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A Simple Beginning Point
Posted by Chris Johnson in Baptist Life, Church & Missions
Since restoration (biblical discipline) is not a SBC distinctive, a good question to ask is how do we begin to recognize and live out this amazing command that brings unity with those that have confessed Jesus as Lord. Why is the beginning point for restoration so important?
What I have found during the past ten years, while teaching and living out this command, is that most believers are not aware of what an “offense” actually is and typically overlook the foundation of what is expressed in the fruit of the Spirit. Some have mistakenly transferred their “opinion”, or have “weighed out” in their minds what constitutes a legitimate offense instead of relying on God’s word to identify the disunity. So as a leader, how you teach the congregation to recognize and confront a “real offense” is extremely important.
- First: Recognizing a “real” offense.
As we recognize how to restore the body of Christ it is important to begin with the basics. We must not overlook what some may think as something “minor” while waiting for a more serious reason to restore (discipline). In other words, don’t overlook the obvious and forfeit unity. Let’s use three prime examples,
Much of the strife in the church is due to a lack of patience, kindness and mercy…the omission of these acts are easy to spot and the person that is offended by someone’s lack of patience, kindness or mercy is “obligated” to gently rebuke the offender in love from the word of God. If the one offended does not confront, he or she is in sin. Once the offended understands that it is their responsibility to confront,..restoration can begin. How else will the offender learn patience, kindness or mercy, unless he or she is confronted. Don’t procrastinate, because procrastination causes disunity.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, (5) does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, (6) does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
One time in a blustery business meeting, as a Pastor leading the flock, I stopped the entire process to read Hebrews 12, very very slowly. This got us back on track. Using scripture is the key in a one on one encounter as well, as you love your brother or sister back into fellowship. “You have won your brother”
The fruit of love expressed by winning your brother or sister comes out of the “doing”. And this doing is actually “confronting” not “ignoring”. Remember ignoring is not patience. Ignoring an offense is not taking seriously what Christ has commanded….which in reality is simple immaturity leading to disunity.
- Second: Acting on the offense “without delay” and “without gossip”
If you love your brother and sister, you will go to them soon, eliminating any temptation for gossip to be kindled.
Matthew 18:13-15 “If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. (14) “So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish. (15) “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
Christ always spoke to his disciples with a sense of urgency and rejoicing. He did not wait for several others to wonder off before he went after the one. This clearly shows us the value of loving our brothers and sisters… working toward the spirit of unity, where all the sheep are together gaining nourishment from Christ.
With these first critical steps in mind,… what are some other ways you have taught your flock about restoring your brother or sister without delay?
Blessings,
Chris
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Chris,
This post should be read by all who profess to be Born Again Believers and lived out within all Churches. Brothers and Sisters in Christ are to hold each other Accountable in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Wayne
Brother Wayne,
This beginning point is illusive because most folks have been raised in our churches to do as the culture does. Procrastinate and slip it under the rug. In other words, it is much easier to overlook caustic behavior, because when we look in the mirror, sometimes that behavior hits us squarely in the face and we would rather ignore it, then take a stab at allowing the Holy Spirit to correct it.
So as Paul was teaching Timothy,… a “doulos” (slave) must not do certain things. So this disciple building command,… through the instruction of the Pastors/Elders in the church begins to be understood by the congregation as yielding to Christ… as the Holy Spirit sanctifies his church, … Then this holy restoration in the church becomes a reality early on and becomes ignored less over time resulting in maturity.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, (25) with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, (26) and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”
The instruction given by God in restoration is “early intervention”….because as Christ shows when we “win our brother” it is because the one that has been offended has gone to the offender, and does not ignore them. We have a society that ignores Christ’s command waiting for a “home run” ball to confront. According to Christ, he would rather we love our brother and sister early on,…as represented in the fruit of the Spirit, and not wait. Waiting and ignoring is a lack of love.
Thank you for seeing the need,
Blessings,
Chris
Brother Wayne,
I think you and have have proven (non-scientifically) that restoration, or church discipline is not a popular thing to discuss. This is also the indicative response from several of the churches I have been involved with as well….
Blessings,
Chris
Chris,
You have spoken the truth in your post and comment. Why is it that people are afraid to face the truth, yet call themselves Christians? Yes it is a sad, sad thing that really happens more in Baptist churches from my experience and travels. It seems that if a Pastors really preaches God’s Full Gospel as is required for Accountability to God, they are on egg shells and short term employment at that church. I have seen this in more Baptist churches than in other Denominations. As she bible says there re many false teachers and they come in all shapes and sizes. I believe failure to Preach the Full Gospel is false teaching. The old saying of “f you can’t stand the Heat, get out of the Kitchen (Pastorate)” I ‘am with you on the plurality of Elders for Accountability in the Church.
Wayne
Brother Wayne,
I am thankful that God allowed me to learn that lesson early in ministry. When I was about twenty years old,.. I was allowed to minister to the youth at a church in West Texas just outside of Midland. The church had about 120 youth and the city was very sports minded.
As I began to disciple these youth.. there were about 10 or so of the youth that God began to work with and they had a desire to go deeper in the riches of God’s Word. As we started down that path, the parents of a few of these students became uneasy with the questions they were being asked by their own children, and began to insist that we do more sports activities and less bible study. It wasn’t but about a month later that the Pastor calls me into his office and echoed the same sentiment as the Parents. He said we probably would get more response if we did more sports activities and included the parents. I was astonished to say the least.
He went on to say that the deacons agreed and encouraged me to go less with bible study and more with sports. He also said that he didn’t have much of a say in the matter since his paycheck was signed by the deacons and he had young children that needed to be fed. So,..I responded with a simple question. …. “Why in the world are you in the ministry? Why don’t you find another line of work? He didn’t have an answer.
Since that day,….I have never forgot the look on his face as he bowed his head in shame, but went right on with business as usual. What a pity!, not just for him but for the congregation….and your right, there are too many men in the same boat, willing to sell short the message for a few dollars in return. As you have pointed out,..there are many Pastors that can’t afford to preach the Word and bring the good news of “restoration” to the congregation.
Blessings,
Chris
Wayne,
One of the distinguishing marks of a Believer is the inner desire to want to be restored whether he is the offender or offended. The offender would be convicted by the Holy Spirit or his inner man to apologize and restore. The offended would be moved by the Fruit of the Spirit within him to correct and restore. When there is no movement by one or the other you can categorize him until you know for sure by other works they display who or what they are. As we properly mature in the faith we are able to distinguish the differences between sheep and goats.