The Way We Should Behave
I Thessalonians 5:14-16 (ESV)
“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
Someone has aptly said, “The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a club for saints.” Jesus said in Matthew 9:12, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Church members can be problematic members and Paul exhorted the church at Thessalonica on how they’re to handle members who are problematic. In other words, Paul exhorted Christians on how they are to behave towards those who are unruly, faint-hearted and weak. Since members mature at different rates, Christians should not expect other Christians to be where they are in their journey of faith. Rather, Christians ought to meet them where they are in their faith journey.
This means that grace must be given to those who don’t always behave in a Christlike manner. The evidence of maturity in Christ is seen in one’s ability to lovingly handle problematic members of the body of Christ. The next time you run into problematic people in life in general or in the church in particular, remember churches are hospitals for sinners and not a country club for saints!
God, help me to behave towards those who are problematic in my life in general and in my church in particular with grace, Amen!