FIVE SMOOTH STONES - The Five Ascension Gifts in the Heavenly Shepherds Bag

FIVE SMOOTH STONES — The Five Ascension Gifts in the Heavenly Shepherd’s Bag

another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life ?” It is so interesting that he says the saints will judge angels in the future, so we ought to know how to use proper judgment for just resolution. Yet in the Church in Corinth, as well as in many Churches today, we are not using proper righteous judgment and our Churches, businesses and people are weaker for it.1 Corinthians 11:30 “ For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. ” There seem to be as many who go overboard on their interpretation of the 1 Corinthians 6 exhortation not to go lightly before the nonbeliever, as there are those who ignore the possibility of judging matters within the Church in order to find a remedy. Paul did not say never to go before the secular judge, but not to go lightly; should you not “ judge the smallest matters .” There are situations between believers in Christ which might have huge impact or broad reaching consequences or costs which may need to be resolved in a court of law or mediation, but to automatically neglect the possibility of judging matters within the Church has caused much harm which could have been avoided with the application of wisdom and discernment in judgment in many situations. In Matthew 18 Jesus lays out the standard for taking care of personal problems and issues in His Church. Matthew 18:15 " Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the Church. But if he refuses even to hear the Church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector .” The standard here when dealing with a brother or sister in Christ is to first take the matter to the person and see if unity can be restored in love. If it is not, then secondly go before the Church leadership and

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