September 15
Isaiah 19:1-21:17 | PS 59:1-17 | Prov 23:13-14 | Gal 2:1-16
It should be about souls not feelings. When someone errs, taking them privately aside is the right thing to do. But if someone errs in such a way that others are hurt, people’s faith is weakened, or the teaching leads people not to repent and therefore souls are lost, then the correction must be public. Consider the wave of erroneous teaching in all of the woke churches. Consider avoidance of sin being called sin in the “prosperity” churches. Consider the known abuse of pedophilia among some of the priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Consider how many churches have a rainbow flag attached to the front of the building. How many have waved their dismissive hands at all of Christianity as a result of this? How many sit week in and week out in these churches simply because they have always gone there or they don’t want to make a scene. Try privately. But if this doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter who the preacher or priest is, they should then be publicly called out for the sake of those souls who will otherwise be led astray.
Paul, initially approached the leaders of the Jerusalem church privately in Galatians 2:2, “And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.” But when Peter acted in such a way, publicly, Paul called him out publicly in 2:11-14, “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?” For Paul, it was not a matter of pride or ego, but considering those souls that might be hurt.
We need to take to heart Paul’s words in Galatians 2:6, “But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.” Our pastor, Lloyd Pulley, often states that he is above no one, his gift simply is that of teaching and preaching. He frequently invites members of the congregation to approach him if they feel he has erred in any way. This does not mean that we disrupt services just because you hold to a different theological viewpoint. But if God’s Word is being ignored or twisted, get up and leave. If those responsible for hurting others will not listen then publicly let others know, and at the very least stop going. Again it should never be about us or the church leader, or feelings, but about the souls of the sheep who might be affected.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: