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NASB | 1 Timothy 5:22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Timothy 5:22 Do not hurry to lay hands on anyone [ordaining and approving someone for ministry or an office in the church, or in reinstating expelled offenders], and thereby share in the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. |
Subject: Church discipline? |
Bible Note: 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. |