The focus of my letter wasn’t on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church.  2 Corinthians 2:9 (The Message)

Why is it that our first inclination to someone who irritates us is punishment? We tend to diminish them first (Who does he think he is?  Doesn’t he know better than to ... ?”) Then we spend time deliciously thinking of appropriate ways to teach them a lesson (She’ll be so sorry!!).

It turns out that there were some people in the church at Corinth who didn’t like Paul’s leadership, and someone else decided to let Paul know. There was a group of “Somebodies” who were preaching a different message from Paul. That wouldn’t have been so bad but, as part of their approach, they were slandering Paul and denying his qualifications to lead the church. It’s ok to disagree with others but it isn’t right to diminish them in the process.  

In the story of creation in Genesis, God says, “Let us make humans in our image.” It’s an interesting question. What would be the “image of God?” God probably doesn’t need any hands or feet. He wouldn’t need eyes or ears or even wavy white hair! 

I think that’s a question that each of us needs to find the answer to; but it does make one think. If we are created in the image of God, it is probably a part of God that isn’t physical. It’s probably an internal image and it may not be the best thing for us to diminish each other. When we do that, we’re diminishing a creation of God and that can be dangerous. God called his creation “good!”

Paul’s focus is for the Corinthians to take responsibility — to stop accepting what they hear without checking into it. How many times do we get a phone call or a letter or an email telling of this “fabulous opportunity” or a great price on a “miracle cure.” 

There used to be a lot of stories telling of how people had lost their life savings by taking “advantage” of these offers. There are a lot fewer of these stories now because people are being more responsible and looking at these offers with skepticism rather than taking them at face value.  

We need to do the same thing when it comes to our beliefs. I believe that God puts a picture inside each of us of the type of person he wants us to be. As we age, we unconsciously try to grow into that picture. If we meet up with people who talk about beliefs that aren’t in line with the picture we have inside us, we don’t have to agree with them; but we don’t have to slander them either. We can quietly walk away and find others who can help us grow into God’s picture of us.

It isn’t our job to punish anyone, but it is our job to bloom where we’re planted.

Becky Gillette is a former teacher, newspaper reporter and preacher who seeks to take an original approach to life’s lessons. In creating a personal relationship with God, she is discovering a whole new world of wonder, joy, and learning experiences. She currently lives in her home state of Kansas