Meek and Mild by Newport Olivia

Author:Newport, Olivia [Newport, Olivia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-63409-190-9
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2015-10-09T16:00:00+00:00

Andrew’s urge was to cross his arms against his chest in doubt that Joseph Yoder’s sermon would speak to Andrew’s heart. His brother Noah certainly hadn’t in the first sermon, although his point had been clear. How would the transgressors who strayed from the church turn to repentance without shunning?

Joseph now announced that his theme would look at two Josephs in the Bible. Andrew’s skepticism notched up.

“Where did the brothers of Joseph need to go to become reconciled with him after they behaved so unmercifully toward him? They needed to take the distant trip to Egypt. One might say they went to Egypt only to get grain during the famine, but I believe they were sent of God, since this Joseph is an example of the heavenly Joseph, Jesus Christ. In Egypt they bowed before Joseph and acknowledged their trespasses against him. All hardened transgressors must come to Jesus in the same spirit. Joseph’s brothers came in a spirit of undoneness and brokenness. So long as a transgressor has not come to that place, the status of a child of God is not applicable.”

Andrew did cross his arms now.

“And let us move to the greatest Joseph of the New Testament. Mary and Joseph left the child Jesus, naturally speaking, and could not find him until they returned to where they left him,” Joseph Yoder continued. “This is a lesson for us. If anyone loses a child, spiritually speaking, he should search again at the place where he lost it. Those who have been placed into the ban should be shunned, even if they join another church, so that they may indeed repent, regret, and sorrow with humble hearts and with a demonstration of a sincere lifestyle become reconciled with the church from which they left. The ban can only be lifted if the wanderer renews his commitment with God and the church on bended knees and by seeking the peace where he lost it.”

Joseph Yoder’s eyes panned the congregation in dramatic silence. “By holding fast to the ban, you will be an instrument of God’s will, drawing the transgressor back to true peace. If we do not do so, the transgressor may draw away the entire church. Would such a disturbance of the peace please God? I do not believe so. I call upon each of you to bring to the attention of your ministers and bishop any knowledge you have of individuals who have lost their peace and threaten the peace of the church with their transgressions. Though the ban may seem difficult, we bear the cross Christ calls us to that we may pray for the transgressor’s return to peace before we all share in the disturbance of our mutual peace.”

Joseph paused again, letting his words sink in.

If there were a third sermon, Andrew wondered, and Mose Beachy were to stand with his Bible open, what would he say? The peace was already disturbed. Bishop Yoder disturbed it himself when he insisted on a strong meidung against people

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