♣ From the Band of Brothers post that, is an ongoing explanation of what should church should and could be.

  • Everyone knew each others personal life.  There were no secrets because they all knew no one is perfect – nothing to hide here.

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Nothing like airing out the dirty laundry for all to see, huh?  I would imagine this is probably one of the most frightening things that any of us could experience.  It’s the, “If they only knew this about me.” thing.  It freezes us from sharing with people why we do the things we do.  It keeps others from learning from our mistakes.  It keeps us from receiving help from others so old woulds can heal.  And it is contrary to what is taught in the scriptures. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed…” James 5:16 ESV

In the series, ‘Band of Brothers’  these guys knew everything about each other.  That’s because they spent long hours in trenches, scared to death, so their is this compulsion to share your life with others.  These guys knew the darkest part of each other and they shared every aspect of their lives with each other.  Here’s what it allowed them to do:

  • They understood each others point of view when they had to make the important decisions.
  • They were able to challenge each other on faulty thinking.
  • It helped them feel and understand what each other was experiencing.
  • Combat communication was kept to a minimal because they could anticipate each others moves.
  • It helped them understand they were all equals, even when it came to their view of leadership.

What would the church be like if we spent less time talking and more time ministering because we understood the motives of others?  How cool would it be if we could help each other get through our stubborn and sinful thinking patterns?  We could be more forgiving of each other when wrongs are committed.  People would spend less time running from those in the church to hide their sins but instead would spend more time in the church seeking help for their lives.

Here’s the deal…The early church was this way. We will be a church of life change when we learn that our dirty laundry is there to help others, not to hide.  One of the most intriguing and awesome qualities about God is that He will always take that which was for evil and use it for good.

Why don’t you give him a chance today…