2 THESSALONIANS 3:14
Many church leaders have abused the processes leading to church discipline. Even in civil government, there’s always room for people to make amends. The church is like a hospital, where people come to be treated of their ailments.
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick”.( Luke 5:31 NIV)
Discipline is not to be administered for every little infraction. None of us can see into the heart of another, and therefore, there are certain realms in which it is impossible to discern between “the wheat and the tares”. In cases where there’s gross disrespect for church structures, disloyalty to church authority and where there’s total disregard for processes and procedures in the church, discipline must be applied. Church members can not be undermining the very organisation they are part of. “You can’t be against what you are part of”. Discipline must be administered without judging the person. God alone can judge the inner man.
“What is inwardly evil, God will judge: What is outwardly evil, the church should correct”. ( Corinthians 5:12-13)
“Therefore, put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (1 Corinthians 5:13).
Paul instructed church to disassociate themselves from the man living an incestuous life. He was living with his step mother, as husband and wife. Discipline has broken into pieces in the church. The church no longer commands respect. If there’s no difference between the circular world and the church, then people may as well just stay in their homes.
Yes! there are modem trends, yes! nobody can build the future by living in the past. But we must not also compromise discipline on the altar of grace, financial benefits and expediency, else we will go back to the days of Judges after Joshua; “where everyone does what is pleasing to their eyes”.
Stay blessed always and remember to love someone and mean it.
#sociallysignificant #Lukebarson #Libertybreakfast
Rev. Prophet Luke Luki Barson is the Senior Pastor at Liberty House Christian Centre at Tema Community 25.
He has studied at the University of Ghana, the Methodist University College and the Christian Service University College.
He is currently a PhD student at the University of South Africa.
Source: BestNewsGH.com
