An Unhealthy Interest in Controversies

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. This is one of my favorite sayings. I used it every time CNN reports an accurate, non-biased story, or when Obama announces a policy that will not run our economy into the ground, aid anti-American terrorists, or further the secular-progessive agenda.

That being said, militant atheists who demand the freedom to insult religion next to nativity displays are not completely wrong about faith being used a basis for hypocrisy, intolerance, and vindictiveness--all being displayed gracelessly by the Grace Community Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

Scripture can be interpreted to support myriad viewpoints and behaviors. Unequivocally, Rebecca Hancock sinned by having a sexual relationship with a man to whom she was not married, and her church mentor (whatever that means) acted correctly in attempting to dissuade Ms. Hancock from her sinful behavior, understandable as it was. However, Rev. Christmas (seriously) is wrong in believing that Matthew 18:17 orders or even justifies Ms. Hancock's public humiliation.

Early Christian churches were generally small and often persecuted. Thus, it was paramount for church leaders to keep disputes between members to a minimum, as any rift could cause the small congregation to disperse and the church to collapse. It was for this reason that Jesus said

If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony 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, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Matthew 18:15-17

The elders of Grace Community Church conveniently ignore the fifth and sixth words of the passage--against you. If these false teachers and perverters of God's word considered Ms. Hancock's real sin her sexual immorality rather than her refusal to obey them, they would have no standing to act against her.

For after David committed adultery with Bathsheba and was punished with the death of their child, he wrote

Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge. Psalm 51:4

As Ms. Hancock's sin was against God and not the church directly, only He is justified in judging or speaking against her. That is, if the elders of her former congregation do not break the First Commandment and consider themselves gods before God.

The behavior of the leadership of Grace Community Church is disgusting and despicable--reminiscent of revenge rather than spiritual guidance or discipline. Their attempts at intimidation parallel the actions of gay rights activists in California who have threatened to publicly identify--and presumably harass--citizens who donated as little as $100 to opponents of Proposition 8. Both groups seem to view dissent as a personal affront and unforgivable sin.

Jesus' instructions in Matthew 18 were intended to preserve unity in the early church. However, it would be truly frightening if a supposedly-Christian congregation could be united in supporting the public reading of the sins of a woman who no longer attends their church, but has children among its members. Decency alone demands that the congregation refuse to participate in such a medieval and vindictive punishment, and scripture does as well.

Even non-Christians should be familiar with Jesus' response to the crowd preparing to stone the adulterous woman.

If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. John 8:7b

Following this, of course, the crowd had no choice but to disperse, as none then or now can truthfully claim to be without sin, Grace Community Church elders included. I wonder how many of them would be willing to submit to the same "stone" they threaten to hurl at Ms. Hancock?

These people are disgusting, and are rightly being exposed as the false teachers they are.

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. Timothy 6:3-5