Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 4; 1 Kings 5; 2 Chronicles 2; Psalm 101; 2 Thessalonians 3
Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Observation: I find this passage interesting. It tells us that we are to pay attention to how well the people in the church are following the word, and if someone is not obeying, to disassociate from that person. The purpose is to purify the church and create an atmosphere where disobedience is not ok.
Application: The church today has pretty much given up on this kind of church discipline. It seems to be "anything goes." I wonder what would happen if we would hold that line of holiness and high expectation and actually do what the passage says. What do you think?
Prayer: Lord, help us to figure out how to apply these principles in our church today. We need help.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1 comment:
Amen! This passage also makes clear that the purpose of this is to bring the offending party back to a close relationship with God. It specifically says we are not to regard such a person as an enemy but to warn him as a brother. But people get so offended today and we have so many churches that this kind of discipline doesn't really work anymore. A person who is ostracized as a warning can just go to another church. The "sting" of being excluded from the company of friends is removed. They just go make new ones somewhere else. Cynthia
Post a Comment