Does Paul teach us to disregard the opinions of others and even ignore our own conscience?
Reading 1 Corinthians 4 might lend someone to that position if it is wrested from its context. “For I am not aware of anything against myself . . ..” (1 Corinthians 4:4b, ESV). What in the world did Paul mean by this statement?
This letter of 1 Corinthians, written by Paul expertly weaves the Gospel (the cross, the resurrection, etc.) into the practical and important ethical issues that a church faces. One of the issues that Paul addressed was the issue of Christian leadership (1:10–4:21). There were divided loyalties in the congregation and Paul dealt with this issue primarily by applying the truths of the wisdom and power of the cross. In 3:1–4:21 . . . Paul now shows the Corinthians how God’s choice to work through weakness for his own glory applies to their divided church. Just as Paul and Apollos work together for the advancement of the gospel, so the Corinthians should stop boasting about their favorite Christian leader and build a united church."[1]
So if
Paul is claiming humility, weakness and the servanthood of Christian
leadership, why would he suggest that he is no aware of anything against
himself? Or is he? What is the context? 1 Corinthians 4:1–5 (ESV),
"1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of
the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small
thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not
even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby
acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord
comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will
disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation
from God."
Paul
makes this overarching statement: he and other church leaders are servants –
servants of Christ; and stewards of the Gospel (mysteries of God). He and
these leaders have one responsibility: faithfulness to Christ. "Human judgment has little value. Even
self-evaluation is unreliable, Paul says. Christ is the Lord of the conscience
and is the one who can evaluate it properly."[2] The NIV is helpful here: “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It
is the Lord who judges me.” (1 Corinthians 4:4, NIV).
Paul seems to be honestly suggesting that
he was not aware of any error he had committed in relation to the charges
brought upon him. That being said, Paul
also admitted that his clear conscience did not acquit him. There is but one judge who is qualified to
judge a person's service, stewardship, and faithfulness. That Judge is God Himself. This is a judgment that will be known at the
coming of Christ.
Are we to assume then that as we relate to
others that we are above their evaluation?
Are we to assume that it is futile to evaluate or deal with our
conscience on the matter? Charles Hodge
clarifies this when he comments: "All he means is, that the question
whether he was faithful, was one not to be decided by his conscience, but by
the Lord. Lord here evidently means Christ, who is therefore a higher judge
than conscience."[3] The question is not one of sin or some moral
failure. The question is one of
faithfulness.
When it came to matters of service,
stewardship and faithfulness in ministry, Paul was not going to "let his
conscience be his guide". Would it
not be true that "self" nearly always tries to defend
self-righteousness? The court of human
opinion would not ultimately be the judge.
No. When Christ comes and our
works are examined, He alone is capable of evaluating our service. This passage is no excuse to evade the rebuke
or exhortations of others. Nor should it
be used as a way to avoid taking personal inventory. The context is clear: ultimately when it
comes down to evaluating faithfulness in Christian ministry – only the Lord is
the Judge.
If you are serving in the local Church, the beauty of this instruction is that it provides for you an exit from the court of other's opinions; and from the unrelenting condemnation of personal evaluation. But it's not a free ride. It places you and I in Christ's courtroom where judgment is fair, equitable, all-knowing and righteous.
[1] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (pp. 2194–2195).
Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[2] Expositor's
Bible Commentary, The, Pradis
CD-ROM:1 Corinthians/Exposition of 1 Corinthians/V. Servants of Christ
(3:1-4:21)/B. Servants of Christ: the Ministry of the Apostles (4:1-21)/1.
Faithful servants (4:1-5), Book Version: 4.0.2
[3] http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hdg/view.cgi?bk=45&ch=4
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