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Our Commitment to Maintaining Peace Among the Brethren
by Giving Only Good Reports
Definition of a Bad Report:
"A bad report is using words, tonal patterns or facial expressions to put
someone else in a bad light. It is damaging someone else's reputation with
information that does not need to be shared. It is encouraging or spreading
discontent or discord among others." -- Bill Gothard
Three Scriptural Guidelines Which Guarantee Peace Within a
Church:
- Go directly to those with which you have a problem.
 | Matthew 18:15 - "And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in
private." |
| You must communicate directly with those who have sinned against you. |
| "Speak the truth in love" to your brother. This causes both of
your to grow (Ephesians 4:15). |
- Go directly to those who have a problem with you.
| Matthew 5:23-24 - "If therefore you are presenting your offering at
the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your offering there before the altar and go your way; be reconciled to
your brother, and then come and present your offering at the altar." |
| God gets us going and coming. It doesn't matter whether you have the
problem with them (Matthew 18:15) or they have the problem with you (Matthew
5:23-24). YOU must go. |
-
 Seek
to be positive in speech and remain silent rather than unnecessarily negative.
| Ephesians 4:29 - "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your
mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others." |
| Proverbs 17:9 - "He who covers an offense promotes love, but whoever
repeats the matter separates close friends." |
God's attitude towards those who give a bad report:
- Proverbs 6:19 - "He who sows discord among the brethren is an
abomination to the Lord" (see verses 16-18).
- James 1:26 - "If anyone thinks himself to be religious and yet does not
bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this own man's
religion is worthless."
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - "Do you not know that the wicked will not
inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral
nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor
thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor
swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
- Romans 1:28-32 - "Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile
to retain the knowledge of God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do
what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of
wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife,
deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers,
God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful....Although they know God's
righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death..."
Ways to stop someone else from giving a bad report:
-
 Lovingly
ask: "Do you feel I am responsible to know about this? I would rather not know
about this unless I am directly involved."
- Lovingly say: "Don't forget about our church covenant of discipleship
concerning the steps of Matthew 18:14-17. You need to speak to (name)
privately about this matter."
- Display a sad countenance: "As the north wind drives away rain, so a
friend's countenance drives away a backbiting tongue" Proverbs 25:23.
- Avoid them: "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks
too much" Proverbs 20:19.
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