I'm Back

Like the Terminator, I knew that I'd eventually be back.

Our small local Church went through a tough time at the end of last summer when we had to discipline one of our brothers. He had exhibited a pattern of attacking and destroying (or getting rid of) anyone whom he thought would hinder his plans. Laughingly, his destructive pattern of behavior was the main roadblock in his vision to running a mega-church.

His pattern included deceiving those around him and using his family as a means to end discussions of his behavior. Eventually, however, even his ardent supporters were attacked and realized the grossness of his sinful behavior. A decade of deceit and lies was uncovered and he was "disciplined" out of the Body, with the caveat that he could return as a member upon true repentance.

Several members left with him (the Body was not large...his behavior continually ran off wonderful Christians). One of them simply stuck his head and the sand and REFUSED to look at any of the supporting documentation for the discipline. Any real godly leader would have taken the time to examine the data and make an informed decision.

Discipline is always difficult, especially when you have to deal with a church leader. It reminded me that Jesus set the example by being a servant-leader. We had quite the opposite...one who wanted everyone to follow him without question.

How has the remaining Body responded to the discipline?

1. All of the women in the Body feel a sense of relief that he is gone. One of his patterns was to attack the man through his wife, using his (supposed) authority as a *church-leader*. Disobey him and you were disobeying the Lord.
2. Some of us have contacted former (disciplined) members to ask corporate and personal forgiveness in an attempt to reconcile with them. We met (out-of-town) with one former member who has not attended a church since his dismissal, about 3 1/2 years ago. He is still dealing with bitterness with the former church-leader and has issues trusting other church leaders.
3. We are in contact with many more former members and are going to corporately meet with a group of them in the near future to reconcile. We desire to have the bond of unity with believers in Jesus.
4. Our AWANA program started strong in the Fall and slowly grew. Many teenagers are coming and hearing the good news that Jesus came to save us from our sin (Thank goodness that we didn't listen to Mr. Head-in-the -Sand). The Lord is in the process of saving these children from a present life of misery as well as from eternal damnation.
5. There is a general feeling of freedom in Christ that we didn't have while he was around. There was a pervasive atmosphere that made you ask the question, "Am I the next to be attacked?"
6. The ministry is now being shared. People aren't being micro-managed. We feel comfortable inviting and receiving guests into the Fellowship.
7. Fellowship, evangelism, and other ministry is happening on a daily basis among the believers. We want all that we do to bring glory to the Lord.

It would be a gift from the Lord if the disciplined one would find true repentance and forgiveness from the Lord for his sinful behavior over the past decade. I would open my arms to gladly welcome his back into fellowship. Pray that the Holy Spirit will work in his heart and life to bring him anew to the Father.

"For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:26-27).