SERMON, "IF YE NEGLECT TO HEAR THE CHURCH"

[EuRekA]

“BUT IF YE NEGLECT TO HEAR THE CHURCH” (Matt. 18:17)

(Excerpts from message by E. Roger Ammons as recorded in the Minutes of the 99th General Assembly of The Church of God, pp. 84-88)





“. . . if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican” (Matt. 18:17). Most recognize this scripture in reference to ‘Church Discipline’ . . . an unpleasant and difficult task . . . involves people that we love dearly . . . Conformity . . . may lead some to write sin off as a mistake, thus lowering the standards of holiness. . . . There is no excuse for compromise. Nevertheless, . . . our hearts should be breaking when we have to discipline with sleepless nights spent in prayer asking for the leading of the Holy Ghost.
There is a danger – the Word of God is a two-edged sword. If you neglect to hear the Church; that implies the Church has said something. There is a responsibility on the member who has sinned to hear. There is also a responsibility on the Church as to what the Church says, and how it is said. There is also the danger that some might, in the name of ‘Church discipline,’ go on a ‘witch hunt’. . . .
The 1950’s found U. S. Senator Joseph R. McCarthy on a ‘hunt for Communists. . . . Investigations affected thousands of people . . . because they had been falsely accused of Communist associations. Their lives were ruined. O, Church of God, let us be careful lest in the name of ‘Church discipline’ and love for the Church that we become guilty of spiritual “McCarthyism” and treat men . . . as though they were enemies of The Church of God.
This calls to mind the inquisitions of the Catholic Church. This was one the factors that led to The Church of God being covered over during the Dark Ages. Roots of the Inquisition can be traced back to the Council of Nicea in A. D. 325. . . . In 1231, Pope Gregory IX published a decree which called for life imprisonment for the heretic who had confessed and repented and capital punishment for those who persisted. . . . Since the Church arose out of the Dark Ages on June 13, 1903, there is no place in the Church for such unjust inquisitions. Such practices should be left in the Dark Ages where they belong!
. . . Although we must not be guilty of abuse of power in the name of ‘Church discipline,’ this does not release The Church of God of her biblical mandate to exercise righteous judgment, nor to obey those who have the rule over us in the Lord. Let us learn from the abuses of the past . . . Where there is no discipline, confusion reigns and God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). We should be ‘endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’ (Eph. 4:3).
. . . The Bible teaches that God is a God of discipline. He is a God of love (1 John 4:8), but he is also a God of severity, ‘Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off’ (Romans 11:22). Consider the punishment upon Adam and Eve, Cain and the wicked in Noah’s day. When Achan stole treasure from the Lord’s house, . . . he and his family were stoned and burnt with fire . . . (Josh. 7). When Israel repeatedly failed to hear the warnings of the prophets to turn from their wicked ways, they were taken in captivity. These examples are written for our learning (1 Cor. 10:11). In the New Testament God revealed to Peter that Ananias and Sapphira had lied to the Holy Ghost, and they fell dead . . . (Acts 5). The book of Revelation gives us a graphic description of the God’s wrath being poured out on the ungodly. From Genesis to Revelation, God is seen as a God of discipline.
. . . Humility in administering or receiving ‘Church discipline’ cannot be underestimated. . . . “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt. 18:6). In verses 7-9 Jesus tells His Church, the Body of Christ, that sometimes an infected member must be amputated, lest the infection spread . . . Years ago, Dewey Wimpey . . . was bitten on the finger by a poisonous snake. To keep the poison from spreading, he took a hatchet and cut off his finger. Amazingly, he was still able to play his guitar to the glory of God . . . Jesus said in verse 9, “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” This scripture brings to mind another on discipline; Matthew 7:2-5, “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. . . . Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” . . . Before we discipline someone else, we must first make sure that our own life comes up to biblical standards. In Matthew, chapter 18, verses10-14, Jesus tells the story of the shepherd who . . . left the ninety and nine to seek the one gone astray. He was teaching the leaders of His Church that their attitude toward an erring member should be the same as that of the shepherd who had an hundred sheep. The next passage (Matt. 18:15-17a) describes the process of resolving a conflict with a brother in the Lord. ‘If thy BROTHER trespass against thee . . . ' The offender should be approached as a member of your family whom you love dearly. This brings us to our main text, “. . . if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican” (v. 17b). This part ends with the promise that Jesus is in the midst of His Church throughout this discipline process. Jesus is the friend of publicans and sinners as well as the Head of the Church. The Church should treat the offender the same way that Jesus treated the publicans. In the final verses of the chapter (21-35) Jesus deals with forgiveness. Peter, who had denied the Lord three times, knew the joy of sins forgiven. We all know of this. ‘So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses’ (v. 35). . . . If a brother repents, we must forgive him. Not forgiving a repentant brother is a sin. God will not forgive us until we forgive one another.
The entire chapter (18) centers around the text, ‘. . . if he neglect to hear the church . . .’ For someone to hear the Church, the Church must say something. Though an erring member has a responsibility to hear the Church, the Church has a responsibility to say the right words in the right spirit. . . .Consider the following outline of chapter 18 as it relates to the responsibility of the Church in the discipline process. . . .

When you hear the Church, you should hear . . .
(vv. 1-6) The voice of a loving mother, . . . not a child abuser.
(vv. 7-9) The voice of a compassionate healer, . . . not a sadistic butcher.
(vv. 10-14) The voice of a tender shepherd, . . . not a ravening wolf.
(vv. 15-17a) The voice of a caring brother, . . . not a feuding family.
(vv. 17b-20) The voice of a faithful friend, . . . not a hypocritical enemy.
(vv. 21-35) The voice of a merciful judge, . . . not an unforgiving avenger.

Let us narrow our study . . . in Matthew 18:15-20. . . . In verse 15, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go . . .” Jesus is addressing ‘Brother Moreover.’ . . . To what does the word “moreover” have reference? It connects to the previous verses (vv.12-15a). . . . Jesus is introducing a matter of even greater importance than the love of a shepherd for his sheep in the natural sense. We must love our erring brother even more than a shepherd loves his sheep.
‘Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee . . .’ He is referring to conflict between members of The Church of God. That’s a pretty big “IF”. The Bible said, “Mark the perfect man.” . . . The first century Church had its share of conflicts. ‘From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?’ (James 4:1-2). . . . Although conflict may be inevitable . . . the theme of this Assembly states, it is God’s will that we have “unity of mind and spirit”. . . .When she reaches perfection, when that time comes, unless you are at peace with your brother, you will not be a member of The Church of God.
The offender may not even realize he’s offending. . . . Notice that Jesus said, ‘. . . if thy brother shall trespass against thee . . .” . . . Did you know that someone can trespass against you and still be your ‘brother’? . . . Maybe they did not know that they were trespassing. People still make mistakes. ‘Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted’(Gal. 6:1).
Jesus said, ‘. . . go and tell him his fault . . .’ . . . Do not approach him in anger, or to use discipline as a means of vengeance. In the New Testament we read of a conflict between two of the greatest leaders in the early Church. . . . (Gal. 2:11, 12). The Apostle Paul confronts the Apostle Peter and tells him his fault. Peter admitted his sin and repented. Years later he wrote of his ‘beloved brother Paul’ (2 Pet. 3:15). . . . Confrontation is often necessary for the resolution of conflicts. Confrontation is a good thing. I believe it is the Bible way. . . . Whether you are the offender or the offended, you should go to your brother. . . . Jesus teaches us that reconciliation takes priority over worship. . . .
“. . . If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” . . . Let it be said of The Church of God, “This is the place where love abounds!” If a Church conflict can be resolved in love and unity, you have a ‘win/win’ situation. . . . The end goal is restoration and forgiveness, not to eliminate a problem by eliminating the person. . . . When a conflict cannot be resolved between two Church members, . . . enlist the assistance of one or two loving members of the Church family in yet another attempt to restore their erring brother. Jesus said . . . (Matt. 18:16). . . . These witnesses can verify the words, actions, and attitudes of both the accused and the accuser. . . .
After the accused has first been approached one on one or by one or two witnesses, Jesus said, “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church . . .” Why tell it to the Church? The Church is God’s government. 1Cor. 12:28 tells us that God has placed government in the Church. Eph. 4:11, 12 tells us that, ‘And he gave some, apostles, and some, prophets and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.’ God placed these governments in the Church, and He placed these positions of leadership. I believe when God spoke to Moses, that Moses in turn spoke to the people, that they would hear the voice of the church in the wilderness. Amen!
‘. . . but if he neglect to hear the church.’ We have to have faith in the Church to be the Church. If we decide to forget the church, we forget to be loyal to the church, we so individualize our faith, loose the fellowship, the corporate dimension of the church, and the church becomes nothing to us. We forget we have been called together by God through Christ and the Holy Ghost . . . forget that the Church has authority in our lives. This authority has caused much confusion. It has led to a denial of authority, so that those who want to control God and manipulate Him try to do so. As one tries to control God, he feels that he is responsible to no one . . . This kind of confusion leads one to be very judgmental of another’s faith . . . judging everyone else by one’s own idea of faith. God gave this authority to the church, not for us to become judges, but as a way to be reconcilers of people. . . . There is a danger that one feels as if they own the church, that their way is right and everyone else is wrong. . . .
‘. . . let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.’ . . . Jesus was a friend of the publicans and sinners. Yet such a person who neglects to hear the Church should be regarded as obstinate, self-willed, and guilty. It does not mean that we should not show kindness. . . .
In 1 Corinthians, chapter 5 the Apostle Paul rebuked The Church of God at Corinth because they had failed to disfellowship a fornicator and instructed them to do so. . . . (2 Cor. 7:9-11); ‘. . . What clearing of yourselves, . . . What indignation, . . . What fear, . . . What zeal, . . . What revenge! . . . ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” The Church of God, we want to be clear before the Lord. We want our conscience to be clear before God. The purpose of Church discipline is to expose sin, save the sinner, protect the sheep, and maintain the purity of the Church. Jesus is coming back for his virgin bride, and she is to be holy, without blemish, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. In order for that to happen, there must be discipline in the Church. . . .

IF YE NEGLECT TO HEAR THE CHURCH

If ye neglect to hear the Church
And will not be gentle and mild,
Ye neglect to hear your mother
Who loves her little child.

If ye neglect to hear the Church
And become contaminated,
Ye neglect to hear your healer
And must be amputated.

If ye neglect to hear the Church
And choose to go your way,
Ye neglect to hear your shepherd
Who seeks those gone astray.

If ye neglect to hear the Church
And decide a stranger to be,
Ye neglect to hear your brother
And forsake your family.

If ye neglect to hear the Church
And become her enemy,
Ye neglect to hear the publican’s and sinner’s friend
Who bids, “Come and dine with me.”

If ye neglect to hear the Church
And your love turns into hate,
Ye neglect to hear forgiven sinners
And exit Mercy’s Gate.

A message and interpretation in South Georgia recently went something like this; “Some of you will go through some things that you do not understand, but I understand, and you will understand later on. Be faithful and obedient and submissive. Walk in the path that I lay out before you and I will do great and mighty things for you.” Let us not neglect to hear the Church, but let us be obedient and submissive.


8:20 Brother Pruitt exhorted delegates to take the message
back home and spread it around.

[Pastor Gary]

On this board, with as many different permutations of COG's, maybe you need to designate which assembly.

[BROTHER BILL]

I WAS DEWEY WIMPY'S PASTOR BEFORE HE BECAME A PASTOR IN JONESBORO,GA IN THE YEAR 1950. HE WAS WORKING ON HIS CAR
AND CAUGHT HIS HAND IN THE FAN WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING.
HE DID NOT WANT TO GO TO THE DOCTOR, INSTEAD HE CAME TO MY HOUSE FOR PRAYER. WE PRAYED, WRAPPED HIS HAND IN CLOTH. HIS FINGERS WERE DAMAGED BUT HE WAS ABLE TO PLAY HIS GUITAR LATER
I KNEW HIM THROUGH HIS MINISTRY AND DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE
SNAKEBITE OR OF HIM CUTTING HIS FINGER OFF. ANY INFORMATION
THAT I DON'T HAVE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. W.H. (BILL) HORTON

[Pastor Gary]

I WAS DEWEY WIMPY'S PASTOR.. W.H. (BILL) HORTON

Aloha Brother Bill. I welcome you to Jude2 -- always glad to meet a newcomer.

If I might ask a favor of you for future posts, could you please take your keyboard off of CAPS LOCK? Posting in ALL CAPS on internet message boards is considered bad etiquette and suggests you are YELLING IN ANGER!

But carry on, and welcome.

[BROTHER BILL]

thanks for your information. i am new to this type thing and appreciate what you said. an old man probably does not have any business participating but i do enjoy reading what others have to say, particularly
concern cog,cogop and others of like manner. brother bill