we'll shoot! (no wait, don't)

Today's readings:

Psalm 61, Genesis 42:1-17, 1 Corinthians 5:1-8, Mark 3:19-35

That Hatfields and the McCoys feuded is well known, why they fought is not.
A few may say it started with a dispute over a hog but the bad blood goes back to a scuffle with a returning vet from the civil war. The feud was fulled by sex, booze, guns, politics, and pride. It "started"  January 7, 1865 and "ended" June 14, 2003 when relatives from both families signed a declaration.

So much blood spilled over hate but masked as "family honor"

This feud was not God-honoring, but there is a feud that is. 

I can anticipate the response that is coming: 

“I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. 

Isn’t this also your experience?” 

Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. 

What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, 

but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. 

So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, 

it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.

Romans 7:15 (Message translation)

We cannot have Godless feuds in the church family, but that does not excuse us from discipline. But we need to be careful of a few things. 

1. We must be very aware of our own spiritual health (Luke 6:42)

2. We must remind ourselves of our own sin-nature (1 John 1:8)

3. We must be quick to receive and welcome the contrite (1 Corinthian 5:1-8)

Why?

The goal of correction is turning around. When someone turns to face us, we should greet them with open arms, not a fist. 

amen