THE TRUTH IN PRINT, May 2001
A Publication of the
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YOU SAW IT SO DEAL WITH IT!
Think of how much
stronger the church would be if each member did deal with what they saw others
do wrong. I’m amazed at times as to how news travels of other’s wrong doing.
Brethren will call all the way across the country to tell about something a
member did wrong, but not drive across town to correct it!
Notice the
“immediate” approach of our Lord in the following:
Mark
10:13-15
“And they
brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples
rebuked those that brought them. [14] But when Jesus saw it, he was much
displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and
forbid them not: for of such is the
When Jesus
saw things that displeased Him then he spoke to correct those who displeased
Him by so doing.
Luke
18:22-25
And when
Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that
you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in
heaven; and come, follow Me." [23] But when he had heard these things, he
became very sad; for he was extremely rich. [24] And Jesus looked at him and
said, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the
Yes, Jesus
looked right at him, the one needing to hear it, and told him what a grip his
fortune had upon him.
Mark 12:32-34
And the
scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher, You have truly stated that He is One;
and there is no one else besides Him; [33] and to love Him with all the heart and
with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's
neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and
sacrifices." [34] And when Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently,
He said to him, "You are not far from the
His reply
here has a different quality to it. This man’s wise answer concerning obedience
from the heart left him to ponder the next necessary step which would be to
believe in Jesus as the Son of God. Today I hear many sensible, discrete
answers concerning how important it is to love God, but so many come from those
not in the church Christ built. What should I say?
Luke
11:45-52
And one of
the lawyers said to Him in reply, "Teacher, when You say this, You insult
us too." [46] But He said, "Woe to you lawyers as well! For you weigh
men down with burdens hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch
the burdens with one of your fingers.”
Here’s
something for those who listened as he rebuked others, and then thought that
they’d explain to Him that His rebuke was offending them as well. (You can’t
help but grin when you read them saying this to the Lord.) We don’t have to
wonder how they felt upon hearing what He had to say. And we need to understand
that He didn’t back off and not say it. We learn from Jesus what we are to do
when someone says, “Well that would mean that I’m wrong too!” Or, “Well if it’s
true that they’re wrong in doing that, then that means that we can’t be doing
this other thing!”
These are all
interesting scenarios, and show plainly when Jesus saw things that needed to be
corrected that He dealt with the individuals involved. Based upon the knowledge
of divine truth that He possessed He adequately corrected their error with the
truth.
Members’
Responsibilities
You see
frequent requests for information concerning the responsibility of elders,
preachers and deacons. Why are there so few concerning responsibilities that
all members share in relation to God’s Word and upholding its precepts?
Here are a
few for your consideration.
Luke
17:3
One’s own
statement often betrays their attitude of
shying away from controversy and refusing to deal with error and sin in
another's life. How often do you hear
“Don’t you forgive even if they don’t repent?” While such might be a question
for a novice in the church it certainly betrays the gross ignorance of one who
has been in the body of Christ for years. (Read carefully Lk. 17:3; “even as
God in Christ forgave you” in Eph. 4:32). Some, with no intention of
straightening anything out, prefer to say that they “do” forgive those who sin
against them without demanding repentance. That is much easier than dealing
with the sin. Not only do they err, but souls are lost that could be saved when
brethren think like this!
No wonder
liberal churches have “counselors” for preachers. Why? So members can talk and
talk and talk and talk about it rather than deal with it scripturally!
I John 1:6-7
I was
amazed when I began to hear, “The only fellowship I know of is that of the
local church.” This person thinks as
long as the other person distances himself from being a member of the same
church that he is, then he doesn’t have the responsibility of severing
fellowship with them when they do not walk in the light. How can one have
fellowship with another who walks in darkness? Oh the games that brethren will
play!
In 1 Thes.
Matthew
18:15-17
Also, each
member has the responsibility to see that the steps Jesus presented in Matthew
18:15-17 are carried out in sequence.
“Moreover
if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between
thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [16]
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the
mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. [17] And if he
shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear
the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
2
Timothy 4:3-4
Why mention this? Because we should notice “who” it
is that’s charged with polluting God’s Word. These verses show that the
“members” themselves are held responsible! It is the members who do not endure
sound doctrine. According to the NASB Dictionary Help, “endure” is
the word “anecho; from
Greek 303 (ana) and Greek 2192 (echo); to hold up, bear with -.” They
are the ones held responsible for diluting the Word. And having turned away
from sound doctrine they heap to themselves teachers after their own carnal
lusts.
Do members
where you worship assume responsibility for upholding the Word of God and
applying it? If you see or hear something wrong then deal with it!