Hurt feelings

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Pastor Joe:
There's a lot to be said for *compassion* for those who are hurting.


Luke 4:18
18	The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach
the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to *heal the brokenhearted*, to
preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind,
to
set at liberty them that are bruised,
(KJV)

Me:
Amen Bro. Joe BUT what Bro. Floyd was talking about is this tendancy of the
church to 'disown' those who don't look and think like they do.  Also that
there is a belief that when ANYONE says "Hey, that hurt!  Stop it." they
are somehow trying to recrucify Christ.  

I do not condone sin in anyone, least of all myself, but the kind of pain
Bro. Avery is talking about is that which arises from not 'fitting in' with
the 'churchy' crowd and not being a '100% squeeky clean, never have any
*apparent* doubts or failures and NEVER say anything other than how
WONDERFUL everything is' type that SOME believe is necessary for salvation.

I don't want to downplay your pain at all dear friend, you know that.  All
know that I can releate.  The point is that all too often, those who are
weak and those who fall down are swept under rugs or told that they are no
good and that they are doing the 'body' harm and all when the truth is that
the TROUBLE of *dealing* with them is just not what the churches are all
about.  There is no shouting and hand clapping and all in receiving a
brother that has fallen into Crack use AGAIN.  He really repents and tries
but when pressed, CHOOSES to fail again.  This kind of thing brings a
'stain' against the *image* of the church.  You know, whne the statements
like "Think about what you are saying about the church" and the like
surface.  

Sure, we say things like "Be strong!" and spout platitudes like "Fast and
pray..."
but when it comes to say, taking this person into our home, or sitting with
them on a Friday night while they 'crawl the walls', many just can't be
bothered.

Then, to compound the neglect, when the person crys out "But I thought you
were supposed to HELP me!" they are torn apart for their weakness.  

We are commanded to 'consider' the weak because the same thing could happen
to us.  Do we do this?  We are told that IF a brother repent 490 times in a
day, we are to FORGIVE him ALL.  Do we do this.  We are told that once
Jesus says the debt is paid, the debt is PAID!  Do we accept this?

Many will probably start in about things I haven't said and I really pray
that God give me the strength to ignore them.  I am not criticizing anyone
in particular but trying to expound on the point that Bro. Floyd has
exposed.

The tendance is that when someone backslides, we don't want to associate
with them and indeed, this is prescribed for those who are called on it and
then REFUSE to repent BUT for the weak, those who sin not because they are
rebellious but because they really aren't STRONG enough to stop YET, we are
to do all in our power to help them bear this load that overwhelms them. 
We are also to restore those who repent and try to get on with the business
of being saved.  Do we do this? 

I know this isn't news to you my dear friend, it's just that this topic has
seemed to have taken a 'turn'. 

Wanna know a 'test' to see if your motives are in the right place (not the
only one by any means): See if the term 'embarrassment' arises when you
think of what another has done or is doing.

Timothy Litteral
brotim@gte.net Luke 6:26
I have chat by appointment only
http://members.tripod.com/~trlitteral/