The Church’s Responsibility For It’s Members

I Thessalonians 5:14-15

My neighbor had a cow who refused to stay in his pasture. Every time she was put into a pasture, she would find a place where she could get her head through, and push and pull until she was able to get through. Fixing fences became almost an hourly project. Although he had intended to keep her, he finally sold her to eliminate the frustration. He couldn’t afford to take the chance of her causing a wreck, damaging other people’s property, and teaching the other cows to get out.

Just as my neighbor is responsible for taking care of his cows, the church is responsible to care for it’s members. Some refuse to stay within bound, and must be warned of the dangers and consequences of their actions. Others become discouraged, or persist in doing counterproductive activities and need encouragement and guidance. Conflicts arise that can destroy the church. Paul gives the following advice to prevent such problems.

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” (I Thessalonians 5:14-15)

Those who refuse to stay within the boundaries must be warned of the consequences of their actions, as described in Matthew 18:15-17. “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.”

It is easy to become impatient with those who do wrong, those who are discouraged or continue in counterproductive behavior, but must avoid anger because our impatience and anger will result in more anger and sin, as Proverbs 29:22 tells us. “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” Instead we are to be meek or undemanding in our approach as Galatians 6:1 describes. “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.”

Vengeance and punishment are not the churches prerogative, but God’s. We are to let him take care of them. We need to follow Romans 12:19-21. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Church discipline should only be exercised after attempts at correction and reconciliation have failed, to protect the church , and in hopes of causing the guilty to examine themselves. It is never to be taken as the first step, or with the idea of punishing them. James 4:11 states that when we begin to judge and punish others we have set ourselves above them as immune from judgment ourselves. “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.” We have begun to intrude on God’s authority.

Peter sums up the churches responsibility to its members as follows.

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” (I Peter 3:8-12)