Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load.
Galatians 6:1-5
There is much to learn from the above passage, but I primarily want to point out two thoughts. First, we are to watch out for one another. We are to help fellow believers "get up" when they fall. This does not mean we are to condone what they have done, but we are too restore them (in love!). Second, we are to watch out for ourselves (i.e., watch out for temptations and stumbling blocks). It is easy to look at someone else and judge ourselves according to them. However, we should examine ourselves and test our works according to the perfect standard of Jesus Christ.
Yes, I know there is much, much more to this passage, but I really think these two thoughts are needed right now among many believers. I do hope that you can stand strong in the Lord and help weaker brothers "get up" when they fall.
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Good morning Matt
can you say that agian... I was asleep - I'm sorry :)
Naww really - good stuff!
So you are saying we're not supposed to kick them out or kick them either one. This could lead to a whole new teaching if it catches on. You know Matt the one thing that seems to be knawing at me is communication or lack of. In our work we have a line dividing us larger than the Mason-Dixon line. I read blogs of disenchantment with the ABA from our younger bretheren (?) and I read responses with so much wrath ad fury that I have to wonder where it comes from. I know Jesus cleared the Temple but that dosen't excuse some of these responses. Do you reckon Satan is being allowed to influence in some of this. When we study the Good Book do we not see ourselves in there? Just curious. When the young Pastors (What constitutes young anyway?)say, "We need to do away with our traditions." they seem to be refering to our way of assembling ie, 9:45 start time, a suit and tie, funeral music only please, my way or go down the highway. If you pay close enough attention to the underlying rebuttals these men old Pastors (What is older?)are referring to the doctrinal stands. You have a lack of communication. Satan is having a ball with this. Since both groups firmly believe in the truths of the Bible they are strong in their statements. Brother Bill put it best when he told a class I was in be careful of what you say, referring to a statement he made "...we do not allow any thongs in here" he of course was speaking about a rubber shoe so named in the 60's unaware that name was now applied to a thin strip of cloth called underwear today. In just 40 years our terminalogy has changed what is a mouse, what does cool mean, how about hot, and probably my all time favorite gay. My point in all of this rambling is we need to get on the same page when we are communicating. If we are having trouble understanding each other we should find a translator, oh wait a minute as messengers of God's word don't we have one? He is called the Holy Spirit and we need to start using Him before we blog. As a man that came here 30 years ago from the north I still can't believe a Texan can put his lawnmower in the turtle. Up north we call that part of the car the trunk. This is much like the fact that what is traditions to the young is the order of business to the old. Brother we have much to do and little time to do it in lets do what we're called to do win people to the Lord. While we're at why don't we call them an assembly then no one will mistake them for a building down the street. Love you Matt check us out at www.landmarkmissionarybaptist.com long one eh. You will find those traditions those old guys are strongly defending there. Wouldn't it be awesome if these guys could put the energy into soul winning that they put into bickering over how to do it. PeeWee
Pee Wee,
Those are some of the same thoughts I've been pondering myself...Now that's scary!
Matt,
I preached at a conference in Houston with Bro. Clark about 3 years ago. He shared the following illustration from his life.
Something like...
It was the first time the small town he was from had ever seen a man jump out of an airplane. Afterwards he and his cousin went home and tried to imitate the man jumping out of the plane. He jumped off of a barn with a big hat and needless to say the hat didn't work like the parachute so he fell and was laying there in pain. His cousin ran for help. His aunt arrived to the scene and instead of yelling at him about what he had done, she picked him up, carried him inside, and bandaged his wounds. He said, "I was glad she did tell him how stupid he was", because I had already figured that out!
Matt,
I preached at a conference in Houston with Bro. Clark about 3 years ago. He shared the following illustration from his life.
Something like...
It was the first time the small town he was from had ever seen a man jump out of an airplane. Afterwards he and his cousin went home and tried to imitate the man jumping out of the plane. He jumped off of a barn with a big hat and needless to say the hat didn't work like the parachute so he fell and was laying there in pain. His cousin ran for help. His aunt arrived to the scene and instead of yelling at him about what he had done, she picked him up, carried him inside, and bandaged his wounds. He said, "I was glad she did tell him how stupid he was", because I had already figured that out!
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