Correcting ungodly behavior?
“Cling tightly to your faith in Christ and always keep your
conscience clear, doing what you know is right. For some people have disobeyed
their consciences and have deliberately done what they knew was wrong. It isn’t
surprising that soon they lost their faith in Christ after defying God like
that. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples of
this. I had to give them over to Satan to punish them until they could learn
not to bring shame to the name of Christ.” 1 Timothy 1:19-20 (TLB)
I want to know more about Hymenaeus and
Alexander. What did they do? Did Paul kick them out of the fold for a while? I
think about Paul and how he must have stressed about that, having to reprimand
them and eventually give them over to evil. One bad apple spoils the bunch,
though, so maybe he needed to get them out.
Did they come back and repent?
This passage today speaks most to me about
Paul’s willingness to correct ungodly behavior. I have a situation in my life
right now where two Christians are not acting godly. I have been staying out of
it, but it is wrong. I know I should say something. Do something. But, I haven’t
so far.
Father, give me wisdom, to go about it in the best way. Give me the
words to speak to them. And, the courage, like Paul to do what is right in your
sight. Amen.
Have you ever had to admonish someone? Or been admonished by someone else?
