Spiritual Rheumatism
I was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. It’s painful. It sometimes keeps me from doing even the simplest of tasks, like tying my shoes, or playing ball with my son. At its worst, it keeps me from doing what I’m here to do—be a good father, husband, employee, etc… It’s so fierce and debilitating because it’s actually my body attacking itself. My immune system mistakes my joints and organs for intruders and attacks them.
I see a lot of spiritual rheumatism in the church these days. I see the members of the body attacking one another as if they’re intruders, and it's probably because I have seen it in myself that I see it so clearly. It’s happening between denominational lines, and even within single churches. We all seem to have this image of exactly what a Christian should be, and anything that differs from that, we mistake as an intruder and attack. We hold others in the body to standards we know fully well we aren’t living up to. If we find any failure or short-coming, we attack with a vengeance, fully aware that we are hiding our own failures and shortcomings.
How will Christ’s body ever perform the work it is commanded to if the body is attacking itself? Let me tell you, Church, get over yourselves and do what your Master tells you to do. Love one another. Love the poor and needy, the lost, the sinners, even your enemies, because God loved you even when you were His enemy. He loved you when you were hostile to Him. Are you too selfish to follow His command and example?
If someone comes to your church that looks or acts differently than you—be it hairstyle, clothes, race, nationality, denomination or creed—welcome them and love them. Love them so much that it is a reflection of the undeserved love shown to you. If you find one of your brothers or sisters fallen or failing, remember the last evil thought, desire or deed in you. And I’ll go as far as guaranteeing you it wasn’t long ago that you did/had it. You love that brother or sister as a fellow recipient of God’s grace, and minister healing to them to make them healthy again.
My fellow body, let's stop giving God rheumatism. Stop the pain and inflammation so that we can get back to His business—spreading the gospel and being a proper reflection of our Lord. I'll start the cure in myself. This little member of the body is now healed of rheumatism.
At least spiritually, anyway...
Blessings to you all…
Technorati Tags: - ‹ previous
- 5 of 56
- next ›
Syndicate
I agree. I find it so easy
I agree. I find it so easy to be judgmental. I particularly thought this was good advice If you find one of your brothers or sisters fallen or failing, remember the last evil thought, desire or deed in you. I will have to remember this. By the way I like the new favicon!
Interesting points
You have made some very interesting points.
Attacking another is not a righteous way of dealing with the sins of others.
We are however, commanded to judge the members of the church and to remove from the body those who do not walk as they professed they would when they joined. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Paul made a good observation concerning a similar situation, "And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you." Instead of being sadden that the one who had committed the sin might be removed from the church, some were puffed up. They were elevated in tone, probably similar to what you have described as attacking. This also could suggest that they were elevated in character, suggesting that they had no compassion in persecuting this person, considering that they could have easily have fallen prey to sin themselves.
But what should a Christian be? At my church this term is not often used because is it abused and hold no true meaning in this present day. If a person is a Christian he is "Christ Like", and today everyone considers themselves to be just that, "Christ Like" despite the many sins they willingly commit outside of the church. Everyone wants to be the righteous one and not the sinner. The use of this word often goes to their head and they forget that they are truly sinners first and foremost. If they would accept the title of sinner as readily as they do the other they would be much better off. It is the sinner who is the true disciple of Christ. It is the sinner who is in need of a savior just as the sick need a doctor.
But are you sure the body is attacking itself? Are you sure there is not a foreign body in the midst? The church who has opened its doors to every person is no different than a body that has its vital organs exposed. With doors wide open it has subjected itself to infections that could be fatal.
If the church truly understood the gospel it would realize that the gospel discriminates. And the true gospel church should likewise discriminate and shield itself from the infections that abound in this world.
Grace to you my brother in Christ,
www.baptistcommentary.org
Thank you for the
Thank you for the thought-provoking reply.
I take it from the quote that you refer to 1 Cor 5, with the mention of the levening in this context. We see there that it is in reference to an established member of the church that is involved in willful, habitual sin and moral debauchery, and that refuses to turn from it. It would appear that I didn't make enough distinction in my blog. I apologize.
You may also reference Matt 18:15 - 20 for such instruction in Church Discipline. But you should notice, I hope, that here too the context is in regard to the member who will not repent, and resists the efforts of the church. It is not in reference to those who stumble, but of those who are quitting the race. It is not for those who are struggling, but for those who are giving up the good fight.
You should also notice that Matt 18 is speaking to those in the church who have wronged you. And later in the same chapter, when asked how many times to forgive them, He makes it clear that it is at the very least a lot.
As to your last paragraph, let's hope that the hospitals don't take the additude of some churches, for where are the sick to go if not where the Cure is?
In Matthew 18:19,20, after defining the extended process of Church Discipline, which involves repeated opportunities, Jesus makes it very clear that He is not as afraid of a few sinners as some Christians seem to be.
"Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. "
The context of this, in a discussion of Church Discipline, seems to indicate that the power that formed and continues the Church is more powerful than the infections.
Finally, I am not nearly as inclined to see in scripture the command, nor the right to judge others as you indicated in your opening paragraph. And I will admit this is not a noble or righteous choice on my part. It is a selfish fear for my own well-being.
"Mat 7:1,2 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. "
In any event, we should both be able to agree with Hebrews 12:11 that the hope of Church Discipline is the return of the brother or sister to the body, and the not hope of a purging.
Blessings to you.
Church discipline was not the intent
Your distinction was very clear and yes my quote came from 1 Cor 5. You made reference to the members of the church attacking others apparently because they did not live up to their expectations of what a Christian should be. I attempted to point out that if the church is to mourn for some one who has, as you describe of 1 Cor 5, "an established member of the church that is involved in willful, habitual sin and moral debauchery, and that refuses to turn from it" why should one do any less for one who has merely stumbled. Why attack, be puffed up toward one who has merely stumbled if we are to mourn the loss of one who has done a greater wrong and is to be removed from the church?
It was not my intent to steer toward church discipline nor did I make reference to Matthew 18. I actually had 1 Cor 5 9-13 in mind. Paul says that he had previously written and told them not to company with fornicators. Not only with those who were of the world outside of the church for then they would have to leave the world within the church. But now he writes more specifically that they are not to company with one who calls himself a brother, a member of the church, who commits such acts. He is telling them that they are not to partake of the communion with them, and this is exactly why open communion is not a scriptural practice. Communion of the Lords supper is for members of the church only. Paul continues by saying it is not his job to judge those who are outside the church and then asks if they do not judge those that are within the church as they should.
No doubt forgiveness is unlimited, but discipline is to be exercised even to the point of removal from the church as Jesus clearly defined in Matthew 18 and Paul teaches in 1 Cor 5. Forgiveness and discipline are two very different matters.
In reference to my last paragraph, let those who seek a physician come, but those who are looking for a good reputation need to just stay at home. Let those who want to serve God and do as God desires come, but those who want to get enough to make themselves feel good and their own desires are satisfied have no place in the church.
Yes, no doubt the "the power that formed and continues the Church is more powerful than the infections" for the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. But the members of the church are not. If you allow the wolves in to the sheepfold, sheep are going to be get hurt.
We are not to judge whether one is born again or not, for we cannot know the heart of a man - Matthew 7. But we are to judge the actions of a man who professes to walk in righteousness and has entered into covenant with God by baptism and becoming a member of the church 1 Cor 5.
See the following article concerning church discipline.
http://blog.baptistcommentary.info/?page_id=15
And finally, yes just as Jesus outlined four steps the church is to take to persuade the disobedient brother to repent, the hope is to regain the brother rather than to remove him.
"Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death"
Grace to you my brother,