Service

Service

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The disciples argued about who would be greatest. Christian communities will inevitable go through this as well. And it is a dangerous enemy and must be eradicated. It is critical to not talk about other Christians in secret nor to judge them. When the discipline of the tongue is practiced, it frees one up from the competitiveness of power. Every Christian community must know that the weak need the strong and also that the strong need the weak. The elimination of weak is the death of the community. <DB's experience in Nazi Germany surely colors this statement. But, the mere fact that he divides into strong and weak is a judgment and violates the earlier principle. cae>

If you are going to serve, you need to learn to think little of yourselves. (cf Rom. 12:3)

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We are told to not claim to be wiser than we are. That means Christians should have modes opinion of our plans and intentions. We must consider ourselves the worst of sinners. Even Paul said that of himself. 

Besides the service of giving people the Word of God, there are other ways to serve that will make the primary one less oppressive.

  1. Listening to people. "We do God's work for our brothers and sisters when we learn to listen to them." "We should listed with the ears of God, so that we can speak the Word of God."
  2. Active helpfulness.  We should not manage our time for ourselves, but allow it be occupied by God.
  3. Bearing with others. We are obligated by scripture to bear with and suffer one another, and because the law of Christ has been fulfilled, we are also able to bear one another. Our life as Christians is summarized in one phrase—carrying the cross of Christ. One who refuses to carry the burdens of other is denying the law of Christ.
    1. We must bear the freedom of the other person. That implies tolerating all the differences, and peccadilloes of the other person.
    2. We must bear the other's sin.

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Speaking the word of God to each is our highest calling. Yet, it is difficult to know when we have the right or duty to do so, and when we are simply intruding or being offensive. Learning to let others speaks the word of God to us, no matter how hard it is, gives us more courage to speak to others. 

We are called to be servants, not brilliant personalities. 

Charles Eklund 2018