Loud Thinking

“Am I My Brother’s (or Sister’s) Keeper?” (Gen. 4:9). We
know the story behind this remark made by Cain toward God. He killed his
brother Abel and he doesn’t want to be responsible to the murder he made. Most
of the time we make the same error with our Christian brethren. Have you
realized that in one way or another we are responsible with the casualties
amongst us? In what way? We failed to be keepers of our brothers and sisters.

The New Testament is filled with exhortations to do the
“one another” ministry. Almost all the epistles
have the same call to all believers. Sometimes we just feel accountable to
someone if he or she is already in sin.

What does it mean to be accountable, anyway? To be
accountable means that two or more are in a Christian relationship wherein they
give permission to another to look into their life for purposes of questioning,
challenging, admonishing, advising, encouraging and providing inputs in ways
that will improve their lives according to what the Bible says.

I believe that to be accountable means to be on the
lookout. Of course, it should be done in the spirit of grace and not legalism.
We ought to see ourselves as sinners and as vessels of grace and not someone
better than the other.

To be accountable is not a reaction upon knowing that a
brother or sinner is already in sin. Hebrews 3:13 says, “But encourage one another
day after day, as long as it is {still} called "Today," so that none
of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” We need to be reminded
and we need to remind others that God is holy and He hates sin and that sin
leads to death. We can see that as we read Romans. James 1:15 says, “Then when
lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it
brings forth death.”

Christian brethren who doesn’t see the importance of
accountability develops immunity from it, says John Piper. Submit yourself to
others who are Biblically minded. They don’t necessarily have to be so
spiritual. The important thing is they also have a genuine desire to really
obey and please God biblically. "Without counsel plans go wrong, but with
many advisers they succeed" (Prov. 15:22).

I have seen many casualties amongst us, whether in the
movement or church. If not dead, they are badly bruised and wounded.
Personally, I could have done something to prevent such spiritual deaths. I was
just content that they are confessing their struggles and not honestly telling
me the specific sins. I was afraid to confront. I offered sympathy and not a
challenge for them to repent. I got idle to make follow-up because I find that
doing accountability is tiring.

I just thought that these brethren would eventually realize
the sin they got into. My presumptions were wrong. Many of them have not
repented.

I also think that they might say to me that I’m a
holier-than-art person. I have experienced being told by a friend, “That’s your
conviction. My conviction is different,” even though it is quite obvious that
his conviction is not biblically based.

Of course, you might say, “It’s their choice if they want
to be accountable or not.” But what does the Bible say about that kind of
thinking? It is not just responding to the willingness of the brother or sister
to be accountable to you. It is also taking initiative to have a Christian
brother or sister to be accountable to you, especially if you are witness or
aware that he is headed to the wrong direction or she is already making
compromises.

Of course, prayer is very important in this
exercise of brotherly love. Prayer shows our dependence on God who could really
cause change in the person. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts of sin in
our lives and He uses people like us to help strengthen someone in his or her
walk or restore someone back to his or her fellowship with the Lord.

I’m very happy and quite satisfied with the bookshelf I’ve
made. Though it can’t be considered yet as fine furniture but still I’d say it
is a good start and it made me more inspired to pursue further woodworks.

Thing I learned or realized while doing the project…

Patience. Masyado rin akong excited to finish the project.
I thought I could finish it in one or two days kasi di naman siya ganun kalaki.
I was wrong. It took me five days to complete the job. If I have been impatient
malamang the project would have been a disaster. Instead of making a bookshelf
siguro naging panggatong na lang yung mga plywood na gamit ko.

In woodwork, you can’t avoid that there would be crevices.
Plywood have different fiber orientation and if you’re not a good carpenter or
you don’t have a circular saw, like me, malamang tabingi yung pagkakalagari ng
kahoy. To fill and cover some cavity and crevices putty is used as filling. I
was just reminded that in God’s mercy and grace, he fills the void in our hearts
like a balm to comfort us and make us whole.

One of the most difficult parts in woodwork is sanding,
especially if you don’t have a sanding machine. Got a terrible allergy attack
because of the dusts. You have to smoothen the rough surface of the wood and
the extra putty. The rougher the surface the more abrasive sandpaper is used.
Habang tumatagal mas nagiging makinis yung kahoy kaya you would use finer
sandpaper. I see sanding as discipline. Kapag talagang matigas ang ulo mas
matindi o masakit ang disiplinang matatanggap. Eventually kapag naka-yield na
ang buhay sa Diyos disciple would be lesser and less severe.

Sa shelf na ginawa ko, I did wood bleaching. Wood bleach is
a very strong solution that removes deep-seated dirt and wood stain, making the
wood more clear and clean. It also makes the small fibers to stick out. Like
the work of the Spirit, it reveals deep-seated sins in our lives. It convicts
us and prods us to confess and repent.

For the inexperienced carpenter like me, it would be
foolish to make furniture without consulting the expert or the skilled. The
counsel of my skilled friend proves to be invaluable, though I also asked some
tip from my Dad. I realized here the value of discipleship and mentoring. As
spiritually younger Christians we need the counsel and guidance of more mature
Christian men and women who, like Paul, will help us become complete in Christ.
And be challenged and encouraged to disciple others as well. Of course,
important that you have a discipler who bears in mind that he or she is also a
vessel of grace. I’m just sad kasi that my Dad often makes his life or
achievement as the standard for us to meet para ma-please siya, even sa paggawa
ko nung shelf. Remember sa discipleship, Jesus Christ is the standard. “Jesus
is the norm,” says Dr. Wayne Mack.

O siya, I’m going to make my wardrobe furniture naman…