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Dana Visneskie
A friend often told me about the problems he had getting his son to clean his room. The son would always agree to tidy up, but then wouldn’t follow through. After high school the young man joined the Marine Corps. When he came home for leave after basic training, his father asked him what he had learned in the service.
“Dad,” he said. “I learned what ‘now’ means.”
FORGIVENESS VS. TOLERANCE: CHURCH DISCIPLINE
If we look closer at Jesus words, he tells us that we do not have to tolerate sinful behaviour in order to forgive a person. He says in verse 17 that if the person doesn't listen after going through all the steps, to treat that person as a tax collector or a Gentile.
Here’s how Warren Weirsbe explains what this means:
"This person can no longer be treated as a spiritual brother or sister, for they have forfeited that position. They can only be treated as one outside the church, not hated, but not held in close fellowship."
RAWLINS KEPT U.S. GRANT ON HIS HORSE
Ulysses S. Grant was a 4 star general of the union forces during the Civil War and became the 18th President of the United States. John A. Rawlins was Grant’s friend and fellow general, who became Grant’s chief of staff. During the Civil War, no one was closer to Grant than Rawlins.
Ulysses S. Grant had a drinking problem, but he made a pledge to Rawlins that he would abstain from intoxicating liquors during the war so that he could carry out his duties. On one occasion when Grant broke that promise, Rawlins pleaded with great earnestness that Grant refrain from strong drink, "for his own sake, and the nation’s great and holy cause." Rawlins’ advice was heeded, and Grant was not impaired by drink when his decision-making was critical.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted! There stands today, in front of the Capital in Washington, a magnificent monument to General Grant. He sits upon his horse in characteristic pose and is flanked on either side by stirring battle scenes. At the other end of the mall and a little to the south of Pennsylvania Avenue is Rawlins Park. There stands a very ordinary statue of Grant’s friend, John A. Rawlins.
There might be no monument to Grant had there not been the admonition of a faithful friend. It was Rawlins, and his admonition, who kept Grant on his horse.
Spiritual Health Checks
(Devoted to Prayer)
There are four signs that show that the child of God is a healthy Christian. One is a heart hungry for God's Word, second is his desire to be involved in Christian fellowship, third he observes "Communion," and four he is devoted to prayer. (Acts 2:42)
Without the power of God there can be no lasting work done for Christ. A healthy Christian knows that if the church is too busy to pray there will be a great amount of activity with little accomplished, many services but few conversions, many programs with little life changing results. This is why the apostle Paul wrote, "I urge your brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me ..." (Romans 15:30) The child of God faces many trials, many obstacles and even spiritual perils as he walks with the Lord down here.
Watchman Nee wrote, "Our prayers lay the track on which God's power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, His power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails." Corrie Ten Boon expressed the life of being a vibrant Christian and she asks, "Is prayer a steering wheel or your spare tire?" Prayer is like art or music. It can only be enjoyed by and through those who have disciplined themselves to actually spend time in prayer. An artist or musicians cannot fully reach his full potential unless he learns about and spends time developing his gift. Most people enjoy the benefits of looking upon art work that has had much time and hard work put into it. All mature adults appreciate the benefits of listening to a musician that has put a great deal of t...
A CHURCH DISCIPLINE STORY
When we have the authority to discipline a wayward member, or Elder or preacher, we should do so, but we must still be careful how we deal with it, because we may very well find ourselves opposing God or getting His way. We might find ourselves becoming wolves rather than sheep.
Years ago an evangelist told of holding a Revival at a church that was in turmoil. The Preacher of the congregation wasn’t quite as good as he should have been. People were leaving and the church was struggling.
This evangelist was well known and respected, so a group from the church asked him to come and talk with them. But the moment he stepped into the room he found himself faced with a crowd of very angry people. They hadn’t asked him there to help them "solve the problem" – they were looking for someone who would listen to their grievances and assure them that they were RIGHT. As he sized up the situation… this was a not a good thing.
He looked out over the assembled group and asked "Who is the leader of this group?"
A man toward the back raised his hand and said: "I am."
The evangelist smiled and then said “Well, I expect that you have gathered because you are a group of spiritual people who are concerned about your preacher’s many faults?"
In response the group began to list off a series of rather small complaints, that taken together mounted up to an almost insurmountable challenge.
"Well then," said the Evangelist, "since you are spiritual people, then the scripture from Galatians 6 should be your guide 'Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself lest thou also be tempted.'"
The leader practically sprang out of his chair "I’m not about to restore that preacher!"
"Well then," Gothard responded, "by this you are indicating that you are either unspiritual or rebellious... which is it?"
At this, the man stormed out of the room.
A woman was in tears and said "But so many are leaving..."
The Evangelist responded "The Bible calls us a BODY. My body loses cells all the time. It’s only when cells get together in an unauthorized group that it is becomes a cancer and that can lead to weakness and death."
He continued by noting that if they continued in their action that their rebellion against the preacher would lead to their teenagers rebelling against Christianity.
(Bill Gothard, Basic Youth Conflicts Seminar. From a sermon by Jeff Strite, Iron Man = A Wolf In Iron Clothing, 6/16/2010)
OLD-SCHOOL CHURCH DISCIPLINE
The Amish practice shunning – ignoring, turning away from, avoiding. When a person is disciplined by the community, relationships are severed between parents and children, or brother and sister, or even husbands and wives. Because the Amish are so isolated from those outside their faith, and their economic well-being is directly related to their involvement in the community, this is an especially cruel punishment. It effectively condemns the shunned to a life of lone deprivation. The person is isolated.
Early Quakers disfellowshiped people for participating in questionable practices. They disowned or "read out of meeting" people who broke such rules as participation in war, playing or owning a musical instrument, attending the theater or a circus, or taking part in the slave trade.
(From a sermon by Bobby Scobey, If the Church Became Unchristian # 6 - Personal Exploring vs Uniformity, 6/22/2010)
THE WORLD: A TEMPORARY CONTAINER
The first garbage day after Christmas must be the biggest garbage day of the year. You can tell what most people got for Christmas by just looking at the garbage pile in front of the house. We usually throw out all the boxes--unless you have children who like to play in boxes.
What if you passed by a house and out front were new TV’s and DVD players, new toys and clothing and jewelry because they saw more value in the boxes and kept them instead of what was in them. The boxes were meant to be just temporary containers for what was of value.
Paul says this world and the things in it are just temporary and to miss out on finding and keeping what really matters is like preferring the box over the true gift that was given.
Illus.: “Bat Infestation”
Three pastors got together for coffee one day and found all their churches had bat-infestation problems. “I got so mad,” said one, “I took a shotgun and fired at them. I missed and it made holes in the ceiling. The trustees are still upset with me.”
Another pastor said, “Well, I tried trapping them alive. Then I drove 50 miles before releasing them, but they beat me back to the church.”
The third pastor said, “I haven’t had an...
Discipleship Measured: Barna Research Group has discovered that 1 of every 6 adults who attends Christian church services also is involved in some type of group or 1 to 1 discipleship training (about 22 million people). As Christian retailers have long known, women are twice as likely to be involved in spiritual growth activities. 18% of Protestants participate compared to 8% of Catholics. Small groups are the most common means (69%) followed by Sunday school (20%), 1 to 1 (14%), special faith oriented class (11%), and online (3%). (Barna.org 5/9/00 & Foster Net)
It is said that a wise man who stands firm is a statesman and a foolish man who stands firm is a catastrophe.
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