09/28/24 DEALING WITH TARES

09/28/24 DEALING WITH TARES

This post deals with two separate, but related issues:
The problem of TARES in the local church and
the need for total and consistent LOYALTY to Biblical authority.

God is patient, long-suffering, gracious, merciful. He apparently gives us great latitude, but we, as Christians must be careful when we deal with other folks. Open and deliberate sin must be addressed, but love and wisdom must guide our words and actions. But dealing with TARES is not as easy to deal with.

Though God makes His standard clear, it is possible for a person to think of himself as saved, and possible for others to also think of that person as saved, but in reality the person is not actually wheat, but tares "darnel," (bastard wheat). Jesus said that such would grow up and appear to be Christians. Remember, open and deliberate sin must not be allowed to continue in the local church, but the problem of TARES in the church presents a different scenario, and very careful management. There is difficulty in judging a person's motives, but over time, the TARES often become obvious in their sinful behavior. 

PARABLE OF THE TARES
Matthew 13:25-30
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 

PARABLE EXPLAINED
Matthew 13:36-43
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

GOD WILL SEPARATE THE PRETENDERS
The local church has the right and responsibility to discipline and exclude people who are blasphemous and divisive from church fellowship, but we are warned about ripping out the tares because God will deal with them Himself in the judgement. 

Remember,
Matthew 7:13-27 KJV
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

It is not legalism for you to make your calling and election sure. We need to make certain that our possession measures up to our profession. We better let God's word determine our thoughts, beliefs, affiliations, actions, lifestyle, politics, recreation, habits. Make your stand for Jesus clear. It is not Christian to side with and promote a political party that requires people to accept and pay for: baby murder, Socialism, violence against Christians, dissolution of the family, immorality, persecution of Biblical faith, oppression, wokeness, violating and abusing and mutilating children, punishing the law abiding and protecting the criminal.

For centuries the Enemy has sought to pollute the church and mislead the believers. He has done this by convincing people that God's word is to be understood and explained through family, culture, human traditions, human government, personal responsibilities. Our country is in the mess it is in because people have tried to make God's word agree with human experience. We must let God's word direct our thoughts, beliefs, relationships, responsibilities and our daily behavior. Our lives, our faith, our politics must agree with God's word. If not, then we need to change everything to align with God.

Following Christ sets us apart from the works of darkness.
Be bold, be consistent, be moral, be Christian.