CORRECTING OUR SPIRITUAL COUSINS: How do we related to Christians who disagree with us?

As Israel approached Canaan, God warned them not to harass or harm Edom, Moab, and Ammon. Edom was descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother. Moab and Ammon were descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. They were, figuratively speaking Israel’s cousins. The Lord referred to them as their brethren and told Moses not to attack or harm them.

In studying the scriptures relating to these three nations, we might learn some lessons in how we relate to and deal with our spiritual “cousins.”

The issues are very clear when we deal with the non-Christian world. They reject the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. But the dynamics becomes a little more complex when we deal with fellow Christians who disagree with us on some doctrinal points. They may be in error, but we cannot automatically say they are of the devil and evil. The New Testament does not tolerate heresy and false prophets, but it does call for humility, wisdom, and grace in dealing with them. Here are a few points to remember.

Matthew 13: 24-30
We must be careful less we pull up “wheat with the tares.” Don’t “tar everyone with the same brush.” The “heresy police,” sometimes include those who do love God and are not of the devil. There are various levels of bad judgment and error. Some are straight from the devil and warrant serious and stern rebuke. But we cannot consign to hell everyone who disagrees with us. Actual “false prophets” will be judged severely. But some of these suspects do love Jesus and believe His word even though they have questionable motives and have erred in some areas.

Obadiah 1:15
We should not take pleasure in God’s judgment on our wayward spiritual “Cousins.” We should take note of Obadiah’s word to Edom. “But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother, in the day of his captivity; Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; nor should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress…you should not have gloated over their affliction in the day of their calamity.” He who laughs at the calamity of others will not go unpunished.

Luke 19: 41
As Jesus drew near, He saw the city and wept over it. He knew the city would face judgment, and He was grieved for the suffering He knew was coming. When we see fellow Christians in error or stumbling, we should not have an arrogant and self-righteous attitude. We should confront the heresy, but we must have compassion and be motivated by grief more than disgust. We should weep over those we think are headed toward judgment.

Galatians 6:1-3
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to examine ourselves. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Jesus also commanded us to remove the plank from our own eye before we try to remove the speck from our brother’s eye (Matthew 7:1-5). It is foolish to think we are infallible.

Revelation 2:2-5
Jesus commended the church at Ephesus for not tolerating false prophets; but He also rebuked them for losing their first love. We must speak the truth, but we must speak the truth in love. Church discipline must not be neglected or abused. Is it possible that someone you thought was going to hell might end up being your next-door neighbor in heaven. May God give us boldness to confront unbelief and heresy, but may He also give us grace, discernment, wisdom, and compassion so that we do not interfere with the redemptive process God may have in mind for those gone astray. We don’t want to injure the innocent, and we do not want to hurt anyone unnecessarily. Correcting people is sometimes similar to major surgery. It may seem invasive, but it still needs to be done delicately.


broblong@gmail.com
www.billylongministries.com

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