"Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his
sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation." (1 Samuel 2:22)
When Eli's sons were practicing vice, theft, and
fornication, Eli mildly rebuked his sons but he did not oust them from office
or otherwise hold them accountable, and through such negligence Eli shared the
sins of his sons and was guilty of honouring his sons above God. (1 Samuel 2:
27-30) The Eli Syndrome has infected many churches and is destroying Christian
influence and soul winning power. Often people in church leadership and
teaching positions who set a bad example or teach damnable heresies are not
held accountable. Vice, sexual immorality, fraudulent business practices, and
rebellious youths often go on unaddressed and unrebuked. Ministers and
counselors often make a point of befriending and rewarding the unruly, the
rebels, and the infidels while neglecting the dedicated believers. The
rebellious, unruly, and incorrigible are often rewarded with activities and
recreation to keep them, hoping that pacifying and pampering them will convert
them and expecting that we can somehow win competing against the world when it
comes to fun and thrills while hoping that a little leaven will have no
negative affect.
A censorious spirit is wrong and must be avoided.
(Isaiah 29:20-21; Matthew 7:4) We must avoid being against so much that we are
not for anything or become guilty of putting pet theories and preferences above
God’s Word. (Romans 14:1,7-12; 2 Timothy 2:14-15) In dealing with the sins of
others it is important to recognize one’s own humanness. (Galatians 6:1; Isaiah
42:19) God always wants to forgive more than we want to be forgiven, and we
should reflect that attitude. (Psalm 103:8-14; Romans 5:8) For example, note in
2 Corinthians 12:21 that the main concern is not whether any church members
have sinned but whether those who sinned have repented. But we must be careful
to maintain a balance between compassion in reconciling people to the fold and
that of overlooking unrepentant sin, and we must promote the faithful. (1
Corinthians 5:12; 2 Corinthians 13:2; 1 Timothy 5:20; 1 Peter 4:17)
Joining an organization means or implies submission to
the discipline of that organization. Why do so many assume that church
membership is supposed to be an exception?
Dealing With Sinning Christians: An Overview of Church Discipline
10 Things You Should Know about Church Discipline
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