Commentary on "Loving Brothers and Sisters"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, August 15, 2009

 

The story given in today's lesson is unbelievable. I could not imagine a Pastor, counseling a woman who hates her husband, with information on how to really hurt him badly. Of course, the story turns out well. However, if the woman had really allowed the hate to remain in her heart, the Pastor would have been guilty of an awful offense. The woman would have hurt her husband horribly, and the Pastor would have been the source of the method by which the hate would be demonstrated.

The method that the Pastor is using is a modern psychological method that infers that one's beliefs can be changed by one's actions. This also happens to be a form of deception. Rather than “pretend” to love her husband, the Pastor should have worked toward a common goal between both husband and wife, with both of them aware of the reality of their situation. This counseling may have included acts of loving kindness toward one another, but the incentive would not be one of deception, but rather one of honesty.

This story does absolutely nothing in terms of demonstrating the manner, means and objects of our Christian love.

There are some very good questions at the bottom of the page. However, mixed in with these questions about the importance and manifestation of love, is a question on how “we, as sinners, can have the assurance of salvation.” (Pg. 89, Teacher's Quarterly.) This writer is convinced that the assurance of salvation is something that can be had, even while in sinful flesh, and that is a wonderful demonstration of God's love toward us. However, the very question itself conflicts with some past lessons in this, and other, quarterlies. This issue will be addressed further when we discuss the lesson for Thursday.

 

Summary

1. John was the “beloved disciple” of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels. His letters are a great source for understanding Christian love.
2. The story given in the lesson is unbelievable.
3. The Pastor's advice is not just bad, it is anti-Christian and deceptive.
4. Amongst some good questions is an odd question about the assurance of salvation. While this is a great demonstration of God's love, it conflicts with previous lessons regarding the keeping of the commandments. We will explore this further on Thursday's lesson.

 

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