Correct?
Matthew 18:15-17 NLT – 15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
What I said yesterday didn’t mean to ignore sin. I feel the need to be careful with this because it is too easy to think because you don’t agree with someone then they are in sin. It is also too easy to think nothing of sin. This is why I talk a lot about love. Love is always the answer. Correction without love is purposeless and would tend toward division. One preacher in the 1950s asked God what was the main problem in the American church and God told him our dogged determination to correct each other. Many congregations have gone the opposite direction that now they don’t even recognize sin. We need to get out of these ditches and find the road.
Romans 14:1-4 NLT – 1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.
I knew two men. One was a marijuana addict who got saved. His friend who led him to the Lord wanted to immediately tell him to quit smoking dope, but God kept telling him not to say anything. One day the addict was driving down the road praising God and smoking dope when God told him that he didn’t need it [marijuana] anymore. The former addict immediately accepted it and threw the joint away. God did a wonderful work in his life! His friend may have messed it up if he spoke too soon. We need to pray and listen to the Lord.
Be blessed!
TJ
Target Louisville with Prayer 