PRACTICAL THOUGHTS by D. T. Bourdeau

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 27, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 22

PRACTICAL THOUGHTS.

By D. T. Bourdeau

BY ELD. D. T. BOURDEAU.

A BRANCH OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE SADLY NEGLECTED.

The duty of dealing with the erring is one that is sadly neglected in most modern churches, and how can we expect the church to keep pure? In many cases, the sins of the erring are handled, not in the Bible way, but by way of backbiting before the offended one has spoken to the offender. Such a course is censurable, and is productive of mischief, division, and rebellion; and it devolves on pastors and evangelists to check it whenever it is observed or heard of. Says the Saviour, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.” Matt. 18:15–17.

Here is the order laid down by the Saviour for the application of church discipline. First tell thy brother his fault between thee and him alone. You will be more likely to succeed this way, than by publishing the wrongs committed, and going to the offender with a large force, as though you were going to overpower him. Go to the erring with tenderness, as his friend, one who has his good at heart, and does not wish to publish his wrongs, but to exercise that charity that covers a multitude of sins, if they are repented of. If this course fails, take the other steps, being sure to employ spiritual and disinterested persons as helpers, and avoid cramping the erring, and using the sharpness of the lawyer.

In many cases, if the aggrieved would go directly to the offender, with a right spirit and in a proper manner, there would be far less talking about the erring, and the trial need not be brought before a second party, nor before the church.

Pains should be taken to guard the reputation of those who have erred in a private capacity, unless the cause of God demands that their course should be published. Paul had this in view when he said, “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.” 1 Tim. 5:19.

JUDGE NOT BEFORE THE TIME.

“Judge nothing,” says Paul, “before the time, until the Lord come.” 1 Cor. 4:5. These words imply two things: 1. That now is not the time to judge; and 2. That the saints shall judge after Christ comes. Matt. 19:28; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; Rev. 20:4. Even Christ did not come as a judge, but as a Saviour. He says, “I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47. Again, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.” Chap. 3:17. And we should labor in harmony with Christ.

The Saviour forbids judging. He says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matt. 7:1, 2. This is not simply pronouncing a thing wrong that is wrong, or saying that right is right; for in the same discourse Christ says, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Verse 16. Jesus is speaking of brother dealing with brother in the church, and forbids the passing of rash, censorious, and unmerciful sentences upon erring brethren. He condemns viewing their errors in an exaggerated light, as though their case were hopeless, demanding that they should be treated only with severity, and judged in a final sense. To such he says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged.” Whatever unmerciful sentences we pass upon our brethren, God will pass upon us. Fearful work! In another passage, Jesus says, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in Heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven.” Matt. 18:10. It is dangerous to exclude from our respect and tender feelings those who still enjoy the watchcare of good angels, and who have not yet been rejected by Jesus or his Father.

Again the Saviour says, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt. 6:14, 15. The great thing that tends to make some view the errors of their brethren in an exaggerated light, is looking at the mote in their brother’s eye, without considering the beam (the serious sins) in their own eye. While weeding our own gardens, we are led to view the wrongs of our brethren in a merciful light, and are preparing to be a real help to the erring.

BLEND MERCY WITH JUSTICE.

In the plan of salvation, mercy and justice kiss each other; and wise and successful is the man who, while laboring for his own salvation and that of his fellow-creatures, blends mercy with justice. It will not do to look at ourselves or others simply in the light of justice; if we do, justly condemned, we shall fail of salvation, and cannot be successful messengers of salvation to others. Neither should we view ourselves and others merely in the light of mercy; for mercy is dispensed only to those who, feeling their need of it and humbly begging for it, honor justice by embracing it and earnestly striving to carry out its principles in their lives.

There probably never was a man who had a greater regard for justice, and was more law-abiding than Moses; but Moses was ever ready to implore mercy for his erring people, as well as to show mercy to them. This he did repeatedly, notwithstanding their continual murmurings and grievous rebellions. See Num. 14. When they had sinned in making them a golden calf, and had forsaken God, who had brought them out of Egypt, and proclaimed his law to them in so wonderful a manner, Moses pleaded thus for them: “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” Ex. 32:32.

What love! what mercy! He preferred to be lost himself, rather than to see his people lost. He had labored hard for them, loved them; and could not easily turn away from them. This was like Paul, who could wish himself accursed from Christ for his brethren, his kinsmen according to the flesh. Rom. 9:3.

On another occasion the Lord proposed to destroy the children of Israel, and make of Moses a great nation. Did Moses accept this flattering offer? Here was a fine opportunity for promotion; and surely, had he looked only at justice, he might have left his people to receive the just deserts of their sinful doings. But again he pleads for mercy in their behalf, and God is merciful.

Moses, in this respect, was a type of Christ, who said, “Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.” Matt. 5:7. Had Christ been shut up to stern justice, he would have left man to perish in his sins; but mercy moved his soul to its very depth in man’s behalf, and we may now have hope. May we, in our spheres, dispense sweet mercy, while honoring eternal justice, the sure and immutable rule of God’s moral government.