Roberts on fellowship
"If men were more busy judging THEMSELVES, which they are
COMMANDED to do, they would not have so much propensity for judging others,
which they are forbidden to do."
"There are divisions that are uncalled for, and therefore
sinful. Paul refers to such when he says, 'Mark them that cause divisions among
you contrary to the doctrine (the teaching on unity) that ye have learnt.' He
was referring, no doubt, to the factions arising out of personal preferences,
but the warning applies to all divisions that ought not to be made. There is
division enough, in all conscience -- division that is inevitable, division that
must be, unless we are to ignore divine obligations altogether; but there are
divisions that ought not to be. It is possible to go too far in our demands of
fellow-believers. How far we ought to go and where to stop, is at one time or
other a perplexing problem to most earnest minds."
"If good men would adopt the rule of refusing to listen to an
evil report privately conveyed, until it had been dealt with to the last stage
according to the rule prescribed by Christ, much evil would be
prevented."
