colonel@gloria.UUCP (George Sicherman) (11/11/84)
["Anything is possible if you force it." --God] > Let's assume that a church is very strongly opposed to drinking, and > yet a member is a drunkard. It is the church's responsibility to attempt > to help this man. If all efforts fail, then it is in the best > interests of both parties to "exclude him from fellowship." > Even if the man only occasionally drinks, but does so in a way that > reduces the church's credibility (such as, oh no, drinking in public!), > he should be rebuked, and if he does not repent, the church should kick > him out. This is a poor example, because: 1. Many drunkards are also "very strongly opposed" to drunkenness. One reason that they drink is to obliterate the sense of guilt they feel at getting drunk so much. 2. When the church "tries to help this man," it plays right into his hand. He will tend to get drunk more often, for the sake of the support and comfort the church gives him afterwards. 3. When the church "excludes him from fellowship," it will make him feel guiltier than ever, so he drinks more. Your method may work occasionally, but usually it fails spectacularly. -- Col. G. L. Sicherman ...seismo!rochester!rocksanne!rocksvax!sunybcs!gloria!colonel