In order to help people see the error of their ways, we need to learn from the master teacher – Christ.  It can be quite challenging to any Christian to help people see the truth, if they themselves are being accused of teaching error. This happened to our Lord on many occasions. We shall examine one incident and glean some valuable truths.

There was an incident where Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath, who had an infirmity for eighteen years (Lk. 13:10-17). As what would often happen, Christ was accused of breaking God’s law in healing on the Sabbath. So what did Jesus do to help them see that not only was He in the right, but managed to prove them to be wrong? In short, He used consistency as a teaching method.

After our Lord was accused of healing on the Sabbath, here is what He said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound – think of it – for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (vr. 15-16). What a great way to try and open the eyes of people, by getting them to see what they were doing is the same.

This is exactly what we need to do to help erring brethren who have decided to loosen the standard, to be less strict. The key is to get on common ground as to what we all agree is wrong. Since a hierarchy system doesn’t exist in the Lord’s church – Christ being the head (Col. 1:18), then anything that is similar to a hierarchy would be wrong. Let’s think this through so we can use this to help others.

If a religious group had a headquarters, let’s say in Rome, then that means local groups connected with them send their funds to the head church. We now see who decides what is to be done with those funds. There is no church autonomy (self-governing), as you see in the scriptures (I Pet. 5:1-3). Decisions to evangelize, edify, and help needy brethren are to be done by the local congregation. You don’t send funds to any group of people, who will then in turn send the funds they gathered to other groups “they” decide need it.

However, there are churches of Christ that will take their funds and send it to another church or to some governing body, in order to let them decide what to do with the funds. This is no different than what many denominations do. We must see that there is no middleman for a church to do its work. Churches send sent directly to preachers (Phil. 4:16). Churches send directly to a church in need (Acts 11:29-30).

Here is the point we all need to see. Just as Jesus used consistency to help people see their hypocrisy, we can do the same. To hear Christians condemn a hierarchy system within the religious realm, yet engage in something similar is inconsistent. Why would it be right for churches to send money to one church for them to decide who they will send out and support to preach? Why would churches send money to a relief organization who will in turn decide who to send money to in order to help the needy?

Whether it be called a missionary society or a sponsoring church, these are church terms that brethren have used to help people see that these are unauthorized arrangements. Are they similar to a hierarchy system? Yes, they are and hopefully we can help erring brethren see this. Nothing can be more obvious (if mind is not closed) than when someone is being inconsistent.

Unfortunately, when these things are brought up, the discussion turns away from scripture and the focus is on the results. In other words, the ends justify the means. Therefore, you hear things like, “Look at the good we are doing.” And, “How can helping others be wrong?” With this we point out I Timothy 5:16, where Paul stated that doing a good work would be wrong. How something is done is just as important as doing it.  Let’s think long and hard on these things.

Chuck

Effective Discipline 

Everyone needs moments of correction and rebuke throughout their lives. We need this in all of our relationships - parent to a child, a boss to an employee and even the church to a wayward member (I Cor. 5). When people do things that are wrong, there must be some kind of disciplinary action. If not, the problem will only get worse. Does the Bible give us any insight as to what would be effective disciple? The answer is yes. Let’s take a look at this important issue from a Biblical perspective.

Be angry and sin not

The brethren at Ephesus were warned about allowing their anger to cause them to sin (Eph. 4:26). When someone does something wrong, individuals will obviously be upset. However, we must use self-control or we could easily do or say something wrong too! When a rebuke is carried out with a lost temper, the person is just venting rather than trying to provide correction. There is a good reason why God’s people are to be slow to wrath (James 1:19).

Be consistent

Nothing destroys the effectiveness of discipline more than being inconsistent. Consider a parent who tells a child not to do something. The child does it and nothing is said. Then the child does it again and this time he is rebuked. And then another time it is overlooked. This does nothing more than create confusion and waste of time. Discipline must be done right away every time (Prov. 13:24).

Be unwavering

There is no sense in saying, “Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! I said, Stop! Okay fine, go ahead!” Such behavior teaches that obedience is optional. The guilty will try to justify their actions – that is what the guilty do. To exercise proper discipline, one has to be firm (Gal. 2:11).

Be certain

Discipline is necessary, but it must be justified. We can cause great harm if we rebuke an innocent person. Jesus warned about being angry with a brother without a cause (Matt. 5:22). Getting the facts is vital because wrongly punishing someone will only provoke them. Consider Paul’s warning to fathers not to provoke their children to wrath (Eph. 6:4). We need to be swift to hear and slow to speak for this very reason (James 1:19).

Be willing to enforce punishment

We can see how punishment works if we consider a parent who is applying all the principles discussed so far. For example, a father might tell his child, “Since you did what you were told not to, you will lose your cell phone privileges for two days.” The child says, “That’s not fair!”  The dad calmly responds, “Do you want to go for 3 days?” The child then raises their voice again and says, “You have got to be kidding me!” Then the father calmly says, “That’s 3 days, do you want to go for 4?”  By this time the child realizes they need to be quiet and accept the punishment before it gets worse. The father must now be firm – if he changes his mind and gives the phone back, nothing was accomplished.  The goal is to change the bad behavior (Prov. 22:15).

Effective discipline is not fun and games. Neither giving nor receiving chastening enjoyable, but the end results will hopefully bear fruit (Heb. 12:11). It is totally unacceptable to say that we love someone too much to discipline them. The truth is, we show love by offering discipline as needed (Heb. 12:6).

                                                                                       Chuck