"O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me." - Psalms 86:14-17
It is easy to hate, isn't it friends? It is easy to gossip, to mock, and to point out the qualities in people that are imperfect. Why do we, as Christians, not point out the good in one another? It seems that everywhere we turn, we are being degraded, laughed at, and used as a form of entertainment. The Church has gossip within it, and ultimately the body of believers has gossip within it. I do not wish it to be this way, for this is not pleasing to God, but why is it this way? Could it be that some believers are not actually believers? Or could it be the mere fact that believers are sinners too?
I think it is a mixture of the two: some believers aren't actually believers, and believers happen to be sinners. This evil within the church firstly comes from a lack of genuine Christianity, especially within the bounds of American churches; I believe we are a highly self-deceived nation. And it secondly comes from the truth that believers still sin, even though they strive not to. As Romans 7 talks about, they "do what they do not want to do." What are churches and genuine Christians to do about this folly in the body of believers? Are we to excommunicate them and no longer acknowledge their existence? Are we to kindly accept them for who they are? I believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle; somewhere in the "ethical mean" (as aristotle would say).
Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 3:13 to "not grow weary in doing good." What are we to do when people do grow weary of doing good? Do not abandon people within the body of believers who have lost their way or who have began to step from the faith. In fact, pursue them more diligently. Paul goes on to help us understand what action we should take in this situation. "If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed" (2 Thessalonians 3:14). Did you catch what Paul just said? Did he say "have nothing to do with him," and cause him to be "ashamed"? Let me grant some insight.
The word translated "have nothing to do with him" is sunanamignumi, and it means more specifically "to mix up together". In other words, it doesn't mean to completely abandon this person who has not followed good ethics. It is a warning to not mix your lifestyle with his/hers so that you will not become unethical as they are. Keep your distance to stay pure, do not let them entice you into their evil.
Causing them to be ashamed makes perfect sense. It does not say to point out their flaws to others so that others will be ashamed of them, but merely let them be ashamed of himself/herself by showing the true way a believer is to function and think.
Lastly, Paul says in verse 15, "Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother." Do you understand this my friends? We are not to look at lost people as infidels and tyrants, but as captives. Not as evil people, but as people bound by evil. Not as slave-owners, but as slaves. Lost people are to be pitied most of all. We feel sorry for them and we "warn them as a brother" because we know the condemnation they are entitled to if they do not pick up the key to escape from their shackles. Do not regard your sinful brother or sister as an enemy, but as a soldier taken captive to the enemy to do his work.
Love one another, work with one another, and do not abandon each-other when one is falling. Help him get out of the water, but don't let him pull you in while in the process. I love you friends, support the body with your whole being and run from evil in the name of Jesus.
Blessings to you this day.
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