StandPoint117

What to do when a brother or sister is rebuked in your local assembly. Oftentimes we don't know what to do when we see or hear a brother has been found in a wrong and openly rebuked.  We oftentimes go to one extreme or the other,  At Times we avoid the person, which isn't wrong if it's rebellion against authority or if we are so instructed for example 1 Corinthians 5:13, Romans 16:17-18, 2 Thessalonians 3:14. However, another extreme is to show pity! A brother or sister under discipline needs everything but our emotional disposition or sentiment. What He / she needs is supply of the Spirit of Christ This is effective in prayer: Ephesians 6:18 is a clear instruction for all saints. We can NEVER be wrong praying for wisdom and insight into the Word for such a believer. Don't get things mixed up even if the brother is a friend, sibling or spouse and if the sister is too taking sides will ruin the person, no side comments or gist, Just do the Word Don't gossip!!! J...

Paul's rebuke of Peter at Antioch and how it affects us and the "Christian culture" today. The story of two cities, Jerusalem and Antioch. (Part 2 of a four-part series) It is clear that doctrines are never built out of the experiences of people in the Scriptures no matter who they are. It was only Jesus who was sinless and outside of Him one cannot just "copy" actions without having a sound theological foundation for it. Paul made it clear in his writings the nature of this principle. For example, the early Church practised at a stage having all things in common among them, without any form of discrimination, they made sure all had from the material substance of others. We, however, read later Paul teaching on the essence of work and encouraging believers not to enable laziness among the brethren. He said 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11 "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that t...

Paul's rebuke of Peter at Antioch and how it affects us and the "Christian culture" today. Was the humanity of Peter and Paul on display? This is a fairly long article but this has to be brought into the light and every student of the Scripture should follow these series. It is reported in the book of Galatians by Paul that he stood up to Peter and rebuked him publicly because he was to be blamed (clearly in the wrong). It is an often quoted scripture today in the use of public rebuke and it has begun to enter into the modern Christian culture. It is therefore important that we take a closer look at it and put it in its proper context. Context can be the difference between life and death. Words and actions have to be placed in their proper context for them to come alive. If one hears that a man shot and killed another person, depending on the context in which the act was committed, he is either a murderer or hero. If in a rage of anger over a traffic accident in which...