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  Billy Bob and Forgivness   Billy Bob Bookme
All Truth Church
Where I Am, USA

    Here at the All Truth church the question came about forgiving a brother who has repented of sins. One sister said, “his sins were grievous and I think he should have to suffer for what he did.” Another brother said, “we don’t want to leave the impression you are rewarded for your sins.” Another member said, “you know, we all sin, none of us are perfect. I just imagine our sins are grievous in the Lord’s eyes. If we want God to forgive us shouldn’t we forgive our brother?”

    One of our more conservative brothers replied, “yes forgive him, but in the church service he can keep his seat and not lead a song or pray or anything else and that will be alright with me.” I asked, “where does the Bible teach something like that?” He replied, “my boy, you are to young to know but years ago our beloved brethren settled matters this way and displayed great wisdom.” He went on, “a brother divorced his unfaithful wife for adultery and he remarried. Some of the members thought this was sin because they didn’t believe you could remarry but for the cause of death. Some of the no-exception (no offence intended) brethren said, “if he takes part in the church service we will leave this church.” Well, the good brethren decided it best to tell the divorced brother to keep his seat for peace sake. It was through this very wise compromise that the church was kept together and the only one really hurt in the matter was the divorced brother and some of his family and friends.”

    Well, I asked, “where does the Bible teach such a practice as that? I thought the Bible teaches, if a brother is disciplined that meant not eating with or associating with that brother according to what Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 5:11. Where did you brethren get the idea of benching a brother when he is not subject to the discipline Paul prescribed ?

    Uncle Bob replied, “my boy, you have a lot to learn!” “It is always better to let a few suffer and the whole be refreshed than the other way around.” I replied, “but you are treating the divorced brother unfairly if he has followed what the Lord said in Matthew 5:32. You are treating him as though he is in error at least in part.” No Billy Bob, my uncle replied. Look at it this way. If we let him take part (nothing at all wrong with it, understand) a number of good tithing, loving members will leave taking their charitable gifts with them. Now Billy Bob, how do you think we will be able to pay you to preach?”

    “How will you get supported?” In other words I asked, “if the (benched) brother gave considerable money to the church we might look at this situation differently?” My uncle replied, “now my boy, I think we’re getting somewhere.” I said to uncle Bob, “I thought we were to follow the Bible and not add to it even if it causes us distress or if people leave the church because they don’t want to follow it!” Uncle Bob replied, “the Lord didn’t cover all areas of fellowship such as “benching a brother for the good of the whole” so we are at liberty to fill in what he left off.”

    I replied, “uncle Bob that might be the reason our All Truth brotherhood is in the mess it’s in today!”

Billy Bob Bookme
Billy Bob Bookme