New Light from Old

[Hope]

Originally Posted by Terry

Jane, I understand what your getting at. Clear and simple there's too much emphasis on man and not enough on the Lord. Which is why we have these unsavory power struggles, factions, and unconditional allegainces to man in the local churches. In reading what Don has had to say, he's been one of the few to emphasize discernment over personal relationships. If there are more who have, please speak out.
No matter how much you or I might like or respect a particular brother, that should not become between our discernment and in our walk with the Lord.

Terry

Brother Terry,

You have crystallized a great dilemna, that is our love and loyalty to the brethren and to gifted members versus our discernment and loyalty to Christ alone. Paul prayed for the Philippean believers, "Phil 1:9-10, And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; NASB

While we need an abounding love not only for the Lord but for the believers, we also need knowledge and discernment and we need to distinguish between things that are excellent and those that are not. Of course Paul was right, this balance needs our prayer for one another.

I only hope that whatever I may write concerning our history would be of a little assistance in our increasing in love and having a little more discernment. To get through the many struggles we believers encounter requires not only love but some sober mindedness grounded in real knowledge and discernment.

In Christ Jesus,

Hope, Don Rutledge