Thursday, April 14, 2005
Restoring Christian Relationships
"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector." -- Matthew 18:15-17
These are good rules. Hey, there will always be conflict. The question is, how do you resolve it?
Here's what I was taught:
These are good rules. Hey, there will always be conflict. The question is, how do you resolve it?
Here's what I was taught:
- Go to the person yourself.
- If that doesn't fix it, bring a friend and go to the person.
- If that doesn't fix it, bring it to the church
- If that doesn't fix it, run away.
What that means is that if you have a problem or issue with someone, you don't need to go tell the world--first approach that person directly and discretely. They may not even know that they have offended you and would want to seek reconciliation. If that does not work, then bring a friend who can help explain the situation and the grievances to the other person. Do this behind closed doors so that the world does not know.
If the first two steps do not work, it is our obligation as Christains to bring it to the church elders and seek advice. How severe is the incident? Have we gone overboard? An impartial judge can do wonders.
If that does not work, then and only then do you have the right to "cast them out" and go on with your life.
Comments:
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The Amish practice "shunning" because of these particular verses. IMO, if an individual willfully and repeatedly goes against Christ's admonition to "go and sin no more", then they are not believers and should be cast from the fellowship. However, what about the parable of the Wheat and the Weeds? Doesn't it tell us that it is up to God, not man, whether an individual is cast from the fellowship? Perhaps I am misinterpreting this parable. These are very difficult questions, and I wish I knew the answers.
If you are interested in the real results of shunning, please visit http://www.amishdeception.com. Please read David Yoder's book at the beginning of this website.(you might be directed to the message board at the web address I have given you.)
If you are interested in the real results of shunning, please visit http://www.amishdeception.com. Please read David Yoder's book at the beginning of this website.(you might be directed to the message board at the web address I have given you.)
Just a clarification--to me "cast them out" doesn't mean to "never" talk to them, but to just remove them from your daily life.
A lot has to be gone through to get to that point...
Thanks for the comments! I'll check out your link!
A lot has to be gone through to get to that point...
Thanks for the comments! I'll check out your link!
Yeah, I've been busy... my wife's folks came to visit, and then I took a trip to North Carolina.
I'm planning to fire up the old blog machine tomorrow!
Thank you for checking!
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I'm planning to fire up the old blog machine tomorrow!
Thank you for checking!
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