Christians should assume that all church members who are not in flagrant and unrepentant sin are regenerate. The truth is, we do not know who is regenerate and who is not. However, to insist that any church member is unregenerate without good reasons is uncharitable, and contrary to the aims of the church. To illustrate, when I interact with you, I assume that you are regenerate and can understand and benefit from spiritual things. I do this not on the basis of infallible knowledge, but on a charitable assumption. I give you benefit of the doubt. If this is true here, how much more so in the context of the local church? Your assumption of what follows from that is what gets you into trouble. Assuming that a person is regenerate does not mean that we do not teach them the gospel, encourage them to believe, call upon them to repent etc. In one sense, it compels us to teach them the word of God all the more. It means that we assume that we are dealing with an object of mercy for whom the word will accomplish something, and not objects of wrath for whom the word will only harden. Likewise, there is no point in the Christian life in which we outgrow our need for the gospel. Assuming that one is regenerate does not imply that they do not need the gospel. Good word Rick Appleton
Posted on: Fri, 09 May 2014 16:26:34 +0000
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