2 THESSALONIANS 3:14
“IF ANYONE DOES NOT OBEY OUR INSTRUCTION IN THIS LETTER, TAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF THAT PERSON AND DO NOT ASSOCIATE WITH HIM, SO THAT HE WILL BE PUT TO SHAME”.
The downward trend of church discipline is perhaps the most visible failure in modern day history. It is difficult to imagine what it would be like to live in a society where citizens could flaunt the laws without any consequences; no arrest, no imprisonment,no fines and no punishment. Just imagine a home where every child is allowed to do whatever pleases them with utterly no discipline. Your guess is as good as mine, Chaos “would reign as king, and destruction would be the subjects”.
Many modern day believers want to be “convenient Christians”. The moral character of the church is a sad reflection of the church. Waywardness, corruption, blatant disregard for traffic laws, no respect for the aged etc. Every serious Bible student knows that, there is ample authority for the practice of discipline in the church, yet for convenience sake, most preachers choose to ignore it just to keep high numbers. Jesus taught that, one who has wronged his brother or sister, and cannot be persuaded to repent either by the offended person or independent witnesses or the church in general should be treated as “Gentile and a republican”. ( Matthew 18:17) In the real context, this means that, the church was to have no social contact with hardened and unrepentant offenders. Paul instructed the leaders in the church in Rome to look out for those “who are causing divisions and stumbling contrary to the doctrine”.
“Turn away from these self serving egotists who are deceiving the innocent ones”. ( Romans 16:17) Church discipline is not an act of revenge towards those who are misbehaving in the church, it is designed to save the erring child of God.
To be cont..
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
