It
isn't that Christians don't have the right to divorce, bankruptcy and other legal,
moral decisions. It's that it communicates we are no different than anybody else.
The community needs to see that we stand out for not "being a burden"
on others.
Great
care must be taken, of course. This isn't about those "who are willing to
work, but can't"; it's about those "who are able to work, but not willing."
The "unable," the church gladly helps. The "unwilling," the
church confidently confronts.
We
choose between expectation and stipulation.
Paul
began with expectations — Christians should work. He repeatedly shared that
message (vs. 10). When they didn't respond appropriately, he stepped up the demand.
In 2 Thessalonians, he stipulated — they would work, or they wouldn't eat.
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It's
the nature of Christian community to help people grow. At first we state the expectations,
often, gently, and clearly. We encourage people to meet them. There comes a time,
however, when we go beyond stating the expectation. There comes a time when action
is stipulated.
Community
action is all that works. When it is obvious that certain believers don't abide
by the commands of Scripture; when they don't take seriously the demands of Christ
on their lives, something must be done. The Christian community is encouraged
to share in the discipline. Always redemptive, the church must care enough to
confront. We do so because the good of the church outweighs our personal discomfort.
Living
in the light of Jesus' coming shapes us all. We long to look on the horizon but
we dare not stop to stare. We learn to "keep one eye peeled" and the
other on the task at hand. We live so our lives are not only ready for His coming
but making it possible for others to be ready too.
_____________
Sermon
brief provided by: Chuck Sackett, Professor of Preaching, Lincoln
Christian Seminary, Lincoln, IL