|
 To
say that Christians are imperfect people is but to
acknowledge the obvious. However, to accept them as
imperfect people is an entirely different matter — and one
vitally related to the subject of fellowship.
In
his book, No Little People, Francis Schaeffer points out
how we err in expecting of men and women what they are not and
may never become. He calls this "utopianism." He also
says, "If we demand, in any of our relationships, either
perfection or nothing, we will get nothing." While knowing
"no one is perfect," we still may allow ourselves to
be unduly influenced by the faults that surface in imperfect
brethren. This seems especially true — regarding the views
often held toward preachers. One disillusioning experience or
report can have untold influence on a gospel preacher's
reputation. The "strike" against him may range all the
way from bad grammar in the pulpit to unruly children at home,
but that can be fatal with unsympathetic umpiring brethren. With
them it's, "One strike, you're out!" Absurd as it may
seem, some have no confidence in certain preachers because they
have heard (or thought) they play golf too much or hunt too much
or have bad table manners. And worse, such a "strike"
may be allowed to overshadow a multitude of good qualities and
years of faithful service as though they meant nothing. No, we
preachers are not perfect, and most of us will even admit it. We
have our weaknesses and peculiarities — we make blunders.
That's why we need kind, sympathetic and understanding brethren
and not one-strike umpires.
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Even
when the imperfection is of a more serious nature, say a matter
of sin, all brethren deserve something more than rejection. God
says that love "taketh not account of evil" (1 Cor.
13:5). Not, of course, that it condones wrong, but rather, it
"keeps no score of wrongs" (NEB). Love does not
"warehouse" faults of brethren as ammunition to be
used against them later. Most churches are made up of Christians
at all different stages of spiritual development. We really have
no right to expect others to become "overnight" what
it has taken us many years to attain — especially when our
"attainments" leave something to be desired!
Consequently, when brethren stumble (and they will) they need
compassionate hearts offering helping hands. They DON'T need
excusing or ignoring, but neither do they need to be treated as
"out" by their brethren. Erring brethren need
restoring, not rejecting (Gal. 6:1); converting, not casting-off
(Jas. 5:19); and to be treated like brethren, not enemies (2
Thss. 3:15). We must guard against any temptation to treat weak
brethren as worthless brethren, for most will manifest a
weakness sooner or later. David did. So did Moses, Peter, and
others. And very likely, YOU will!
After
all, if Christians are imperfect people and you
are a Christian... If it's important to accept the fact that others
fall short, what about self? Could it be that the impatient and
intolerant person imagines himself to be above such faults?
Could it be that the "umpire" has a strike or two
against him? Wouldn't it be awful to wind up on a whole team of
umpires??? Dan S. Shipley
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