Censure
Censure is a desciplinary measure found in the church manual, but is it Biblical? Is there anything in the Spirit of Prophecy about this practice?
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Permalink Reply by N Him on -
If you have the wisdom of God .... I'm sure that censure is appropriate.
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Permalink Reply by Russell Osborne on -
Can you back that up with the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy? This should be our only creed. If it can't be found there it is man made and therefore wrong.
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Permalink Reply by Stewart on -
I don't know whether it would be useful to see some of what is written in the church manual on the subject.
(And so the question is, Can this kind of thing be backed-up with the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy?)
"A vote of censure is for a stated period of time, from a minimum of one month to a maximum of twelve months;
it terminates the erring one's election or appointment to any and all offices he/she may hold in the church and removes the privilege of election to office while under censure.
A member under censure has no right to participate by voice or by vote in the affairs of the church
and can have no public part in the exercises thereof, such as teaching a Sabbath School class, et cetera.
Neither may the individual's membership be transferred to another church during the period of censure.
He/She is not deprived, however, of the privilege of sharing the blessings of [attendance at] Sabbath School, church worship, or the ordinances of the Lord's house.
A vote of censure must not carry any provision involving severance of church membership in case of failure to comply with any conditions imposed.
Proper inquiry should be made at the expiration of the period of censure to ascertain whether the member under discipline has changed course. If observed conduct is satisfactory, the individual may then be considered in regular standing without further action. If observed conduct is not satisfactory, the case should again be considered and such discipline administered as is required. Any return to church office must be by election."
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Permalink Reply by Stewart on
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Russell, is the following comment from the Spirit of Prophecy relevant?
"Those teachers in the church or in the school who distinguish themselves by their zeal in politics, should be relieved of their work and responsibilities without delay; for the Lord will not co-operate with them. The tithe should not be used to pay any one for speechifying on political questions. Every teacher, minister, or leader in our ranks who is stirred with a desire to ventilate his opinions on political questions, should be converted by a belief in the truth, or give up his work. His influence must tell as a laborer together with God in winning souls to Christ, or his credentials must be taken from him. If he does not change, he will do harm, and only harm." (FE 477)
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Permalink Reply by Russell Osborne on
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This is my first reading or hearing this particular statement and I find it rather interesting for it raises other questions. It does also seem to speak to the issue of censure, I would like to read the entire article. At the same time, isn't Matt.18 the correct way to deal with an erring brother. I see censure as a plaster that allows us to get away from our responsibility to lovingly work with the individual to restore him to the Lord.
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Permalink Reply by N Him on
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I agree with you brother .... Matt.18 is the appropriate manner. But I've found over the years ... that most including church leadership .... do not like to bother following Matt.18 . They prefer to find a short cut.
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Permalink Reply by Stewart on
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Something I find interesting is the fact that immediately before the Matthew 18 section that deals with an offending brother, is Jesus parable about the lost sheep.
The lesson about the "one of them" that has gone astray, and the efforts that are made to restore that straying sheep.
__________
And I wonder, does regarding a man as "as an heathen [or gentile] man and a publican" really mean that he is to be dis-fellowshipped?
Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and what was the other? A publican.
In that instance God had regard for the publican.
How are we to treat gentiles (the people of the world)?
And how are we to treat publicans (remembering that Matthew himself was a publican when Jesus called him)?
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Permalink Reply by bennett on -
russell:
did you use mat 18?I`ve failed every time!nor one accept it!
tact,affection! nothing works!nor one deal works!brain washed or like this! and "" sometimes " censure can awake up or "rise up" people!
what can we do?what must to do?without censure ,the person dont realise that did mistakes!
blessings
antonio
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Permalink Reply by N Him on
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"should be converted by a belief in the truth, or give up his work"
If someone doesn't believe in truth .... I'm not sure what good they would be as a leader in our church.
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Permalink Reply by N Him on
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It should be noted that one can promote either side by the reading of the SOP in regards to this topic. So, we have to take principle on this matter.
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