Doing Good To Everyone, Especially the Household of Faith"

Galatians 6:10) "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
As the Apostle Paul closes his letter to the churches at Galatia he reminds them of their responsibility for each other in Christ. He reminds them, "if anyone is caught in sin" those who are "spiritual" (those who are repentant) are to go and confront them. Paul also reminds these churches "to bear one anothers burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." Then he moves to those who preach and teach God's word, that they should be taken care of by those who receive the Word. He sums all of it up with the responsibility of the church "as opportunity comes, do good to everyone" but "especially the household of faith."
The last several weeks has been a trying season for the family of faith at Pleasant Hill. We have been attacked on different sides by satan. Knowing our adversary, "the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)" God often allows satan to attack His people to strengthen, test, and to prove the genuineness of their faith. But through it all (conflicts, sickness, death) I have seen God's people manifest nothing but the fruit of the Spirit which Paul speaks about earlier in Galatians 5:16-26.
The past two months I have been preaching on the "works of the flesh vs. the fruit of the Spirit." It has been such a joy, as I have spent the last few weeks taking each cluster of the fruit of the Spirit and preaching each one individually. Yesterday, I was given the opportunity to make some application to "goodness." "Goodness" (agathos) means the working for the benefit of others. I was able to commend God's flock here at PHBC in their "goodness" toward those who have been sick and the families who have lost family members the last few weeks.
As I commended the church as their pastor, I don't think it really sank in on how God had used them until they heard it from the family members themselves. As one sister (her husband had suffered cardiac arrest over a month ago) stood and gave testimony of how God had used the church to minister to her family through cards, calls, and visits during his time of sickness. Another gentleman (whose mother passed away two weeks ago, who was a member of the church) stood and thanked the people for their "goodness" through meals and visits toward his family during their loss. I believe it has begun to sink in a little bit just how God has used them (the church) to serve others.
With all that said, I often remind our people, we will never be a "big church", we will never have the "most money", nor "all the bells and whistles" in our congregation...but I tell them, "we can be the most loving-est church." We can manifest the grace of God through Christ and the love of Christ as we are constantly reminded of what He has done for us by bearing our sin upon the cross. I see God working in such an awesome way through His people...and I am honored to be called their pastor!

"Church Discipline"

1 Corinthians 5:12-13) "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves."

"Who are you to judge? Do not judge so that you will not be judged. We are only accontable to God." These words ring with familiarity when the subject of church discipline is brought up. We have fallen into the lie of independency in the church today. The trap, "I can do what I want to do and live how I want to live and no one had better say anything to me." The only problem is, when a person professes faith in Christ they are no longer their own person but rather a (dulos), a slave to Christ. Christ gave His church a system to hold each other accountable and that it church discipline.
We live in a world of what I call, "long ranger" Christianity. That is, you make a profession of faith in Christ and join the church only to live the rest of your life without any accountability to the local church. This is very contrary to the New Testament. There are numerous passages where the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of, "love one another, pray for one another, and minister to one another." There is no way a Christian can live in this fallen world successfully without accountability from a local congregation. I tell our people, "you need me and I need you."
That is why the Apostle Paul urges the church at Corinth to remove the man from the church who had fallen into such a greivous sin. Sin corrupts the church. It distorts the truth, weakens the witness of the church in the community, and pollutes the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul said it like this in Ephesians 5:27, "that he might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she (the church) would be holy and blameless." This is the desire of our Lord, that His church, His bride would be pure and holy. This involves people who are known for repenting. We as believers of Jesus Christ must be "daily repenters."
The church where I serve as pastor, historically, and now presently practices church discipline. The church was organized in 1849, and from the beginning the church practiced discipline up until about 1930's. We have went through one case of church discipline and still pray it would bring the person back to Christ, if they are truly His. Church discipline is never easy nor fun, but rather it is very time consuming and hard work. It breaks the hearts of God's people to see Satan take control of people who once professed to be believers.
Church discipline is for the purpose of restoring one back into fellowship with Christ and His church. Often people who have a limited understanding thinks you are being cruel or mean. Rather, it is the loving thing to do when one falls into sin, which they will not repent of.
Church discipline is not an option but a command for a church striving to be the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The early church practiced church discipline but somewhere along the way we have lost this vital teaching in the N.T. church. I agree with Dr. J.L. Dagg (early Baptist theologian) when he said, "when discipline leaves the church so does Christ."

Let me know what you think. Agree or disagree?