By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Romans 15:14
In most places if you left your door unlocked, you would expect to be robbed. But if I noticed that you had forgotten to lock up, and neglected to alert you, how would you feel about my negligence?
We see our duty to sound the alarm in the physical realm, but do you see it as equally true in spiritual things?
To whom does the Spirit of God give this verse? Is He writing to theologians, church leaders, pastors? No, it is addressed to the brethren, the ordinary Christians who comprised the church of Rome.
Normal Christians are capable of admonishing one another. Isn’t that what the verse says?
The word ‘admonish’ is noutheteo, meaning ‘to put in mind of one’s Biblical responsibilities.’ This word is located 8 times in our New Testament. Half the time it is translated warn (Acts 20:31; 1 Corinthians 4:14; Colossians 1:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:14) and half the time it is translated admonish (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:15).
For example, for three years the Apostle Paul was so concerned for the welfare of the Ephesian believers that he spent day and night tearfully warning them (Acts 20:31). That may seem excessive to our minds. But not to the sober-minded 1st century Christian. That was normal behaviour!
You might think, ‘But that was an apostle, a leader of Christians!’ I encourage you to look up those references. Of those 8 occurrences of the word, half of them are addressed to ‘laymen.’
One of those verses is Colossians 3:16 where our congregational singing is meant to admonish each other. What an indictment on 21st century ‘worship’ where congregations are seen as spectators rather than active admonishers.
When spiritual difficulties arose, churches in the 1st century didn’t send church members to an unsaved counsellor for advice. God’s undershepherds were competent to counsel the flock themselves, and so were the brethren.
This principle alone will dramatically reduce the attendance of any New Testament church in this apostate age (2 Timothy 4:3).
Regardless of cost, may the Lord help us to care so much for each other that we take up this ministry of admonishment.
Father, I see how soft our brand of Christianity is where we label as ‘judgmental’ anyone who cares enough to warn us of spiritual dangers. Lord, have mercy on us! Help me to be willing to be reminded of my duties, and willing to risk fragile relationships by giving out such loving warnings. Help our church family to love one another so much that we are willing to look out for each other’s spiritual needs. I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.