Results 1 - 5 of 5
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Church discipline? | 1 Tim 5:22 | Aixen7z4 | 152534 | ||
We must operate in the role God has assigned to us. The directive to “reprove, rebuke, exhort“, is given to an evangelist, in this case, Timothy (2 Timothy 4). It is he who was told to “lay hands suddenly on no man”, that is, to take the time to test someone’s qualifications and performance before appointing him to a position in the church. It was he, and, by implication, anyone else in a similar position, who must “rebuke them that sin, before all, that others also may fear” (1 Timothy 5) and so on. But there is also action that any individual Christian can take. For example, “If a man be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6). “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death” (1 John 5). If anyone does err from the truth, and you convert him; you should know that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins (James 5). There are times when individual action leads to official church action. For example, if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear youe, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, and if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church (Matthew 18). It is relatively easy to discharge our own individual responsibility. Although it makes our individual job easier when someone does go with us, it can be difficult to get someone else to go with us. We would have done our part when we have brought the matter to the church, or to people holding responsible positions there. But what if they do not take action? We can entreat them (1 Peter 5). We can bring it to the Chief Shepherd, the head of the whole church, in prayer (1 John 5). There are some questions we can ask ourselves, and the answers may serve to guide our actions. Are we concerned for the individual, that they get the help they need to see their sin and to be restored, as in Galatians 6? Are we concerned for the local church, its reputation and effectiveness, as in 2 Corinthians 11? Are we concerned for the others in the church, how sin unchallenged can affect them, as in 1 Corinthians 5? Is it the name of Christ and the Christian message in general that we see in jeopardy of disrepute, as in 2 Peter 2? As far as church discipline is concerned, there are definite scriptural guidelines to be followed. But we are living in a day of difficulty and declension. An individual church is often not structured in such a way that the word of God can be followed. The fact is that many churches do not seem to be operating in light of the word of God. When a matter of sin arises, it is often not possible to know how it will be dealt with, or whether it will be ignored. If we are concerned for the individual, and for the effect of their sin on the general testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, then we may act as an individual and confront the situation. It seems advisable that we approach the person with a clear desire to help and not to condemn. We can be as careful and as prayerful as can be, yet we are not assured of the desired response. The little word “If” (as in Matthew 18:15b) makes such a difference. When we are witnessing to an unbeliever, and when we confront a sinning brother or sister, we can only give the word of God and trust the Holy Spirit to use it to convert them. |
||||||
2 | Church discipline? | 1 Tim 5:22 | Mommapbs | 152536 | ||
Aixen: You cited 2 Tim 2:4 as the directive to evangelists to reprove, rebuke and exhort. Are you limiting these here to just those whose role is evangelism? Interesting, in 1 Cor 12:28, evangelism is not mentioned as a spiritual gift although it is in Eph 4:11. | ||||||
3 | Church discipline? | 1 Tim 5:22 | Aixen7z4 | 152540 | ||
You have understood correctly, I think, that those directions are given to ones who have the authority in the church. The evangelist had that role as one who had been sent to the church, to set things right, and to establish it in that community. In himself Timothy was young and timid and Paul had to encourage him to do those things. You might consider that the applicable word in 1 Corinthians 12:28 is the word “Apostle”. An apostle is one who has been sent. We usually reserve that title to the twelve chosen and sent by our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 10, etc.). But the term applies to the Lord himself (Hebrews 3) as he had been sent by the Father (John 8, etc). It is also applied to one such as Barnabas (Acts 14). It would apply to ones such as Timothy (2 Timothy 4:5) or Titus (Titus 1:5), who has been sent by Paul. In fact, it may apply to anyone who has been sent out by an established church to preach the Gospel in new territory, as in Romans 10:15. Once the church has been established, the ones responsible for church disciple are the elders. Please note that once they are in place, the evangelist is not to rebuke them but to entreat them (1 Timothy 5). Their position is to be respected. The saints under their authority are to look to them to direct the affairs of the church, and if anything is thought to be amiss, it is to be brought to their attention. As before, the responsibility of the other believers ends there. The elders give account to the Lord (Hebrews 13:7, etc.) who also the one to whom the individual believer may appeal. It bears repeating that things are not always right with the church. Sometimes they are not even structured in such a way as to get things right. Some churches do not even have elders. I pointed out the need to a preacher recently and his response was, “Show me some men who are qualified and I will appoint them“. Sometimes even the evangelist, in seeking to set things right in a church has a difficult time. As Paul warned, the time has come when people do not endure sound doctrine. They do not listen. Do not be surprised if they do not listen to you as their sister. Nevertheless, you must discharge your responsibility. That, we have talked about before. May God give us grace to live right, to live exemplary lives, and to lovingly help those who fall into sin in these days. |
||||||
4 | Church discipline? | 1 Tim 5:22 | Shirley Ujest | 152545 | ||
You had an interesting experience: "Some churches do not even have elders. I pointed out the need to a preacher recently and his response was, “Show me some men who are qualified and I will appoint them“. " Obviously the preacher was referring to the qualifications outlined at 1 Tim 3:1-10 and Titus 1:5-9. But I would ask: How many Forum members belong to a church that follows Paul's instructions to the Corinthian overseers at 1 Cor 5:9-13? This failure is a result of a minimization of the seriousness of willful sin. Of course, there's a lot of talk about sin and hellfire, maybe even the obomination-homosexuality. But what of cheating on taxes, premarital sex, excessive drinking, gambling, smoking and abuse of other addictive substances? Matters of conscience - I think not! Jesus knows his own that have tried to keep themselves from without defilement, like virgins. Satan's world is so corrupted and pervasive that most do not even realize the extent to which their own thinking has strayed from God's. The judgment begins with the house of God! |
||||||
5 | Church discipline? | 1 Tim 5:22 | Searcher56 | 152550 | ||
Shirley Ujest, God's day to you. See post 152549 ... a shiftin text. Me fears that the church lacks discipline in this area, as well as enforcement ... we don't want to hurt someone else's feelings. Searcher |
||||||