Limits for a good relationship

TEACHER

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Lesson 6

BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT

Acts 8.9-13,18-20

GOLDEN TEXT

If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.

1 Peter 4.15

AIMS

Understand that it is not elegant to meddle in other people’s lives;

Comprehend that the Bible condemns invasion under the excuse of faith;

Conclude that respect sets boundaries for other people’s intimacy.

INTRODUCTION

Mankind is constituted of social beings, that’s why we need to have relationships. Even introverts are social beings, even if they’re a little less.

In the church, relationships tend to grow as time goes by, because of the incentive to the practice of communion, which is healthy. However, human relations go under a protocol that limits and regulates the interactions. That’s what this lesson is about.

1. RESPECT TO HIERARCHY

Human societies are constituted by hierarchical powers. Beyond human figures, there are laws, norms, codes that regulate boundaries in order to give respect and cordiality to human relationships.

1.1. Simon is reprimended by Peter

because of boundaries

In Acts we have a famous man from Samaria who converted after Philip preached. His name was Simon and he had magical abilities which made him famous. The News of revival got to Jerusalem and the apostles sent Peter and John. Simon offered money for Peter to give him the same kind of power he had.

Peter reprimended him (Acts 8:20,21)

Simon stepped out of the hierarchical powers of the Kingdom. He thought he could be on the same level of the apostles because he was famous. He didn’t think it would be okay to be on the same level of the other church members of the city.

1.2. Saul was reprimended by Samuel because

he didn’t know his limits

The Philistines had invested against the israelites with thirty thousand cars, six thousand knights and a big crowd. King Saul called the man from Israel to follow him to Gilgal. Prophet Samuel promissed that in seven dayshe would be there, but, since he was late, Saul made the sacrifice.

The moment he finished, Samuel arrived. It would be the greatest day of saul’s life if he didn’t go over his boundaries. He could not have acted as a priest, but he dared to.(1Sm 13.13)

2. RESPECTING PERSONAL BOUNDARIES

Civil laws exist to stabilish a good relationship between human beings. The role of the law is to set boundaries under the penalty of punishment.

2.1. The intruder

In the church of Thessalonica, there were some members who would meddle in other people’s lives. Paul exorted them (2Ts 3.11)

Apostle Peter puts meddlers in the same cathegory of homicidals. (1Pe 4.15)

2.2. The talebearer

A converted sinner, in his sanctification process, struggles to get rid of sins (often the louder ones) to have communion with God, but not all of them go deep getting rid of other transgressions. Among those, there is talebearing, which is condemned by the Bible (Pvc 20.19). The talebearer invades others’ privacy seraching for information to harm images and comment with others. This creates a hard climate among the church.

Apostle Paul called Timothy’s attention for a case like that. Even he was a victim of this.(Gl 2. 4,5)

2.3. The one who breaks confidence

As a body, we’re members, interacting in harmony for health.WE need to be able to seek for help within each other. The Bible recommends for us to confess to each other- here goes the principle of confidentiality.

Whenever someone confesses to us, our duty is to help them reconcile, and if it is a more serious case, ask for permission to bring it to the pastor, but never turn aconfession public. responsibility is required.

2.4. Abuse under the label of Christian love

Christian love needs to be our norm. Church needs to be full of it and we should policy ourselves to it. We need to be able to share within and with people who are not part of the Church too.

The Church of Christ needs to have a vision to help everyone.

CONCLUSION

There’s a tensory line which stabilishes limits, via law, wiseness or education: respect. No one can cross this line and take a place which doesn’t belong to them; meddle in people’s lives or benefit from others under the excuse of Christian Love.

May God

bless your life!

EBD ADVEC

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