#"THE REFINER" - EXPOSES ABUSE...BUT, "LOVE" COVERS ALL SINS!

If "the Refiner" exposes abuse, but "love" covers all sins, whose love is it? 

GOD's LOVE - in and through HIS people, towards others! 

FIRST, we must RECEIVE it, before we can RELEASE it...

Do YOU know someone that has traumatically suffered "abuse" in the church?

Are they healed, or are they bitter?

A HEALTHY church, is a grace-filled and grace-full "body" that is NOT afraid to lovingly confront and expose "sin", so that NO ABUSE is ever ignored; to "save face", to protect the reputation of the leader, or to keep the issue from actually being addressed!

I KNOW of a pastor and his wife, who was the co-pastor, which attempted "to conceal the sexual abuse of a father towards his daughter", in the name "of love"; and they BOTH ending up being prosecuted by the state, for NOT reporting a CRIME!

So, "when SIN is a CRIME", don't be super-spiritual!!  

THIS is "why" all other forms of abuse in the Church, like: Black-Balling, Control, Intimidation, Manipulation, Church Politics, and Physical & Verbal Threats - by "so-called" men and women of God, must be EXPOSED!

"Love covers a multitude of sins", is NOT talking about ANY FORM of abuse!  Why NOT abuse?

LISTEN...

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." -- 1 Pet 4:8

Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins. -- Prov 10:12

What does it mean for "love to cover a multitude of sins"... Does it mean one of the following?

- "Love" prevents you from seeing or noticing sins - at all?

- "Love" allows you to see sins, but you overlook/ignore them?

- "Love" allows you to see sins, but you forgive them without confronting the person?

In these two verses, the teaching/admonition seems to be directed toward man, for human-to-human relationships; but how does "love covering a multitude of sins", play out in God's love toward man?

"Love" certainly does not mean "ignoring sins", or "not noticing them at all". 

As a matter of fact, it is unloving for us NOT to notice a fellow Christian living in sin, and not help them! And, when they sin against us, we are not to act like nothing happened "in all cases", but we are to confront them "Biblically", when ever it's appropriate.

"R.C. Sproul Jr." wrote an excellent article on the subject, and here it is in summary... And, He said:

"When we are wronged, our calling is to practice a "careful - moral calculus". 

Is this offense one I should let go of? Is it among the multitude that love covers? Or is this offense "grievous enough" that love means - confronting in grace, my fellow brother or sister? 

Sadly, what we usually do - is, think we are practicing the former, while actually holding grudges and "putting miracle-grow", on roots of bitterness! 

"Peace in the church", calls us to under-accuse, over-repent and over-forgive! 

Let us not be afraid - to call sin - sin, but let us not be slow, to forgive it and to look past it!

There are cases where we are - to overlook. If they were inconsiderate and bothered us, in many cases - it is just better to simply overlook the occurrence, and to move on. 

But, if the sin is greater, then we should confront them using the reconciliatory model presented in Matthew 18:15-19. 

In all cases, we should have an "attitude of forgiveness" towards them, willing to forgive the wrong - "when they ask for forgiveness"...But, if they don't, make sure to "get free", FOR YOU! Don't be in a prison of unforgiveness!

"In relationship to God's love towards man" (and you could probably ask a second question on this part), we are to love, because God first loved us!  He paid the price for our sins on the cross, and forgave us our sins:

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:11-12)

"God's justice" demands there must be a payment for our sins. But because Christ died on the cross for them, God forgives us, if we truly repent. 

Sometimes, God confronts us with our sins, using some earthly method or person to correct or confront us. But God always forgives, and we should too!

If you're "being abused", and we should all understand the distinctions or differences here.. Consider the following:

- If it's a "spiritual leader" that has initiated such actions, attempt to speak to other elders within the organization where the occurrence happened.

- If the Church's leadership seems indifferent or wants to ignore the incident, let them know that you plan to seek outside counsel from another "trusted" community elder.

- If it becomes necessary to go outside into the community to seek advisement or help, make sure you use "the multitude of counsel", not just "one" other elder...

I've seen "interesting community dynamics - play out", when there may be envy, jealousy or "bad blood" between elders - amongst different congregations, so there's a hyper-sensitivity on their part towards one another, "to accuse, belittle or attack"..

If ALL THINGS are done "in love", with a sensitivity to anonymity, confidentiality and to be done "with decency & order", as the commitment on all sides - GOD can heal in every circumstance; if WE don't make ANY ISSUE "bigger than" - REDEMPTION!

We've ALL heard a story about "the parents of a murdered-child", going to visit the individual "who actually committed the murder"; and the story beautifully ends with the grieving parents TOTALLY FORGIVING the perpetrator..

IT's POSSIBLE, but NOT without REDEMPTION being bigger than the depravity of humanity!  #WS-3

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