Wednesday, February 1, 2017

PAGTUTUWID (CORRECTION)


Another of those reflections and/or collation of materials, this time in preparation for 
CPR Talk No. 4: Correction, for a CFC General Membership Teaching in 2005 (twelve years ago!).
I can dub this talk  as "PAGTUTUWID" - the Tagalog word for "Correction"
or better yet, "PAGTUTUWID PARA SA PAGBABAGO"

(Text in bold fonts are from the expanded outline from the CFC PFO)

COUPLES FOR CHRIST
CHRISTIAN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

TALK No. 4 : CORRECTION

Expanded Outline

A.         INTRODUCTION

            Author (Gene Getz, The Walk) said:

            "Let’s face it, the distinction between the believer’s lifestyle and an unbeliever’s are now blurred. I heard recently that the church needs to lowers its expectations… we should get “real” and relax our out of date standard.

            But there are a few of us who refuse to buy that rationalization. With prophet-like courage and zeal, they call us back to basics. They remind us that those who are followers of Jesus Christ should reflect the lifestyle of Jesus Christ. In today’s terms, they challenge us to walk the talk.

            Such prophets are not only rare, they are right.”

            Totoo. They may be rare but they are right.  The call in Eph 4:17‑24, resonates --

1.   Eph 4:17‑24. Renewal in Christ.

            1.         Eph 4:17‑24.

“Ito nga ang aking sinasabi at iginigiit sa inyo sa ngalan ng Panginoon: huwag na ninyong tularan ang gawi ng mga paganong may isip na walang kabuluhan. Nadidiliman nga ang kanilang isipan; sa kamangmangan nga sila nananatili at matigas din ang kanilang pusong malayo sa buhay na galing sa Diyos. Wala silang pagpapahalaga sa kabutihan kaya nagugumon sila sa bisyo at sabik na sabik sa paggawa ng iba’t ibang kahalayan.

Hindi ganito ang natutuhan ninyo kay Kristo, kung sa katotohanan nga lamang ninyo siya narinig at natutuhan.

Dapat ninyong iwan ang pagkatao ng dati ninyong pamumuhay; ito ang Lumang Tao na nabulok dahil sa kanyang madayang pagnanasa. Baguhin din ninyo ang inyong kalooban sa espiritu at isuot ang Bagong Tao na nilalang sa larawan ng Diyos, sa pagkamatuwid at tunay na kabanalan.

            You may continue on…

“Kaya iwan ninyo ang kasinungalingan… kung magalit man kayo, huwag kayong magkasala; huwag palubugin ang araw sa inyong galit at baka makapasok ang diyablo.

Huwag nang magnakaw ang magnanakaw;…Huwag mamutawi sa inyong mga labi ang anumang maruming pangungusap… Huwag ninyong bigyang kalungkutan ang Espiritu Santo bng Diyos….Iwan ninyo ang kabuktutan; sama ng loob, galit, poot, pambubulyaw at paglait. Magpakabait kayo at magkaroon ng malasakit, at magpatawad sa isa’t isa tulad ng pagpapatawad sa inyo ng Diyos kay Kristo.”


            Kapansin-pansin sa binasa natin ang reference ni Paul sa lumangTao, (‘old self” ) na maging Bagong Tao (new self). 

Ang isang tunay na Kristiyano ay isang Bagong Tao. The original Greek word used is “morpho”.

Paul writes: “until Christ is formed in you”  Greek word is morphoo meaning the inward and real formation of the essential nature of a person. The same term used to describe the formation and growth of an embryo in a mother’s body.

Dahil dito,.

a)   Christian life involves more than a change in our rela­tionship with God. It involves a change in our way of life. We are to put on Jesus Christ.

b)   We need to unlearn some things, and learn others.


The goal of every Christian is to transform oneself. What kind of transformation?...  The goal is to be God’s handiwork once again.

Paul writes, “For we are God’s poiema” – meaning God’s workmanship or even God’s “work of art”. After we  fell from his grace, God is determined to overcome the defacing of his image in us. His plan is not simply to repair most of our brokenness. He wants to make us new creatures. So the story of the human race is not just one of universal disappointment, but one of inextinguishable hope.

How can we become God’s handiwork once again?

Ngayong gabi, pagtutuunanan natin ng pansin ang isang aspeto para sa mas epektibong pagbabago.  Ito ay ang tinatawag na Correction o Pagtutuwid.

  
What is correction?

Mas madali sa Tagalog. Pagtutuwid. Ibig sabihin may baluktot na dapat tuwirin.

A general definition of correction is to remove errors or mistakes from something. It means to adjust and meet a standard. It always involves the idea of making something right or improving something.

Three (3) ways to correction:

c)    Change (for the better)/Correction comes about in many ways:

1.   Our realizing the need.

Self-examination. Tayo mismo have a good sense of right and wrong; better or worse. Pag nag-away kayo ng anak mo at pinagmumura at sinampal mo siya, you will feel the guilt and uneasiness for what you have done.

Story of Bishop Soc’s The Yuppie’s Car and Daughter.
           
Kaya nga lang, in doing self-examination and self-correction, there is a great temptation to justify, rationalize or even fool yourself. Madalas natin marinig “Malinis ang konsiyensa ko. Kahit na may asawa na ang kinakasama ko ang importante, mahal ko siya at ako ang mahal niya” o kaya, “Okay lang na din a kami ikasal sa simbahan, tutal naman kasal na kami sa huwes at maligayang nagsasama.”

2.   God speaking or acting in our lives.

            (a) There is also at times correction when God speaks to us through events and circumstances in our lives. Every month we can hear the sharing of our brethren on how God worked through their lives and made them drawn closer to Him.

            (b) God also speaks to us and corrects us through the Scriptures. “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” (Pr 6:23)

            (c) Kaya lang, mas madalas, we do not “pay attention”.

There is a need to “turn aside” or pay attention. Moses’ story – while walking and getting sight of the burning bush, he “turned aside”. He did not have to. He could have looked the other way, as many of us would. He would just have missed the Exodus, the people of Israel, his calling, the reason for his existence. He would have missed knowing God. But he did not miss it. He stopped. He “turned aside”.

This same God had already been active in human history, ready to transform anyone then or now who is willing to turn aside before a burning bush.

            (d) At saan ba natin puwedeng marinig ang Diyos? Reading of three Sundays ago spoke about hearing God not in the skies nor in the thunder but in a whisper. You can only hear a whisper in a silent place.

            Problem now is that we have full of noises. Our homes, even- the new altar now is the entertainment center which kills reading, conversations and silence.

            (e) Anent the Scriptures, we just browse through the scriptures. Underline and memorize passages about blessings and good plans for us while skipping the more challenging and stirring passages on goodness and discipline. One author, thus, advises: “Read the portions of the Bible without the underlines.”

            Hence, sometime, we just ignore God’s corrections.

Fortunately, there is a third way. The third way to correction which we shall talk about tonight is Correction with the help of our brothers and sisters in the community.

3.   Help of brothers and sisters‑‑through correction.

            Pag sinabing correction ilang parties ang involved? Usually, dalawa- yung kinocorrect at yung nagcocorrect. Yung itinutuwid at yung Nagtutuwid.

            Punta muna tayo sa itinutuwid. Ano ang tamang attitude ng itinutuwid.

B.         OUR ATTITUDE TO CORRECTION

1.   We should love correction.

            Alam naming bro na mahusay ka. Matalino at mapagmahal. Mabuti kang tao. Mas mabuti pa nga kaysa elders. Pero hindi ito rason para sabihin mong: “Ba, exempted na ko dyan sa correction”.   Bakit?  Nobody’s perfect. There is always room for improvement.

Prov 12:1.
           
“Nagmamahal sa karunungan ang nagmamahal sa pangaral, hangal ang tumatanggi sa pagtutuwid.”

            This is now the first principle: We should love, we should desire correction. Smart people will look at the value of correction itself and use it for their own good.

      Ang Bagong Tao kasi ay araw araw na struggle. It takes discipline.   “Discipline” comes from the root word “disciple.” A disciplined person is one who does the right thing at the right time in the right way and with the right spirit” (St. Augustine)

            “Christianity without discipleship is Christianity without Christ” Dietrich Boenhoffer

Hence, we must love correction.

2.   We should want to have our wrongdoing or things we don't do so well exposed.

            Ngayon sasabihin mo,yun naman pala eh. Ako naman ay ikocorrect lang pag may nakita silang dapat icorrect. E paano nila makikita eh secret ito. Walang nakakaalam. Nasa kasuluk-sulukan ng kwarto ko at ginagawa ko sa dilim.

            Hence, the second principle. Expose! Expose Expose.



Sa John 3:19‑21.

“Ito ang paghuhukom: dumating sa mundo ang liwanag pero mas minahal pa ng mga tao ang karimlan kaysa liwanag sapagkat masasama ang kanilang gawa. Ang gumagawa ng masama ay napopoot nga sa liwanag at hindi lumalapit sa liwanag, at baka malantad ang kanyang mga gawa. Lumalapit naman sa liwanag ang gumagawa ng katotohanan upang mabunyagna sa Diyos ginagawa ang kanyang mga gawa.”

a)   Old nature: hide our wrongdoing or things not done well.

b)   But the mind of Christ is to bring these to light, so there can be positive change and healing if necessary.

c)   It is OK not to be perfect.

*     Wrong attitude: I'll straighten it out first, then I will tell you.
Right attitude: Ask brethren to help out now!

                        Share about your last Confession.on artificial birth control.

3.   The third principle is: Have the right response to correction.

a)   For wrongdoing: repent and ask forgiveness, make resti­tution, make the necessary change.

b)   For something not done well (but not wrongdoing): Be eager to learn, make the change.

c)   Don't be defensive (I didn't do it; it wasn't wrong; it wasn't my fault).

d)   Be grateful and thank those who correct us.

*     Prov 25:12. Correction is valuable.

“Isang gintong singsing o mamahaling hiyas nag into – ganyan ang pagtutuwid ng marunong sa isang taong marunong tumanggap.”

*     It is often hard and even costly for others to give correction.

*     Correction is a sign of one's love for us. Not a putdown or rejection. Prov 3:11‑12.
           
“Anak ko, huwag mong hamakin ang pagtutuwid ni Yawe o walaing pansin ang kanyang pagwawasto. Sapagkat iwinawasto ni Yawe ang mahal niya, gaya ng ama, ang minamahal na anak.”


            (Summarize first before going to the next.)



Now we go to the other party: the one who gives correction.

C.         HOW DO WE GIVE CORRECTION?

1.   Two different approaches.

a)         The worldly approach.

*     Complain (why are you always late?)
*     Nag (if I've told you once I've told you 1000 times).
*     Pressure (if you don't stop nagging, I won't come home).
*     Criticize (you are one of the sloppiest people I know).
*     Make feel guilty (I guess you just don't care that I've been here waiting for you all this time).
*     Manipulate (wife is late so sit in car waiting with the engine on).
*     Indirect communication‑‑hints, snide remarks, jokes (must be hard for a busy man to keep track of all his meetings).

b)         The Lord's way: speak directly.
           
*     Lk 17:3‑4. Simple, straightforward and merciful.

“Mag-ingat kayo. Kung magkakasala ang kapatid mo, pagsabihan mo siya, at kung magsisi’y patawarin mo. At kung pitong beses siya magkasala sa iyo sa isang araw at pitong beses din siyang bumalik sa iyo na nagsisisisi, patawarin mo siya.”

*     Steps :            State the matter clearly.
Talk it through (sometimes there is another side).
Bring it to resolution.
Reestablish and reaffirm the relationship.

*     Have the steadfast love to deal with it 7 times a day and the mercy to forgive each time.

*     Don't merely criticize (indirect, to a third party, with no goal of change). Rather, deal directly in love with the intention to bring change.

2.   Various ways of correcting.

(1. admonish means to warn, to point out something that was forgotten or disregarded;

2. Reprove means to blame for a fault.

3. Rebuke – means to criticize sharply, to reprimand.

4. Exhort – means to urge by strong argument, to admonish earnestly.)

a)         Lk 17:3. Reprove, Rebuke.

                        Pagsabihan mo siya.

b)         Col 3:16b. Teach, admonish.

“Magturuan kayo nang may karunungan, at patatagin ang isat isa sa mga salmo, papuri at awiting espiritwal.”

c)         1 Thes 5:11. Exhort, encourage, build up.
“Kaya pasiglahin ninyo ang bawat isa at patatagin ang isa’t isa gaya ng ginagawa na ninyo. 

However, when giving correction, we must understand first what is it that we are correcting.


3.   Understanding the different types of problems.

a)   Differences among       :  right and wrong (sin and wrongdoing)  better and      
worse (good and bad) personal preference
                                   
            Sa Tagalog isang word lang na dalawa ang meaning:
            Buti/sama  ---  Kabutihan/Kasamaan (Mali/Tama); Mabuti/Masama

b)   Correction is for both wrong acts or badly done acts (the first two). It is not just for things which I didn't like or was bothered about.

c)   We expect repentance only on right/wrong. Don't expect repentance/forgiveness for good/bad.

Note:   More in next talk.


Aside from the right approach, and the right understanding of what to correct, it is also important to understand who will correct and who to correct. Sino ang magtutuwid at sino naman ang tutuwirin.

4.   Correct differently according to the relationship.

a)         Parents and leaders in CFC to those under them.

*     Prov. 13:24; Eph 6:4; 1 Thes 5:14.
                                   
“Namumuhi sa anak ang amang ayaw magparusa; ang nagmamahal na ama’s malimit magtuwid.

Eph 6:1

Mga kapatid, kung may mahulog sa anumang paglabag, kayong maka-espiritu ang magtuwid sa kanya sa diwa ng kahinahunan. Ingatan mo ang iyong sarili, dahil puwede ka ring matukso. Dalhin ninyo ang mga pasanin ng isa’t isa at sa gayon ninyo matutpad ang batas ni Kristo.

1 Thes 5:14.
           
“Ipinakikiusap naming sa inyo na babalaan ang mga walang ginagawa, pasiglahin ang mga nasisiraan ng loob, tulungan ang mahihina, at maging matiisin sa lahat. Mag-ingat kayo na huwag gantihan ng masama ang masama, ngunit lagging magsikap na maging mabuti sa isa’t isa at sa lahat ng iba pa.”

*     Have an ongoing responsibility to correct those under them.

*     Do it lovingly, but authoritatively.

b)         Peers.

*     Unless it is for wronging you, offer correction as something helpful, not authoritative.

*     It is not always necessary to pursue the matter if it is minor. One can forbear.

c)         To those older or over us in the Lord.

*     Offer correction respectfully.
                       
*     Do not do it publicly.

*     Accept their judgment, unless it is a very serious matter.

1 Thes 5:12.

“Mga kapatid, hinihingi naming sa inyo na pahalagahan ang mga nagtatrabaho para sa inyo, ang mga nangunguna sa inyo sa daan ng Panginoon, at ang mga nagpapatibay sa inyong loob. Igalang at mahalin sila nang lubos dahil sa kanilang trabaho, at mamuhay kayong magkakabuklod sa kapayapaan.”

                        Insert – Fulfillling the Mandate’s last chapter on Disunity

5.   Correct differently according to your growth in wisdom or experience. Be prudent and discerning.

6.   Major ongoing correction is normally reserved for Unit Heads and up.

a)   This is not the role of brothers and sisters in a house­hold for one another. Their place is rather to be sup­portive and encouraging as the other seeks to change.

b)   Household leaders may take this on according to their capability, but always under the oversight of the Unit Head.

7.   The overall context for correction should always be kind­ness, rejoicing in (not grim or burdened), encouragement.





D.         CONCLUSION

1.   Our underlying attitude towards our brothers and sisters should be to become channels of favor and grace. We need to manifest real love, and a desire to see them move on in the Lord.

2.   Satan is the accuser of the brethren, while the Holy Spirit is the paraclete, the advocate.

a)   Let the Holy Spirit change us to be like Him.
           
b)   We need to:    be "for" our brothers and sisters.
come to their defense.
                                    encourage them.
show kindness, patience, forgiveness.

3.         Col 3:12‑14.

“Kaya magbihis kayo bilang mga banal at minamahal na hinirang ng Diyos: isuot ninyo ang habag, kabutihang-loob, kababaang loob, kabaitan at malawak na pang-unawa. Pagtiisan ninyo ang isa’t isa at magpatawaran kung may pagtatalo kayo. Magbigayan kayo gaya ng pagbibigay sa inyo ng Panginoon. At higit sa lahat, magkaroon kayo ng pag-ibig na nagbubuklod sa lahat para sa kaganapan. Maghari sa inyong mga puso ang kapayapaan ni Kristo, na sityang dahilan sa pagkakatawag sa inyo sa iisang katawan.”

This can be achieved not by “trying” but by “training”. Spiritual transformation is not a matter of trying harder but of training wisely.  And in training, you would have to have a trainer; someone who corrects and causes you to improve.


 08.29.2005





Today's Reading (1 HEB 12:4-7, 11-15) says:

"...You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children:
My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord
or lose heart when reproved by him;
for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;
he scourges every son he acknowledges.
Endure your trials as "discipline";
God treats you as his sons.
For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline?
At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain,
yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who are trained by it.

So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed."

02.01.2017



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