IV.
Did you notice –

“What would you prefer? Am I to come to you with a stick or with love in a spirit of gentleness?”

How do you hear that? How do you think the Christian community in Corinth heard that?

V.
1 Corinthians 4:1-6, 17-21 (NRSVue)

Think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 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 commendation from God.

I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so that you may learn through us what “Not beyond what is written” means, so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of one against another.

For this reason I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, as I teach them everywhere in every church. But some of you, thinking that I am not coming to you, have become arrogant. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power. What would you prefer? Am I to come to you with a stick or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

VI.
It seems there is “much” in 1 Corinthians that displays why Paul might mention a “stick.” He says the community has those in it who are arrogant, puffed-up, judgemental, immature in the faith, causing divisions in the community and otherwise not growing in love toward each other.

Yet, he sends Timothy to them and plans to return to them himself so as to remind them of the foundation of their faith and the unity that should be part of a Christian community.

How would you respond to Paul if he was addressing you this way?

Do you think you have even been in a place to need this kind of “talking to”?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}