Just some thoughts from my reading this morning.
“Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
II Thessalonians 3:5-6, 14-15 NKJV
Paul here prays that the Lord will direct their hearts into love and patience. But in the very next verse he tells them to separate from those who walk in a manner contrary to his instruction. This sounds like a contradiction, but only if you’re using a worldly definition of love.
If you read a little lower in v14 we see that he reiterates his point about separating from disobedience but then gives a reason. “So that they might be ashamed”. If love is just a feeling making another person feel good then this is another contradiction.
But if love is ‘seeking a persons highest good’ then it’s perfectly in line. Paul longs for them to grow in their walk. Even to the point of allowing shame to correct them. He confirms this in v15 when he says, they are not your enemy, but your brother. There’s no malice here. Just love for one another that is seeking a brother’s highest good over their immediate happiness.
The difference is a kingdom focus over a worldly focus. Their HIGHEST good.
Offense occurs when these two perspectives come into conflict.
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