Volume  3    Issue   43   August 31st, 2003

A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ

Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417 (home/office)

Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
 

Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
 

Check out the web site:

http://www.wordsoftruth.net

    (I John 1:7) “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”  A condition that separates spiritual fellowship among brethren is walking outside of the light.  Light represents good while darkness represents evil (Colossians 1:13).  Often times you will find brethren speaking out against a congregation that rightfully has practiced church discipline.  As we will see in this article, discipline is an effect of sin, it is a not a cause.  Complaints need to be made to the one who has sinned and refused to repent of that sin, thus putting their brethren in the position to practice discipline.  One has broken fellowship by committing sin; discipline is a measure to restore a sinner to the flock and is what we see as an approved pattern in the New Testament.

    (I Corinthians 5:1-7) “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.”

    The Apostle Paul was quick to point out to the brethren in Corinth that there was sin in the camp and it needed dealt with.  Church discipline is a command in the New Testament (II Thessalonians 3:6).  Jesus even gave the pattern for how private matters needed to be dealt with (Matthew 18:15-17), thus fully equipping us to handle the subject matter of discipline.  In the case we see at Corinth, the church had to be protected from the spreading disease of sin.  Paul even points out to the brethren in Corinth that social involvement is to be cut off from this fornicator (I Corinthians 5:9-11).  The removal of social participation should cause shame on an erring brother or sister in Christ (II Thessalonians 3:14).  The hope of this action would be to cause the one practicing sin to repent, confess, and once again seek to return to the fellowship of his or her brethren.  The individual whom has been disciplined cannot blame anyone but themselves.  They are the one who has committed the sin that caused the break in fellowship.

    Many congregations struggle with discipline.  Just as many parents struggle with the need to discipline their children.  Using that example, the Bible shows us that if we do not discipline our children we are showing hatred instead of love (Proverbs 13:24).  The Bible also shows us that rebuking the erring is an act of love (Revelation 3:19).  Congregations struggling with the fact that they are about to deliver one unto Satan (I Corinthians 5:5 and I Timothy 1:20) by practicing discipline need to remind themselves that it is the sinner who caused the issue.  God’s wisdom instructs us to know that the hope of helping that one who has departed is in discipline.  It was the sin committed that broke fellowship!

    Our actions often carry a message that is seen by others.  We should know through our studies of the word of God that we teach by our actions (Matthew 5:14-16 and I Peter 2:12).  Christians are under multiple lights of examination.  First off, the Lord is watching the things that we do.  Secondly, brethren take notice of one another’s actions.  Thirdly, the world is watching to see how we portray Christ in our lives.  Finally, the Devil is watching to see where he can slip a stumbling block into our paths to make us fall.  We must consider as Christians that our example can lead others astray or even reveal times of weakness for the adversary to attack.  So, what messages have you been sending?

    A man walks into a grocery store and begins to murmur as you witness parents with children nearby are covering the ears of those children as they look with disgust upon the fellow who’s words continue to get louder; what are you thinking?  Are you thinking that this man came into the store saying “hello, how are you?”  No, you are thinking that this man is saying something children should not hear, you are seeing mannerisms, and you are steering clear.  He comes closer to your location and you cannot believe you just heard the word “God” in the vulgar sentence this man has spoken.  He is being rude and pushing through crowds of people.  What would you think if you looked closer and it was brother _________ who is a member of the local church with whom you worship and work?  Upon reflection of the situation would you not have thought of some of the obvious scriptures that this erring Christian has violated (Ephesians 4:22-29 and Colossians 3:8)?

    You have left the grocery store and you are beginning to be concerned about brother ___________, and rightly so.  You begin to feel as though you should approach this brother whom has acted unacceptably (Matthew 18:15-17).  Tomorrow just happens to be Sunday morning and you approach him then.  You approach this brother with your concerns and he is amazed that you feel you have a right to get into his business.  He says it was a bad day and he tries to justify his actions with that excuse.  You then bring another with you and he acts in the same way, but then says if you continue to push him he will just leave the church.  What do you see?  You see a person who is in no way committed to Christ.  This person is worldly and is caught up in a traditional mindset of “playing church”.  This man has shown through his actions that he professes to know God, but denies Him through his actions (Titus 1:16).  While this example may be extreme, any faithful Christian reading this is saying something like this to themselves “this fictional guy is a shame to Christ, the church, and himself.”  I for one would not want to associate with such a person.  However, how is this extreme case any worse than the little things some Christians do daily to deny the Lord?

    Sin is sin and all sin is punishable with the same degree of punishment (I John 3:4, Romans 6:23, and Revelation 21:8).  A guy who is using fowl language, showing a rude attitude, and displaying hypocrisy is no worse than someone who is unfaithful in attendance.  Both individuals are saying that Christ is not important enough in their lives to live right before God and men (Colossians 3:1-3).  I ask again, what messages have you been sending?
 

Quick Notes

Those Serving Today:
Announcements – Brian Yeager
A.M. Song Leader – Terry Nannie
Lord’s Table – Bill Graham
Assisting – George and Young Jay
First Prayer – Jay Wagner
Closing Prayer – Serge Imbarlina

Those In Need of Our Prayers:
Tony Sassano, Joan Croyle, Marie Glunt (a friend of the Papp’s who is suffering from cancer), Julie Stutz (going through some personal challenging times), and Julie Rado (a friend of the Graham’s who has been diagnosed with breast cancer).