Church Discipline
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self-control to bear these things and not go to work in our own spirit
to set them in order.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:113
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Attitude in Discipline
Jesus taught love and tenderness toward the erring—I call to
mind the shepherd hunting the lost sheep, and [the story of] the prodi-
gal son. I want those parables to have their influence upon my heart
and mind. I think of Jesus—what love and tenderness He manifested
for erring, fallen man; and then I think of the severe judgment one
pronounces upon his brother who has fallen under temptation, and my
heart becomes sick. I see the iron in hearts, and think we should pray
for hearts of flesh. Oh, how I long for Jesus to come! How I long for
Him to set things in order! Come, Lord Jesus, and come quickly, is
my prayer.—
Manuscript Releases 16:339
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Do not take away the erring’s self-respect, but bind up and
heal—We are to learn a lesson from the goodness and mercy and
self-sacrificing life of the Father. We are to study how to give our
sympathy and love to others. As we have received this priceless gift,
so we are to impart it. We are to learn how to rule by love and kindness,
rather than by severity and censure. When an erring person becomes
conscious of his wrong, do not deal with him in a manner that will
take away all his self-respect. Do not seek to tear to pieces, but to
bind up and heal. You may see the errors of a brother. Yet he may not
be able to discern his wrong; and it may be difficult to know how to
act. But never pursue a course that will give him the impression that
you regard yourself as his superior. You may think that your feelings,
your pursuits, your organization, are superior to his, but do not seek
to make this apparent; for such a course is altogether out of harmony
with true refinement, true nobility of character. We are not to bruise
the souls of the erring, but to go to them armed with humility and
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prayer. When the gospel minister, with his heart subdued by the love
and grace of Christ, comes in touch with human minds, he can reveal
his superior qualifications, not by destroying hope and courage, but by
inspiring faith in the faithless, by lifting up the hands that hang down,
and confirming the feeble knees.—
The Review and Herald, November
21, 1899
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