Odious and So Touchy

I plead with Euodia and Syntyche: because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. (Philippians 4:2)

I like the way Paul dealt with these two ladies in the church at Philippi. (A friend of mine used to call them Odious and So Touchy). Obviously everybody in the church was aware of what was going on between them; and if they weren't they about to be. Paul decided to take the direct route: 'stop it!' He didn't send them for counsel or blame therapy. He appealed to who they were in Christ: 'You belong to the Lord and this is totally unacceptable behaviour for such people'. Furthermore, I like the fact that Paul dealt with them publicly: he raised the matter before the whole church. He brought the matter into the forum of the whole body because the whole body was being afftected by the sinful attitudes of two people who belonged to the body. Paul's revelation of the Body of Christ allowed him to act in such a way. The health and reputation of the Body of Christ was far more important to him than the sensitivities and reputations of two stubborn women.

Comments

[Louise]

Hi, Roger. You are so totally right. You are more correct than you realize. But you know what? I have a sneaking suspicion that Euodia and Syntyche themselves were really glad, deep down, that Paul addressed it. I imagine that the situation probably really hurt them, too, deep down in their spirits, when they took time to really reflect on it - I mean, all along...particularly if they knew Lord Jesus for real. He doesn't let up on His pressure, even if we ignore it on days. (This is a good pressure, isn't it, Roger?...because I believe that He is merciful to do stuff like that.) Just a hunch.

[Amy]

This is great Roger. All too often we conform to the ways of the world when it comes to dealing with peoples issues. We skirt around a problem & sin because we don't want to 'offend'. I think it is about time we see some fresh direct truthfulness & confrontation of sin in the Church. - Applied with a whole bunch of Godly wisdom of course.