Apples of Gold

Our little Shih-Poo, Gus, is a tad spoiled. Technically he is my grand dog so perhaps that gives me a better excuse for allowing his shenanigans? 

Gus is getting older and he is carrying a bit of extra weight. Jumping has begun to bother his legs at times. Unfortunately, he loves to jump onto the couch, onto the bed, back to the floor. 

We have tried numerous things to get him to stop hurting himself. He now has two sets of stairs which we move around the house in order to at least give him the option to be careful! 

Attempting to alter his behavior is a long and arduous process. He is doing better with using them but he gets a tad annoyed with our continuous efforts to keep him safe. 

Love is our motivation and pain free mobility is our goal. Intervention was a necessary part of the process. 

When we observe unhealthy, and even dangerous behavior in the life of someone we love, we cringe at the thought of having to intervene. We pray they change their ways. We ask God to step in and block their path. We give cleverly cloaked advice hoping they will be able to decipher the hidden message.

What we usually don’t do is this:

If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it,  you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the Church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. Matthew 18:15-17

Why? This is uncomfortable. This is painful. This is likely to produce an initial reaction that we do not want. And yet this is exactly what Jesus told us to do. 

What happens when we fail to heed this Scripture?

We Fail the One in need of Correction

To become proficient in anything there is a learning curve. When I took Homiletics in Bible College we spent a whole lot of time learning what not to do. It was painful to hear constructive criticism after you delivered your carefully crafted sermon, but it was extremely insightful and helpful. 

Sure I blushed a few times as I stood on the platform in front of 100+ people pointing out my weaknesses; but I took the input seriously. I learned to speak slower, and make better eye contact. I understood that the other students, and the professor were acting like a three-way mirror, allowing me see things that I had overlooked, not to hurt my feelings but to sharpen my skill.

God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening-it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Hebrews 12:10-11

We Fail the One in Need of Protection

No one is an island. When someone is in need of correction there is almost always someone being harmed by the behavior. 

Church hurt is a real thing. I know people who have gone to their grave refusing to allow God to penetrate the layers of concrete they have poured around their hearts after being mistreated by a religious leader. More often than not, the hardening occurred not just from the abuse, but from the lack of response from those who knew. 

Overlooking sinful behavior in the life of the “Super Christians” is an all too common occurrence. Their fans give them a pass as they leave a trail of victims in their wake. From false prophets to mega church pastors and chart topping worship artists there is no shortage of examples to draw from. 

As these stories unfold, without exception there are people around them who knew, or at least strongly suspected, what was going on. This is not only not ok, it is in itself sinful behavior.

Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. Proverbs 21:13

We Fail those Who are Observing

The level of cynicism and skepticism regarding Christianity is dangerously high. The heartbreaking part is that the failure of the church to implement biblical correction helped to drive it there. 

I am deeply troubled by Christian Charities paying outrageously high salaries to their CEO’s; salaries that are drawn from the funds that people are sacrificially sending to help those in need. I’m not opposed to paying a decent salary but this stuff is table turning level!

The world watches a few get rich while those they are “helping” suffer. This ought not to be!

The severity of unbiblical, and at times criminal behavior, is winked at while the world attempts to reconcile what the church says with how it actually functions. This is a stumbling block placed directly in the path of those who are searching for God. It gives an excuse to those who want to doubt his existence.  

If we want to reach the lost, the element of correction cannot continue to be ignored. May God give us a healthy, balanced approach to a difficult subject.

Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this too. 2 Corinthians 5:11