Settling Church Difficulties.
By J. Clarke.
CHRIST has said that offences must needs come, and the experience of the church from that day to this, proves this emphatically true. Difficulties arise in churches, and bring division and unhappiness; and coldness, deadness and leanness are the consequences. But we inquire, Is it necessary, when offences are committed, for the whole church to be stirred, and injured, and almost, perhaps quite, scattered? We think not. We believe there is a very great mistake made here, especially by young and inexperienced churches. There is a tendency in many at such times to despond and give up, and cease praying; cease attending meetings until this member is cut off from the church, or that false brother is in some way silenced. Another class, soon as a difficulty occurs, think that they have some important part to act, and they immediately take one side or the other, and there being a numerous class of this kind, the church is in danger of division. Another class, very conscientious, but somewhat bigoted, conclude that great responsibility lies upon the church now to severely punish offences; and they are for immediate and decided action. Now permit us to say that if when a member of the church gets out of the way, all the other members of the church would remain imperturbably calm, until they could all understand the nature of the offence, and act unitedly, much of the evil would166be nipped in the bud. Why? Often it would be found that such a course of conduct on the part of the church would set the erring one on the path of consideration. Why? Because he sees he will get no sympathy. Another thing; if churches would cease to dwell upon the evils which exist among them, and go earnestly to prayer for divine aid, they would in nine cases out of ten, be soaring above their trials before they were aware, and they would come down and settle their difficulties so easily, that they would feel surprised that they had been so tried at such little things. We need not hurry to cut off an erring brother. Try him again; and if he is false, he will do something so bad by and by, that he will cut himself off, as Judas did. Sometimes it will happen, if you bear with the weak and erring, that they afterwards become strong. Wait in patience; wait in love. Do not look doggers at your erring brother. Speak tenderly to him; it may be the very medicine to break the charm by which Satan has bound him. X. and Z. are brethren; have been so for years; both sharp, caustic men naturally; but not a bit alike. X. detested Z's failings, and Z. could not possibly bear X's besetments. But they were gentlemen, and always said, "How do you do," and greeted each other when they met, no matter how sharp things might have been said. They would have blushed to have called in a helper to quiet their little disagreements, and they have mostly outgrown such things, as a child his childish things. No church trial would they cause, and to call in a minister to help in such an affair, how disgraceful it would be. The church in (——) had been violently rent and torn by dissension, and foreign aid was called in, and often had this been done; but finally the church saw the evil of its case, and set about righting itself. Soon a different state of things became manifest, and now that church is an active agent in helping other churches, and is prosperous. Stop your meetings because your brother has sinned! Would you stop eating because the man who dines with you has choked himself with cayenne pepper? Stop praying because your brother has sinned! Would a sea captain forsake the helm of his ship in a stormy night because his mate had a drunken fit? I do not believe there is one difficulty in a hundred existing in any church, which might not be better settled without aid from abroad than with it, if the church goes humbly and lovingly to work. It is not always duty for the church to split hairs, and say who is most to blame. If two or three or more members quarrel, and manifest a bad spirit, all are to blame; neither is a church bound to inquire into every trifling matter, which certain weak ones strive about to no purpose. Christ has said that when any two of his people agree together, to ask anything of him, it shall be granted to them. Now here is a good opportunity for peace-makers in the churches. Two or three, or more, who are true, let them in secret and in concert, and so often as is convenient and proper, beseech the Lord to open the way for a speedy settlement of difficulties, on a good and solid basis; and then if they work wisely, they may hope to see their church peaceful and united. And then when a messenger comes, it will not be to weary and grieve him with their trials, but to be built up themselves, and for the encouragement of the minister. It is not always necessary to be over-and-above anxious for a church trial. Sometimes a pond is bridged temporarily before draining it; and when it is drained the light bridge is soon removed. But one thing as a principle holds here, as elsewhere: he who walks in the light himself, is the person who can safely guide others into the same; while he who walks in darkness, is as one talking in his sleep; or as a blind man who would explain the laws of light.