A Blind Eye

USGN article
by Barbi Franklin
December 1998

A few months ago, I was grieved to find out that another one of my "long-lost girlfriends" had just gone through a divorce. As we talked and the story unfolded, it was obvious that her x-husband had been deceived. He was slowly swept away (unbeknownst to her) by another woman's affections.

The sad thing is that a "brother" from her church knew all along what was happening, but didn't say a thing. This brother was dependant on her husband for income so he didn't want to rock the boat. He wasn't willing to pay the price to uphold righteousness and confront her husband (or tell her) until it was too late. He wasn't willing to break off a business relationship for the sake of the truth of the Word, so he "turned a blind eye." One more marriage covenant...spoiled by unchecked sin in the body of Christ.

As the United States of America has created various levels of punishments and institutions for criminal behavior, so has God designed an accountability system for our church bodies. Unfortunately, most churches do not follow those guidelines because it takes spiritual guts to follow these Biblical principles. But the Bible clearly teaches us that it is critical that we discipline those who don't walk the walk so they will feel ashamed and turn away from their sin and back to God.

We will never be winners without a willingness to repent. And shouldn't we, who have tasted of the goodness of the Lord through salvation, walk a higher road of holiness together than the world?

Of course, confrontations should always be done with an attitude of love. Witch-hunts are not allowed! We're reminded in Galatians to "...restore a brother in a spirit of meekness..." Truth is, none of us are without fault. But let's not turn a blind eye to sin; it will only destroy us.

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©1999 Terry & Barbi Franklin.