came to save souls. If God has given us something, we are to use it to bring salvation to people. A show of knowledge that only serves to puff up the flesh cannot save anyone. If knowledge is without love, it is only a form. That is why it is also called a form of doctrine. Knowledge is incomplete and imperfect because we only understand and speak in part. For knowledge to be perfected, it must be filled with the love for the souls of men that only a father possesses. Knowledge is the only means by which we, in love, can reach the goal—that people are saved. How many souls have you won for Christ with your knowledge? If you have not won a single person, but rather rejoice that you have conquered many, then I am afraid that you are among the ten thousand instructors.

You can easily say, “It is written like this in the Bible, and compared to these Scriptures, I consider every man a liar.” That is all well and good; but do you understand what you are reading? No Scripture is for private interpretation; holy men of God spoke, moved by the Holy Spirit. The Word has to be opened up anew and clarified by that same Spirit. Even as God honors a father more than a child, the incomplete wisdom of these instructors will be taken from them and utilized in the far-reaching wisdom of the fathers, because when the perfect comes, everything imperfect will pass away. Do not be puffed up by things that ultimately are only a part of the whole picture. Instead, pray to God for a mind that is interested in people’s salvation. Perhaps God will make you fruitful, so that in time you can become one of the few fathers.

When a person only thinks about himself and his own little circle, the results are disastrous. Often some of the ties that bind such a circle together are that they know one another according to the flesh, that they agree on outward forms, etc. We have seen time and time again that among those you would have expected to be small pillars in God’s assembly, there are people so void of a father’s care that they commit the most appalling, foolish deeds in their effort to bring people salvation. Again and again, we see that it is these instructors who are at work instead of the fathers.

A schoolmaster can lecture about his own doctrine, but when the session is over, he does not feel any further responsibility for the child; he is free and happy to be free.

The child’s father, on the other hand, is not happy to see the child leave; he is happy to see the child come. He wants to ease all of the child’s burdens, and the child’s growth and progress is the joy of his heart. For him, his knowledge only has value if it is able to enrich the child’s life; fathers do not gather to themselves, but to their children. Love binds the father and the child together. Do you have any such children? If so, you will not use your knowledge to beat your child and then rejoice that you were able to really put him down.

If a person is to be without offense, love must abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment. Phil. 1:9. In this same way, knowledge must be filled with love for God and people if you want to avoid causing offense.

“Professing to be wise, they became fools . . . .” Rom. 1:22. It is easy for folly to surface when a person thinks he knows something.

John came to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children. Yet the spirit of the times, which sneaks its way into the assembly of God, seeks to divide this good relationship and turn everything upside down. The children assume the authority of a father, and the fathers, who seem weak in Christ, retreat at the strength of the children. However, what does the Scripture say? “You are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.” 2 Cor. 13:9.

This is how it is. It cannot be changed, so let us be diligent to gather to Christ. The wolf comes to scatter.

Let that perfect mind that was in Christ be in you also.