Give Up ... Give In ... or Give Over

Good Morning!

I want to start this morning with an acknowledgement of a person I believe to be a great man. Today would have been the 103rd birthday of Mr. Clarence Burl Pennington. He didn’t like either of his given names so he went by CB. Of course, being the rebellious type, I always called him Mr. P. CB and his wife, Virginia, had seven children – one of whom is named Norma. And, of course, the Norma is my Miss Norma. A good man who I still miss even today some thirty-three years after he went home to be with the Lord. I look forward to seeing him when I arrive home … we might even do a little fishing.

Well, last night’s study was what I expected … really, really good and deep. It is hard to talk about church discipline in the 21st century because we just don’t know how it would work. In the 1st century, when a person was put out of the fellowship, he was pretty much alone. Today, the person just goes down the street to another congregation that might be “open” to whatever he or she wants to be overlooked. But I am convinced by our study that church discipline is critical to the survival of the church universal.

While I was thinking about this, I came up with three phrases that kind of stuck in my brain: give up, give in or give over.

One of the challenges facing churches is the fact that the church is no longer the center of the social network in America. As a matter of fact, in many circles of today’s society, the church has become a target of abuse. And it becomes very discouraging to those who are laboring in the vineyard to not see any successes. It makes one almost want to give up. But giving up only accomplishes what Satan wants. God didn’t ask us to be successful – He asks us to be faithful. So let’s not give up.

Well, maybe, instead of giving up, we can give in. You know, we need to be more accepting of those who don’t fit our criteria. Right? Wrong. Paul’s argument to the church at Corinth was to stand on its principles. If we do not apply discipline, then anything goes … and we are no better off than the world. Do we love the sinner – yes we do. But we also require the sinner turn from his wicked ways. Otherwise there is not redemption. Giving in to the demands of the world only makes the church worldly – it does not make it a light to the world and it does not glorify God.

So if we don’t give up and we don’t give in, what do we do? We give over. The bottom line is that you and I cannot grow a church … we are tools in the garden, God is the master gardener. Some of us are useful for digging up the people who need Christ. Others of us can plant the seed that produces the fruit of salvation. And some of us water the ground and the seed. But really, the growth comes when we give over the process to God.

I had a great time last night. And I expect a great time Sunday. You have a good weekend.

Agape’


Mr. Jim