A trip to the doctor is seldom a pleasant experience. Usually such a visit is motivated by a physical malady of some sort that requires the doctor’s medical expertise to diagnose and treat. We are already suffering some distress and discomfort, so we really want the doctor to show his best ‘bed-side manner’ to ease our minds and cure our bodies. We definitely DON’T want him to approach our situation with a harsh, negative attitude. We certainly don’t want him to display a ‘all is lost’, ‘there is no hope’, ‘this is the end’ type of demeanor. We want him to be honest and thorough, to examine us with a critical eye, but at the same time we need him to be positive, encouraging, and helpful. And, if treatment is necessary – even a very serious type of treatment – we need him to handle it all in a loving and caring fashion.
Sometimes, unfortunately, dealing with our brethren is not a very pleasant experience either. It is, however, the case that occasionally we will need to deal with situations that we wish never had happened. Maybe someone has engaged in a sinful deed that has gained the attention of others in the church or the community. Perhaps it involved the teaching of a questionable or false doctrine. Or, it might just have been a case of very poor judgment on the part of a brother or sister. Whatever has caused this situation, honest and faithful Christians will feel compelled to address it.
How we attend to such matters says a lot about us, our character, our heart, and our love for one another. If we cannot, or will not, manage such instances with brotherly love and respect, then there is something gravely wrong. Just like the doctor who needs great ‘bed-side manner’, we need great discretion and tact in the church.
We can never ignore circumstances that require our attention. We definitely need to evaluate everything said and done in the church. We need a critical eye for everything involved in our work and worship together. But, we urge great caution, diligent prayer, and loving action on the part of every disciple. Think!
– by Greg Gwin