[Biblemat] A) BABES AND MEN

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Tuesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

BABES AND MEN

     BABES: -- The word "Babes" is used by Paul to describe
the immaturity of the brethren in Corinth.  The church was 
divided into factions and were saying, "I am of Paul; and I of
Apollos, and I of Cephas; and I of Christ" (1 Cor. 1:12; 3:1-4).

     The apostle says they as babes were "carnal," meaning
they were being led by and dominated by the flesh.  By the
flesh he means worldly attitudes and feelings.  He specifically
refers to "jealousy and strife."  They were like little kids bick-
ering and fighting over toys or who gets to be first.

     Whether in business or in the church, when workers do not care who gets 
the credit, they cooperate for the good of
the whole.  The church, as Paul says later, is like a body of
many members.  The eyes, the feet all do their thing and the
body functions as a unit and fulfills its role in life.

     If the eyes say to the ears we don't need you or the hands
say if I can't be the feet, I won't do anything -- the body is
dead and useless.  So it is with the church.  When Christians
act like babies, no one does anything but sulk and fight and
the church is lifeless and fruitless.

MEN: -- When Paul was writing about the behavior of the Cor.-
inthians in the assembly, he said: "Brethren, be not children
in mind; yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men" (1 Cor. 14:20).  His 
point is that babes have some qualities to be
imitated, but at other times Christians need to act like adults.

     "Malice" means "evil" and refers to a "vicious character"
as opposed to goodness.  Babes do disagree and fight, but
they get over it and harbor no ill will.  In this sense brethren
need to be like babies.  On the other hand, children are not
mature in intellect and the ability to think and reason concern-
ing matters.  In this sense Christians must act like men.

     In the assembly at Corinth brethren were acting more like
babies.  While one brother was addressing the church to edify it, another 
brother would get up and vie for the time to 
speak his mind (see 1 Cor. 14:26-33).  Paul admonishes them
to take turns and listen to one another; to avoid confusion
and be at peace with one another; to speak one at a time so
the church can be edified.

     This, Paul says, is a mature and adult way of exercising
their gifts, edifying the assembly, and bringing glory to God.
       ------------ L.A. Stauffer in Son Rays, Vol. 29, No. 22, Aug.
26, 2007.   </HTML>
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