Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!princeton!njin!paul.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: gilham@csl.sri.com (Fred Gilham) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: This Present Darkness Message-ID: Date: 7 May 91 04:31:34 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Computer Science Lab, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA. Lines: 29 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu J. Kenneth Riviere writes: ---------------------------------------- There is also the point that he took steps to expell a member from his congregation. It seems rather presumptuous to believe both that we are sin-free enough to be able to cast the first stone and that we know enough to pick which sinner to expell if we are perfect enough to judge since we are all sinful creatures due to the fall of Adam. Besides that, it is the sinners who need to hear the word of God, isn't it? How are we following in Jesus' footsteps if we refuse to embrace sinners (while hating the sin) when He repeatedly associated with those who needed to hear His word rather than speaking only to the righteous? ---------------------------------------- While I agree with most of the poster's points about the book, I think this one needs to be looked at more carefully. My understanding of how so-called ``church discipline'' is supposed to work is that it is breaking fellowship with someone who is unrepentant about some open sin. The intent is not to condemn, but to help the person to realize the significance of his actions and to preserve the rest of the body from contamination. If we take the destructive nature of sin seriously, and keep in mind our own weaknesses, this seems a reasonable course to take, as well as being supported by the bible. The example of the case outlined in the books to the Corinthians, where someone was brought to repentance and reconciliation by applying this, seems like the intended case. -- -Fred Gilham gilham@csl.sri.com