Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 14, Number 45, DeMotte, Jasper County, 22 September 1944 — THE PASTOR’S COLUMN [ARTICLE]

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN

by REV. GEO. GOTSCH

Pastor of the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Union Township

We have seen last week that God is a God of discipline, of order. Whereever church-discipline falls into the discard, the cfoor is opened wide to all kinds of doctrines and practices detrimental to the Church. In case of an erring brother, brotherly admonition is to be exercised. There are three stages to be observed, prescribed by Jesus Himself, Matth. 18:15-18. “ If thy brother shall trespass against thee,” if he has done you a personal wrong or insult, or if he has set a bad example to others, do not let him in his sin, neither broadcast it and let others know, but “go tell him between thee and him alone.” Do not wait till he comes to you, but go to him, and eye to eye, without any other person present, tell him in a brotherly, kind, yet firm spirit and try to convince him of his wrong and to bring him to repentance. “If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” You have saved a soul from being lost. “If he will not hear thee,” do not let matters rest, but take one or two fellow-Christians with you and the two or three of you try to bring him to repentance. If you then succeed, the whole matter is a closed chapter. However, he might be stubborn and will not listen. After several futil attempts you must report to the congregation and then the whole congregation must take the case under advisement. They must deal with the erring brother, and unless they succeed in winning him, they must declare him "as a heathen man and a publican,” that is they must excommunicate him from the Christian congregation until such a time when he will return confess and make amends. It is, indeed, a stern procedure, but so Christ has prescribed it to maintain church discipline and with the purpose of bringing the erring brother to repentance. Sunday School at 10:00, service at 10:45 a. m.