Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Another gorgeous morning. I’m waiting for it to warm up more before I do some glue work—inlaying some of our tropical hardwood into this big table top I’m making. In the mix is some sign work. Lots to do. And the grass is growing like crazy already.

Have a great day where you are.

Love, Dad/Ray.

This may not be very inspiring and devotional, but the passage before us prompts me to give some attention to the “ministry of rebuking.”

Firstly, let’s examine the leadership qualities of Peter in this particular confrontation with Simon the Sorcerer. Peter has come a long way since his own major failure. He has matured greatly by repentance, revelation knowledge, experience, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. He is now a man of burden to see people truly born into the family of God and filled with the His Spirit. All these qualities of his new life in Christ combine to give him a holy boldness toward the flawed ideology presented by Simon the Sorcerer who seems inclined to promote “syncretism” (the attempt to blend Biblical Christianity with heathen paganism—a mindset we have beheld in abundance while living cross-culturally in various Pacific Island communities). Peter is not interested in wasting his time playing church games that tolerate sin, ignore Satan’s influence, and overlook selfish ambitions.

So when Simon the Sorcerer reveals his carnality and contaminated view of the Kingdom of God, Peter stands up and functions as a true church leader. He confronts Simon with truth, challenge, and warning. Peter recognizes that the filter Simon is using to process the Gospel message is one contaminated with self-centeredness and magic. It was not only detrimental to Simon himself as a new believer, but posed a dangerous threat to the health of the entire local fellowship. There is no need to imagine Peter as speaking unkindly or angry or shaking his fist in Simon’s face. Peter simply responded to the urgency and opportunity presented and spoke “the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).

Too many church leaders would be silent. They would be afraid to hurt Simon’s feelings, or risk his anger, or discourage him in his new faith. Or they would feel prevented to speak because Simon was a local politician, a relative, or a major financial contributor. They would talk to others about him or privately pray for him. But the fact is that there was then, and still is today, a great need for church leaders, like Peter, to exercise the godly and scriptural ministry of rebuking. (See 1 Tim. 5:20; 2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 1:13, 2:15; Gal. 6:1.)

You may not be an appointed leader in your church fellowship. But if you are a serious follower of Christ, you ARE a leader.