January 15th 2010
Posted under Miscellaneous
We’ve decided to shut down the blog. You can still find us live and in person.
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April 3rd 2008
Today we are posting part 2 of Pastor Voddie Baucham’s insights about gossip, slander and discord. (Click here for part 1.) Please take it to heart, and share it with others. As with yesterday’s post, read this with a view to yourself first and foremost. Do you ever slander or gossip? Do you listen to it? (That’s just as bad.) Do you ever give a bad report about a brother or sister regarding something you did not witness with your own eyes? If so, then you are sinning (see points IB & IIB). Are you dwelling on or talking about sin that has been repented of? If so, then you are sinning (see point IIIB). Are you sowing seeds of discord, or are you obeying Jesus by diligently maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3)?
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How to Handle Gossip, Slander and Discord: Part Two
How to Deal With Discord (Matthew 18)
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed* in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:15-20 ESV)
I. Know the Difference Between Sin and Preference
“If your brother sins against you”
A.The Sin Must be Identifiable from Scripture (not opinion)
Poor Example: The Joneses allow their girls to wear sleeveless dresses in the summer. I believe sleeveless dresses are sinful. Therefore, I must confront the Joneses the next time I see their daughters in a sleeveless dress.
Good Example: The Jones boys were fighting in the bathroom. I told them to stop and they said, “Get a life, old man!” I am going to talk to their father about their rebellion, strife, and disrespect for their elders.
B. The Sin Must be Against YOU (i.e., you must be a ‘witness’ to the sin)!
Poor Example: Sally is really broken up over the way Harry has been treating her. I’m going to confront Harry about his sin.
Good Example: I saw Harry raise his voice at Sally and move toward her in a threatening way. I have to say something to him about what I saw. Or, Harry’s language was inappropriate when he and I talked yesterday. I’m going to call him and talk to him about his choice of words.
II. Deal with Sin Brother to Brother
“go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone”
A. The Minute You Involve Another Party (in step one), you are in Sin (gossip/slander). This is very important and most people miss it. If your brother sins against you, you are not supposed to call another brother to talk with them about it. You must “go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.”
B.The Minute Another Party Involves You (in step one), They are In Sin (gossip/slander) and You Must Confront it as Such
Poor Example: I heard the Hatfields and McCoys are in the midst of a big feud. I’m just telling you this so you can be praying for them.
Good Example: Unless you’ve seen this feud firsthand, you have just engaged in gossip. You need to stop this conversation, repent of your sin, confront the person who told you, then go to the Hatfields and McCoys and confess to them that you’ve been gossiping about them. I’ll give you three days to get this done before I intervene.
III. Seek Restoration, not Vengeance
“If he listens to you, you have gained your brother”
A. The Goal is to Help Your Brother
B. Once Correction (true repentance) has Come, Leave it Alone. Don’t hold on to it so that you can use it again the next time your brother makes you mad … even if you have to forgive “seventy times seven.”
IV. Only Involve Others When Your Efforts Have Failed
“But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church”
A. This is the Only Time Others are Involved
Poor Example: Mr. Jenkins was beating his wife so I confronted him about it. “I’m just telling you so you can be praying for him.” Or, “I know you sensed that something was going on and I don’t want your imagination to run wild.” THIS IS SIN!
Good Example: I confronted Mr. Jenkins about his treatment of his wife and he told me it was none of my business. I have to confront the issue again and I need someone to go with me and call him to repentance.
C. These Must be Mature Believers (Gal. 6:1)
D. A true believer should respond to loving rebuke. Anyone who does not is to be treated like an unbeliever until they bear the fruit of genuine repentance. “And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” In the meantime, we must pray for their restoration and trust that the Lord will use the sting of lost fellowship to call them to himself.
A Final Word of Warning
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler (aÓllotriepi÷skopoß allotriepiskopos: one who meddles in things alien to his calling).
- click here to go to the GfBC blog -
April 2nd 2008
On his blog, Pastor Voddie Baucham shares the following insights about gossip, slander and discord. We thought this was so helpful that we’re posting it here in its entirety.
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How to Handle Gossip, Slander and Discord: Part One
GFBC recently had the misfortune of walking through the valley of the shadow of discord. As a result, we have spent a great deal of time learning how to handle gossip and slander. In doing so, we became aware of the fact that most Christians know very little about dealing with these issues. Even our leaders learned a great deal in the process. In fact, there probably wasn’t a person in the church who left without grieving their own sin in this area. There have been so many requests for the outline of what we shared that we decided to provide it here.
Sowing discord is one of the most heinous sins in the Bible:
“There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV)
Means and Methods of Sowing Discord
I. Gossip
A. Definition: Casual or unconstrained reports about other people, typically involving details that are not true (Oxford English Dictionary).
B. yiquristh/ß (psithuristes): a whisperer
C. Clearly Identified as Sin:
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:16-22 NAS95)
Romans 1:29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
D. Warned Against:
“Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” (Proverbs 26:17-28 ESV)
“A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” (Proverbs 16:28 ESV)
“Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.” (1 Timothy 5:13 ESV)
II. Slander
A. Definition: A false and malicious spoken statement that may bring harm to the reputation of another (Oxford English Dictionary).
B. dusfhmi÷a (dusphemia); evil speaking, defamation.
C. Identified as Sin
“For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.” (2 Corinthians 12:20 ESV)
“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” (1 Peter 2:1 ESV)
Psalms 15:1 O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? 2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; 3 who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend.
D. Warned Against
“He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip.” (Proverbs 20:19 NAS95)
Psalms 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.
III. Rules of Thumb
When dealing with information and communication, it is important to think through our actions in order to avoid gossip and slander. Thus, we have to ask ourselves whether or not we need to speak at all about what we know. Here are some simple rules to follow:
A. Is it Kind?
If what we have to say about a brother or sister is kind, then by all means we should say it. We should encourage, extol and praise one another often. However, if what we have to say about another is unkind, we may be involved in slander.
B. Is it True?
We must never share anything if we are not certain about its veracity. However, some things may not be kind but they are true, nonetheless. In most cases, they still should not be shared. The fact that something is true does not automatically mean it should be shared.
C. Is it Necessary?
Sometimes we must share things that are unkind (but true). For instance, if a brother is engaged in destructive, sinful behavior, and I have confronted the issue to no avail, I may have to share it with another in order to escalate the confrontation and get him help or call him to repentance.
IV. General Unconstrained Speech
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.* 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,* these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
- click here to go to the GfBC blog -
January 8th 2008
Dr. Al Mohler, president of Southern Seminary and a prominent voice of conservative, evangelical Christianity in the public arena of America, or national town square, wrote an article the day after the Iowa caucuses. Near the end he says:
The rhetoric of the race — and the rhetoric of many evangelicals — is disturbing. This race is important and necessarily so. We are talking about the next President of the United States, after all. But evangelicals have invested far too much hope in the political process. No government can make people good, transform humanity, or eliminate sin. The political sphere is important, but never ultimate. Jesus Christ is Lord — and He will be Lord regardless of who sits in the Oval Office.
This presidential race offers evangelical Christians an opportunity to mature and rethink our model of political engagement.
We’re thankful that Dr. Mohler is using his platform to remind any Christians who will listen that our hope for real change in America is the gospel of Jesus Christ, not politics.
Vote; be salt and light as voting citizens; but give more time and energy to spreading the good news of Jesus! Make it easy for people to know that your hope is in Jesus, not the political candidate or party of your choosing.
Do you agree that Jesus is our only hope for real change? What could happen if all Christians would start making the good news of Jesus a more prominent topic of conversation than politics?
January 3rd 2008
Posted under Miscellaneous
As the pastors of Gateway Community Church of Alhambra, we wanted to establish another avenue of communication with our church community, as well as with other friends outside of our community. Keep in mind, there are no strangers here, only friends we haven’t met. We’ll talk about life, theology and culture. We’ll poke fun at some of the absurdities of life every now and then, rally the troops for something we deem important, or sometimes just put up something that will make you laugh. On occasion, we’ll highlight something or someone in our community of faith.
We invite you to interact with us. If you have further insights regarding the topic of a post; are encouraged, challenged, or tickled by it; or just want to say thanks or give us a shout out, then comment. We may or may not respond, but have no doubt that we’re reading what you write. If we don’t respond, remember we have lives, we have other responsibilities, and we don’t believe we always have to have the last word.
Comments are moderated (that means we’ll post some and not others) mainly because we care about the tone of this blog, but also for other reasons. We will not allow anonymous comments.
So please, join the conversation when you can. We’ll be “under construction” for a while, but our door will stay open as we build.
