Behind The Woodshed

15“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16“But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17“And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 18“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19“Againd I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Matthew 18: 15 - 20 NKJV 

It is a common practice in the church to place criticism and shame at the feet of one who deserves it.  Should one wander from the flock to partake of the pleasures of the world then that individual needs to be reminded of his errors in a major way.  Often, simply confronting a brother with his indiscretion is not enough.  No, the sinning brother must be shown the error of his ways.  With enough shame and condemnation, he will think twice before he dips his foot in the pools of temptation ever again.  The trouble with this approach is that we are told that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus {Romans 8:1}.  And if there is indeed no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, how is it that we approach a brother who has fallen short?  I was reminded this week by Dennis of this very situation.  See, Dennis noticed that I had partaken in a behavior which did not fit who I truly was.  Now, Dennis' thoughts on my actions are key to his response not only to myself but to how we should approach a wayward brother in Christ.  Do we march the lad into a church office in front of some witnesses in order to shame him into behaving?  Do we escort him in front of the congregation to serve as a example of how to deal with a sinning brother?  Unfortunately, this is common practice in the church today.  Apparently it is more useful to shame someone into good behavior than to approach a brother with gentleness and understanding.  So, when is the last time that you responded positively to someone who was heaping shame upon you?  To one who was placing his moral standards above yours?  I know that I would not and HAVE NOT responded well to such tactics.  There is indeed a better way, and one that may well save your friendship with another.

1Brethren, if a man is aovertaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5For each one shall bear his own load.

Galations 6: 1 - 5 NKJV 

The apostle Paul provides us with some words of wisdom when we are dealing with a wayward brother.  "For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself."  Likewise, if anyone thinks himself to be holier than thou, he is indeed deceiving himself.  Anyone ever heard of the pot calling the kettle black?  Indeed, shame never healed anyone.  So, the first question that Dennis asked of me this week was not "What the hell were you thinking?"  No, he simply asked "Who is it that you really are?"  Ok, I get it Dennis.  Am I indeed that wayward prodigal son who wanders far from the Lord he loves?  Of course not, I'm dead to that {Romans 6: 6-11}.  The antics of my "Old man" who was indeed crucified with Christ Jesus are no longer a concern to me.  That man is long dead.  What remains today is Christ who is in me {Galations 2:20}.  There is no longer any need for that dreaded whooping behind the woodshed, but instead a gentle reminder of who it is we truly are in our identity.  I am not simply a sinner saved by grace, but the image of Christ Jesus who is in me.  What was Jesus' response to satan in his temptations?  No, satan, for IT IS WRITTEN!  BOOM!  The old spirit of error will indeed continue to try to persuade us into partaking in what feels good.  The fact is, we're now dead to that.  

~Scott~