You can hear the tone changing . . . from commendation to constructive criticism . . . from recognition to reproof . . . from acknowledging what they had to pointing out what they lacked. I’ve read 1Corinthians before . . . I know what’s coming. Although they were a super-gifted church they were also a pretty messed up body of believers. Arrogance . . . divisions . . . sexual immorality . . . arguments about what to eat and not to eat . . . throw in some playing around with idolatry and a messed up Lord’s table . . . and Paul has no shortage of “opportunities” to bring to their attention. And while the tone changes . . . while the words become a bit more pointed . . . while the “straight talk” gets straighter . . . under girding it all is the heart of a father who wants to see his children reach their full potential. And it makes me think . . . that’s what’s needed in the church today . . . more fathers.

I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.   (1Corinthians 4:14-16 ESV)

The Corinthians didn’t need more teachers. They didn’t need more instructors. What they needed were more fathers. More men and women who cared for the saints first and corrected them because of their care. More people in their midst whose intent wasn’t to tear down but to build up . . . who, while being honest, weren’t brutally honest . . . who, rather than seeing themselves as a judge for God, were instead driven by a jealousy for the glory of God, wanting to see that glory be manifest as God’s people lived like the people of God.

Now to be sure, Paul doesn’t pull punches as he addresses issue after issue. Here, in 1Corinthians 4, he takes on their pride and arrogance. You sense that God had laid a certain amount of blessing and gifting on this group of believers. But you also sense that they had lost sight of the fact that they were benefactors of the grace of God . . . instead thinking that the somehow they had earned or self-determined their favored standing and circumstance. And Paul calls them out on it, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (4:7) But Paul’s intent was not to take them down a notch but to ramp up the reality of the kingdom of God in their midst . . . “for the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power” (4:20).

What the church needs is more fathers. More men and women who are motivated beyond “rightly dividing the word” but are also driven to contend for the body of Christ . . . “that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Eph. 3:10). People with a parent’s heart . . . with spirits of love and gentleness seeking to guide and direct others beyond just knowing the right talk but also embracing the worthy walk. Brothers and sisters in Christ who themselves humbly pursue the things of God and then, even more humbly, say “Imitate me” and together we’ll figure out this pilgrim pathway.

We don’t need more judges . . . we don’t need more church-bashers . . . we don’t need more fault-finders . . . we need more fathers . . . and mothers . . . and imitators of God . . . the God who came to seek and save the lost . . . the God who gave of His all that His people might know life — and know it to the full.

We have lots of guides . . . not many fathers. Oh, that God would move His people to care and contend for His people . . .