Corinthians 4:15 "Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel."
Paul didn't say...
...through the church I became your father or
...through the system I became your father or
...through hierarchy I became your father or
...because I am an apostle I am your father or
...through the laying on of hands by other men I became your father or
...because I tell you I am your father I am your father...
No, he says I became your father "through the gospel"...plain and simple.
How many Pastors out there want to be "fathers" but don't have a clue of what the gospel is all about...all they know is system, leadership, perfection, model, business...and by virtue of their position they enforce their "fathership" ... If they are not preaching the gospel but something that essentially is not the gospel, how can they possibly be biblical fathers at all?
No..those "relationships" strain with the slightest of pressure, with the slightest disagreements they break down and reveal what they really are, nothing but suedo- "ties" that do not bind...
When the gospel of grace is preached in its purest form, the natural progression, the fruit is, "fathers" and "sons”…...ties that have the strongest bind...that never break...sincere, full of love...this is what Paul is speaking about when he says…for..."I became your father through the gospel."
Posted by Craig Glenn