Continued From #120
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157) Gal 6:1-2 . . Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of
Christ.
That's a tough one because it can be applied any number of ways. I would
say (broadly) that if you let someone's burden become your burden
(whatever their burden might be) then the other guy won't feel so alone in
his bad luck due to no one even caring enough about him to bother
understanding what he's going through.
It's human nature to shun people with problems so they don't drag us into a
world of inconvenience and/or negativity. But that is not what I call fulfilling
the law of Christ; which reads thusly:
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you
must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if
you love one another. (John 13:34-35)
The love that is defined by "As I have loved you" is a kind of love willing to
suffer inconvenience, shame, humiliation, embarrassment, and disgrace for
the sake of another.
Love isn't a fault-finding attitude; it's a supportive virtue: it doesn't only feel
your pain, it gets involved in your pain. Church can be the loneliest place on
earth when nobody cares enough about you to get involved in your pain; but
instead would just as soon not know about it. Sadly, there is about as much
love for one another in modern churches as there is amongst an audience of
strangers at the movies.
158) Gal 6:6 . . And let the one who is taught the word, share all good
things with him who teaches.
That directive makes good sea sense in areas that don't have a professional
clergy. How is a poor preacher to study and prepare his lesson plan, look
after church business, attend board meetings, do counseling, and visit the
sick while he's spending most of his time and energy earning a living to
support himself and his family and to provide a roof over their heads?
Church members who feel that their pastor and his associates are valuable
contributors to their spiritual needs should reciprocate and help provide for
their material needs. It's only fair.
Americans are so greedy for bail-outs, reparations, stimulus funds, and
entitlements that they forget that somebody, somewhere has to cough up
the money for all that. Well, nobody in church is entitled to a Spirit-endowed
pastor; no, he's a gift from God (1Cor 12:4-11, Eph 4:7-13) and pew
warmers would do well to show their appreciation to Christ and their pastor
by chipping in to help support the man and his family. A Spirit-endowed
pastor isn't a freeloader; no, he's an inspired tradesman who deserves
compensation. Would you work for free, without wages and benefits? Then
don't expect him to.
===========================
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157) Gal 6:1-2 . . Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of
Christ.
That's a tough one because it can be applied any number of ways. I would
say (broadly) that if you let someone's burden become your burden
(whatever their burden might be) then the other guy won't feel so alone in
his bad luck due to no one even caring enough about him to bother
understanding what he's going through.
It's human nature to shun people with problems so they don't drag us into a
world of inconvenience and/or negativity. But that is not what I call fulfilling
the law of Christ; which reads thusly:
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you
must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if
you love one another. (John 13:34-35)
The love that is defined by "As I have loved you" is a kind of love willing to
suffer inconvenience, shame, humiliation, embarrassment, and disgrace for
the sake of another.
Love isn't a fault-finding attitude; it's a supportive virtue: it doesn't only feel
your pain, it gets involved in your pain. Church can be the loneliest place on
earth when nobody cares enough about you to get involved in your pain; but
instead would just as soon not know about it. Sadly, there is about as much
love for one another in modern churches as there is amongst an audience of
strangers at the movies.
158) Gal 6:6 . . And let the one who is taught the word, share all good
things with him who teaches.
That directive makes good sea sense in areas that don't have a professional
clergy. How is a poor preacher to study and prepare his lesson plan, look
after church business, attend board meetings, do counseling, and visit the
sick while he's spending most of his time and energy earning a living to
support himself and his family and to provide a roof over their heads?
Church members who feel that their pastor and his associates are valuable
contributors to their spiritual needs should reciprocate and help provide for
their material needs. It's only fair.
Americans are so greedy for bail-outs, reparations, stimulus funds, and
entitlements that they forget that somebody, somewhere has to cough up
the money for all that. Well, nobody in church is entitled to a Spirit-endowed
pastor; no, he's a gift from God (1Cor 12:4-11, Eph 4:7-13) and pew
warmers would do well to show their appreciation to Christ and their pastor
by chipping in to help support the man and his family. A Spirit-endowed
pastor isn't a freeloader; no, he's an inspired tradesman who deserves
compensation. Would you work for free, without wages and benefits? Then
don't expect him to.
===========================