Think On Good Things

A reading from Philippians 4:4-9 KJV; Think on whatsoever is just, pure, lovely, of good report and glorify our Father in heaven.

Crooked Ways Are Found Out

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
   but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.

                                          (Prov 10:9 NIV)

I have spent a bit of time attempting to teach teen-age felons what it means to have integrity through cognitive behavior therapy. After I left the correctional facility and once again began serving in the church, I often thought how much easier it was to teach felons than Christians. 

Yes, that sounds horribly judgmental. But, it is the truth. Felons have been convicted. They have already been found guilty. You can present the case as to how badly they have damaged their and their loved one's lives without too much denial. But, way too often, Christians can be caught in the most obvious lies or other damaging words or deeds and still deny that they have been taking a crooked path. Christians are never as bad as the felons, or at least so many think. Sadly my experience has been that most of us who are not felons probably are not simply because we've never been caught. We are sinful human beings and it is really most helpful to one's life to repent; that is to acknowledge our sins and turn around to follow Christ on the straight and narrow path.

But, take my word for it. You can lie all you want. You can sneak around and do things that are most damaging to you, your loved ones, even your church. But, there are those whose eyes are wide open and they know the truth. You can deny it. But, you are only lying to yourself. Your attempts to stagger down the crooked path are found out. You cannot hide from God and you cannot hide from humankind forever. But, do not worry. You will most likely be allowed to go on deceiving yourself by thinking that no one knows. Christians, to a large degree, do not like confrontation and most will let you continue on the crooked path to your own demise.

I do not like confrontation. But, neither am I afraid of it. I do get tired of it, though. I get very tired of watching and listening to those who have no integrity. 

May God have mercy.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Sin

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
                                                                                                                    Matthew 18:15-18 NIV

No, not everything that is done within the church must be overlooked for the sake of loving our neighbors. Turning a blind eyes to the sins that occur within the church is not love. Sometimes loving our brothers and sisters in Christ means that confrontation must occur for the sake of all.

So many problems within congregations stem from the inability to call sin a sin. Sins against others and against God are overlooked and so the sin continues to hurt others. The hurtful sins that are allowed to continue will steer visitors right back out of the door.

I remember a woman from years ago who had the habit of snapping at people who tried to help her in the kitchen. She ran more than person from the church. I was told that her family had been founding members and that was just who she was and there was nothing that we could or should do about it. The inability of pastors and councils to follow the guidelines of church discipline as given to us by Jesus in Matthew 18 has been the cause of problems in many congregations that detract from the mission of the church: proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Let us forgive one another. Let us love one another. Within the church, let us love one another enough to call a sin a sin that we might repent and grow closer to God and to one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J