Christian Cooperation and Separation - John R Rice
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>Christian</strong> <strong>Cooperation</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Separation</strong><br />
they, Paul? “Hermogenes <strong>and</strong> Phygellus”; then he said in<br />
chapter 4, verse 10, “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved<br />
this present world, <strong>and</strong> is departed unto Thessalonica;<br />
Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.”<br />
Call names? Paul, somebody won’t like it. Paul was in jail;<br />
other people were out running free. Paul was sl<strong>and</strong>ered <strong>and</strong><br />
hated; other people were riding high. Paul got his head cut off;<br />
nobody else did. But one of these days when the first will be<br />
last <strong>and</strong> the last first, Paul will be at the head of the list.<br />
Well, Paul, Peter doesn’t think you ought always just to<br />
crack down. In Corinth in Galatians, chapter 2, there were<br />
going to be some people who came down from denominational<br />
headquarters, <strong>and</strong> they said, “We think you are wrong to run<br />
with these Gentile converts.” Peter said, “Well, boys, we won’t<br />
do that until you are gone.”<br />
So he said to these others, “You won’t mind if I don’t eat<br />
with you Gentile <strong>Christian</strong>s. I am for you all right, but I don’t<br />
want to offend anybody.”<br />
What did Paul do? He got up <strong>and</strong> rebuked Peter to his face.<br />
Do you think Paul ought to have done that publicly? Well, he<br />
did. Because many others were being led astray, including<br />
Barnabas. Paul fixed that. Yes, it was right.<br />
Love? Oh, yes. Love your children, but whip them when<br />
they need it. I asked a good preacher who raised a fine family,<br />
“How are you raising your family?” “Well, I spank them on one<br />
end <strong>and</strong> kiss them on the other.” That is love. That is<br />
obedience to God, too.<br />
Dear Lord, give us power <strong>and</strong> blessing now as we try to<br />
26