Arkansas State press., 1946-05-10
LEARNING TO LIVE TOGETHER

LEARNING TO LIVE TOGETHER
| ~. Mark l0;35.45
GOLDEN TEXT-By this shall all
men know mat ye are my disciples. II
| ye have love one to another, John 49,
One world! Men have discovered
In recent years that we do live In
one world and that we must learn
how to get along with one another.
or we may find that we have de-
stroyed civilization and one another.
God has always taught in his Word
that all men are of one origin, and
that despite their differences. they
are to live in unity and peace. That
would have been blessedly true II
men had obeyed God and his law,
Sin brought division and confusion,
Now In our day, when we should
be far on the way to the attain
ment Of Gods purpose, we find men
/ more inclined than ever to be sus-
picious of one another. grasping
in their desires and purposes. and
evil In many Of their ways.
We have not yet learned to live
together as nations. Let us set our
selves to the task Of living together.
l. A Method for Dealing with Diff
ferences Matt. 18:l5-lD.
This is the God-prescribed meth
ID for dealing with personal prob
ems in the Christian church. That
body In which love should reign Is
often rent by jealousies and person
Al resentments. II permitted to run
On unchecked. they create division
and even strife before the world.
With all the disgrace 1t brings on
he cause Of Christ.
Such matters are to be dealt with
promptly The aggrieved one Is
lot to walt for the sinner to make
he approach. but is 70 60 to him
md place before him the evidence
# his guilt. Done in kindness and
With tact. this Is frequently all
hat needs to be done. A man may
hus win his brother, with no fur
her ado or fuss in the church.
II he proves stubborn, the next
tep Is to bring some brethren along
md talk It over again. This evil
ience Of their concern may break
ne stubbornness, or their prayers
nay win him And II it does not
york, the things said and done will
ave been witnessed by brethren
Who can faithfully report them to
he church.
The final step is to bring the err
| ng brother before the church. Nov
le may see the seriousness Of his
ffense and repent. II not. there is
ne plain duty; he Is to be put out
ide Of the fellowship Of the church.
Does that mean that he is aban-
oned and forgotten? Certainly not.
lie Is to be las a heather man
nd a publican Does the church |
ave any interest in such indi-
iduals? Indeed it does, for the pri-
nary business Of the church is to |
,in both heather and publican TO
fellowship with Christ
ii. A Measure for Determining
forgiveness Matt. 1921, 22).
Peters question was a practical
ne. He supposed the case Of one
Tho sinned repeatedly against one
Tho had shown a forgiving spirit.
lost Of us need not suppose such
asses; we have them before US.
We forgive and are ready to let
all be forgotten. when 10. the Of
snder turns up with an even
reater wrong, indignity or sinl
hen there is weeping and appar-
Mt repentance, followed almost at
nee by another oHense.
How long is this business 10 go
n? The Jews said. Three times.
zen let judgment fall" Peter.
eng a follower of Christ. went
luch farther. He would forgive sew
I times. Well, that's lot OF for
Iveness; let us recognize that. Most
us haven't even gone as far as
re Jews, and Peter is way ahead
us.
But 1t is not enough! Forgiveness
hich has any limit set on It is not
rgivcress at all The very genius
forgiveness demands that we do
1t stand there with a measuring |
ne or an account book II must be
ON the heart. without limit and
ithout restraint.
III. A Means for Attaining Great
sss MARK 10 35-45).
To want to be truly great for God
certainly not sin. In a world
hich was rejecting Christ and get
ng ready TO cruelty him, this moth
wanted her two boys to have a
ace of honor in the service Of
hrist. So far, so good; but then
lme the thing which spoiled II all
selhshness.
To seek honor for oneself, or for
ose one loves in order that the
70 might be inflated and self given
chance to show Off, that Is
,Gnitely unchristian.
II then II Is right to seek proper
'eatness. how may II be done2
erses 43-45 tell us. II is by way Of
crihcial service, the denial Of self.
This world and Its kingdoms say