[Biblemat] S) HAVE YOU NOT READ...?

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

HAVE YOU NOT READ...?  "WE BEHAVED OURSELVES AMONG YOU"

     When Paul wrote the young congregation at Thessalonica
reviewing his work among them, he made a statement which
I fear some could not truthfully make these days.  Said he, "Ye are 
witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and un-
blameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe" (1
Thes. 2:10).  Paul preached the truth to them, but he also practiced what he 
preached.

     Paul viewed preaching as a trust not to be violated.  "But
as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel,
even so we speak" (vs. 4).  That precluded "pleasing men"
(vs. 4).  His approach was humble, not pompous.  He was not
"burdensome" or forboding in manner, though he was a genu-
ine apostle of Christ.  He said he was "gentle among you, even as a nurse 
cherisheth her children...we exhorted and 
comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his
children" (vss. 7,11).  The gospel is God's message, not our
own.  We shall give account of our stewardship.

     It would help if all of us had Paul's attitude toward the bret-
hren at Thessalonica.  He said, "ye were dear unto us" (vs. 8)
and so he was willing not only to preach to them but, if need
be, to die for them (vs. 8).  Sometimes there is an elite attitu-
de among preachers.  It is "us" against "them."  "We" are the
preachers and "they" are the brethren.  A preacher once told
me that he kept aloof from the brethren and had found that it
was not best to get too close to them.  His work was a failure
and he is no longer preaching.  Preachers need to sing with
the rest, "When each can feel his brother's sigh, and with him
bear a part, when sorrow flows from eye to eye, and joy from
heart to heart."

Misbehavior: -- The cause of Christ suffers when preachers
do not behave as they ought.

     1. High living on income which does not match expensive
tastes only plunges one deeper into debt.  It is a shame for
preachers to dodge creditors adn leave town owing bills they
will not pay.  Dishonest preachers are a stumbling block to the lost.

     2. Arrogance destroys men and churches.  Striving to have your way and 
protect your "rights" can devastate churc-
hes.  Pulpit temper tantrums, petitions seeking redress, phone calls to 
muster sympathy and rally supporters, and other such unholy actions surely do not 
reflect the spirit of
one who said the brethren were "dear" unto him.  How many
divisions have been caused by the wounded pride of preach-
ers?

     3. Preachers are not above the law.  "Thou that teachest
another, teachest thou not thyself?" (Rom. 2:21).  It is easy
to bind heavy burdens on others while exempting self from
the same duties.  While we are urging others to study and 
grow, are we just warming over what we learned when we first began to preach? 
 Are we men of prayer?  Are we out in
front showing brethren how to teach the lost, or do we just
lecture them about it?

     4. And what shall we say about purity toward the sisters?
The cause of Christ suffers from those who preach the truth
about purity while living immorally.  Out of "counselling" sess-
ions in the preacher's study affairs have developed, flirtations
have matured into inflamed passion, marriage vows have been violated, and 
then a trail of lies invented to cover such
betrayals of trust.  When these come to light, families are 
shattered, children bewildered, confidence is lost, the weak
are made to stumble, and only the judgment will reveal the
numbr of lost souls in the wake of such deeds.

     5. While we are on the subject, does God have a standard
of conduct for writing preachers distinct from the rest?  Are
we at liberty to misrepresent other brethren?  What special
insight do we have so that we may judge the motives of those
with whom we have a disagreement?  Truth is truth and error
is error.  We must affirm the one and oppose the other.  But
are we excused from being certain we know what the other
fellow believes?  Or shall we summarily decide that those of
whom we re suspicious in the first place, have not been fair
and have not tried to work with those whose influence is be-
coming detrimental to soundness, convinced that a brother
is mistaken in his application on a passage, does it necessar-
ily follow that he accepts all, or any, of the consequences we
see down the road?  Because we think a brother is at point
"A" does not mean that he has arrived at point "Z" bag and
baggage.  Is a brother whose life and work have promoted
truth while opposing error to be regarded as a sinister force
whose every movement is calculated to strengthen his hand
in the nefarious business of dominating the brotherhood?

     If I did not believe that papers provide a medium for doing
good, then I would urge tht this one cease to exist.  Nor do I
believe that the abuse of a thing argues against the thing it-
self.  During the years I edited a paper, I tried to be sparing in
offering advice to other editors.  An editor's chair is a very
difficult place to sit.  Anyone who thinks that he alone occupi-
es it with infallible judgment needs to get down on his knees
and pray awhile.  What to print and what not to print is a mon-
thly concern.  When must an issue be addressed?  How far
shall a controversy be allowed to run without deciding that 
enough is enough?  Shall we wait until we have read the latest issues of 
other papers and then write reactionary artic-
les?  Do barbs and slurs merit space?  Where is the line betw-
een restraint and cowardice?  Who is the final judge of the
hearts of all men?

      There is a need to "redeem the time" because "the days
are evil."  Whether we write or do our teaching in a different
format, the example of Paul is worthy of emulation.  How we
behave toward one another may well determine where we
spend eternity.  Paul said his behavior was holy, just, and
above reproach.  Can we all say the same?  ---- Connie W. Adams, in Truth 
Magazine, Vol. 51, No. 3, Mar. 2007.   </HTML>
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