Admonish the Sinner

[onel0126]

http://blog.adw.org/2015/04/admonish-the-sinner-a-reflection-on-the-first-spiritual-work-of-mercy/

 

[CleanTheSlateInSMC]

http://blog.adw.org/2015/04/admonish-the-sinner-a-reflection-on-the-first-spiritual-work-of-mercy/

5.If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother (2 Thess 3:14). Notice again that the medicine of rebuke, even to the point of refusing fellowship, is commanded (in serious matters). But note, too, that even a sinner does not lose his dignity; he is still to be regarded as a brother, not an enemy.

6.A similar text (2 Thess 3:6) says, We instruct you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who walks in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us.

Doesn't seem very Christ-like behavior to me to "shun" ones fellow man for not "obeying" Christians.

 

[PsyOps]

Sometimes this is taken too far.

I was a member of a group called The Navigators. We had couples bible studies once a week. My wife was new to all of this having just been saved. So this was our first attendance. At the end they liked going around to each person to have them say a prayer. My wife not being comfortable with this stayed silent when it was her turn. She bumped me to go. The 'leader' pulled me aside afterwards and 'admonished' me for not taken more time in prayer with my wife. I tried to remind him she was new to all of this and not ready to pray in front of others. He wasn't receptive to my explanation. I looked him sternly in the eyes and said: "I didn't know there was some sort of rule God established that we must pray in front of each other" and reminded him of Matthew 6:

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

I walked away and we never went back.

 

[CleanTheSlateInSMC]

Sometimes this is taken too far.

All religions have their extremists, like Msgr. Charles Pope, who take it too far. If anyone needs to be "shunned" and "shamed" by society, its them.

I'm glad you had the audacity to shun The Navigators.

 

[onel0126]

All religions have their extremists, like Msgr. Charles Pope, who take it too far.

Opinions are like, well you know. I'm not sure you read it to come away with that opinion.

 

[CleanTheSlateInSMC]

Opinions are like, well you know. I'm not sure you read it to come away with that opinion.

Yes; I did read it, and yes; everyone has opinions, however Msgr. Pope apparently thinks those who's opinions disagree with his should be shunned and shamed by Christ's followers.

This practice of "shunning" by some Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Amish, et al, is cruel and breaks up families and friendships. In my atheistic opinion, this is religious extremist behavior, and it is truly shameful.

 

[PsyOps]

All religions have their extremists, like Msgr. Charles Pope, who take it too far. If anyone needs to be "shunned" and "shamed" by society, its them.

I'm glad you had the audacity to shun The Navigators.

Well, the guy in my story is far from an extremist. Sometimes I think folks get caught up in the "you have to do it the way we do" mentality and forget that everyone still has their way of praying and worshiping God.

 

[b23hqb]

Well, the guy in my story is far from an extremist. Sometimes I think folks get caught up in the "you have to do it the way we do" mentality and forget that everyone still has their way of praying and worshiping God.

I've dealt and worked with the Navigators for decades in the military, and never ran across anything like that. Were you in the military at the time? I would hope the leader you dealt with learned a lesson there - no one should be compelled to pray publicly by anyone, especially new believers, and no one should chastise anyone that doesn't.

 

[PsyOps]

I've dealt and worked with the Navigators for decades in the military, and never ran across anything like that. Were you in the military at the time? I would hope the leader you dealt with learned a lesson there - no one should be compelled to pray publicly by anyone, especially new believers, and no one should chastise anyone that doesn't.

Yes, I was in the military at the time. The Navigators were a great group. They produced good study material and, up to that point, always felt welcomed. Most of them were like family to me. Some were a little off the reservation. But you always get those types. So I’m not pegging this on the Navigators. Everyone has their own way about some things.

I really don't want to make it out like this guy was some zealot and a bad guy. He was really a very kind and loving person. Great family guy. We still communicate today. Part of me thinks he wanted to address what became an awkward moment of silence during the prayer circle. Everyone was playing along until it was my wife’s turn. This guy ran the bible study and I think he was embarrassed that it happened. I think he dealt with it wrong. Given that we never really returned, I don’t know if he learned any sort of lesson. We never talked about it again.