p. 119 | CHURCH TRIALS by E. S. Lane

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 1, 1860

CHURCH TRIALS.

By E. S. Lane

DEAR BRETHREN: Of late I have been thinking much of the importance of the church doing something to overcome those difficulties commonly denominated church trials; and which, unfortunately, almost all the churches more or less have to contend with. How often do we hear it stated, that when the messengers visit a place for the purpose of preaching the present truth to those who have ears to hear, expecting to have freedom in delivering the truths of this last message, the Holy Spirit is not given, the church is not strengthened, and sinners are not converted from the error of their ways, and brought to see the light of these blazing truths; and then perhaps when the meeting or conference is about to close, it is found that some petty church trial has been the cause why the Lord could not work for them, and the third angel's message be proclaimed with convincing power; and further, the ministers are held to listen to, and decide upon, these trials (which perhaps could have been settled weeks and months, and even years before); and their precious time is almost worse than wasted, when they might be proclaiming these precious truths to those who have ears to hear. Now what can be done? Must we always see this state of things which we all deplore? Cannot something be done to remedy this evil? for I can consider it nothing else. I believe there can. But how shall it be done? Let us consult the word of God. Surely there must be something there touching this important inquiry. Let us read carefully Matt. xviii, 15-17, praying for the aid of the Spirit to guide us into all truth.

"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."

Here seems to be three important steps to be taken in every case, unless the difficulty is settled without proceeding thus far. The first seems to be an individual work to be performed by the individual considering himself aggrieved or trespassed against, and by him alone. No work for the church here, nor for the minister or deacons, but simply an individual affair. Query. Can there ever a case come up which is not an individual affair in the beginning? The propriety of this is seen at once when we consider that the church ought not to be burdened with individual concerns of which they know nothing, and over which they had no control; no matter if the brother feels it is hard to take this step, and that help at this time would come acceptable, our Lord has made it his personal duty to perform and he should cheerfully perform it in the spirit of meekness and love, and I apprehend he will not find it hard to perform, if he has kept the matter to himself, and has not first blazed it abroad to others. But the second step (which can be considered no less important), when the first has failed, seems to be necessary, in order that the brother trespassed against should have a fair hearing in presence of the church, when the matter shall finally come before it for decision; but here seems to be no work for the church yet as a body, but for one or two brethren whom the aggrieved brother may select, and who should perform that duty carefully, and with the strictest impartiality, for this is an important work, because this language fell from the lips of the Saviour to his disciples; whose disciples we are if we are truly brethren.

But the third step can be no less important than the others, when they have failed, and it may be the most important of all; for the Lord says, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. Verse 18. This seems to be a work of the church as a body after hearing the brother's complaint, and it seems to me they must be abundantly able, and qualified to discharge that duty, having the faithful and true testimony of two or three brethren on all the facts in the case, and if they are living up to the clear light of the present truth, having the gifts of the Spirit [see 1 Cor. xii, which read very carefully], it seems to me they cannot fail to be guided aright; yet, I apprehend if the first and second steps were taken carefully and in the right spirit, the church would rarely be called upon to decide such cases.

But a question may arise: Can nothing be done for one who is now considered as a heathen man and a publican? for him whom we have once considered as dear brother or sister? The Scriptures say if he repent, forgive him. Luke xvii, 3, 4. Not only until seven times, but until seventy times seven. Matt. xviii, 21, 22. Not without repentance, however; this would be defeating the purpose of God. His plan is not to save men in their sins, but to save them from their sins, that they may be purified, and sanctified, and prepared for the coming of the Son of man. Now let us sum up these three steps which we have examined, as follows:

1. If thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone.

2. If he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more.

3. If he neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church.

It is now properly before the church, not before; and they should meet the responsibility as brethren. But we hear objections to this mode of proceeding, and it may be fair that they should be noticed:

1. It is said by some that a brother, when he considers himself aggrieved, should have the privilege of consulting with another brother in whom he has confidence, to decide in his own mind whether he has not proper ground for an aggrievance. Now I cannot consider this a valid objection, 1st, because if he cannot decide whether he is aggrieved or not it would seem he should drop the matter at once, and forever, and take those matters in which he knows himself to be aggrieved. 2d. Because his brother being perfectly disinterested, and hearing but one side, cannot properly decide whether he is trespassed against or not; and if it afterward should come before the church, he might by hearing both sides, see cause to reverse his decision. Now in this I do not want to be understood that it is not proper to ask advice, under certain circumstances, of our brethren. This may be admissible, but not when it will in any wise have the effect to injure our brethren.

2. It is said by others that many of the facts may come to the knowledge of the church, or a portion of its members, before it comes before them by taking the necessary steps in the case, and therefore it should be thrown before the body at once for their decision. Neither can I consider this a valid objection, 1st, because it gives the brother aggrieved a chance to shift the responsibility of meeting the brother who has trespassed against him, personally and alone, to endeavor to settle the difficulty; which thing the Saviour requires of him, and which cannot be performed by any one else. 2d. Because if this matter has come to the church's knowledge, it must have come to them either by the brother aggrieved, or by the brother trespassing against him, and if either have told their story to get the sympathy of the church, it seems that the church should have nothing to do with it, but should compel them to bring it before the church in the gospel way; and the two brethren, it seems also, have committed a wrong, in permitting the matter in any way to fall from their lips. 3d. Because the Saviour has laid down the rule as plain as language can make it, and it is ours as brethren to obey.

3. It is said again by others, that, as we have members among us who know their duty in regard to these things, and yet they will not do it, therefore the church ought to take the matter in hand, or in other words, let the matter come before the church. To meet this objection it will be necessary to notice the office of a deacon; for it seems the Lord would not suffer his disciples to be in the dark in any emergency or case which might come up. Therefore when the disciples were together, after they had received the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost; and which the Saviour had before promised should guide them into all truth [John xvi, 13], it was found necessary that deacons should be chosen to attend to those things which the ministers or apostles could not attend to on account of their being called to attend to the ministration of the word; and the manner of their being chosen is also given; namely, by the laying on of hands, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, which I consider qualifies him for the duties of the office that he is to perform.

And now a few words with regard to what a deacon is called to perform in this matter, will perhaps set this thing in its true light. It will be seen by reading Acts vi, 1-6, that the deacons were chosen to take care of the church in the ministers' absence, or when it was not practicable for the ministers to do so, on account of abundant labors in word and doctrine. See also instructions to deacons in 1 Tim. iii, 8-15. Therefore it seems natural to suppose that it is the duty of the deacon or deacons to see that the brother considering himself aggrieved, should take the proper steps to bring his grievance before the church; but and if that brother will not discharge the duty (which seems so clearly to belong to him), at the suggestion of the deacon, which should be done with mildness, and in all sincerity for his welfare; it seems that there is no other course left for the deacon, only to consider himself aggrieved with that brother, and so to take these proper and necessary steps to bring his case before the church for their final decision.

Dear brethren, I have written out these views believing them to be the truth as near as I can understand them, and believing these things to be important for the church to understand in these latter days. If, however, I have not got the truth on these points, my mind is open to receive instruction from any brother who will give it. If it be the truth, however, and were fully carried out, I cannot help but believe that the church would come up on higher ground, and be better prepared to engage in the loud cry of the third angel.

E. S. LANE.

East Genoa, N. Y.