Are We Really concerned about the lost sheep? Our Lord was very concerned. In fact, it was his primary concern, as he said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
We spend lots of time, money and effort through campaigns and special efforts to bring people into the household of faith. But do we manifest the same effort for the recovery of those of our brethren and sisters who, through disenchantment, weakness and hurt, stray from the little flock?
It must be depressing to see a small ecclesia with a large proportion of its members out of fellowship. Yet Jesus taught that the shepherd who had 100 sheep considered the loss of one sheep so precious, that he left, yes, he left the 99 (obviously in the care of a fellow shepherd) and went in search of the one sheep that was lost. Was it a casual search? No. He does not return “until he finds it” (Luke 15:4).
How contrary then to the teachings of our Master is the treatment of our lost brethren who, when they do return after some absence are subjected to the humiliation of making an open confession before the ecclesia as a condition for their acceptance into the fold! Some of us have noticed this with concern. But it continues.
Even in the case of the prodigal son who had squandered his inheritance, he received a joyous welcome from an anxious father who had compassion on him while “he was yet at a distance” (Luke 15:20). Truly he was also met with resentment, but it was not from the compassionate father; rather, it was from the selfish elder brother (v. 28). Love and resentment, therefore, are clearly presented as the two reactions which a returning brother may arouse. But there should be no doubt whatsoever as to what our Lord requires of us. Acceptance with love, even before this prodigal son could seek forgiveness for wasting his substance on riotous living is the example presented for our emulation — not the resentment of a selfish brother.
The lesson from the Lost Coin is much the same. The loss is the ecclesia’s. The loss is precious. The coin is believed to be part of a wedding chain — a gift from her husband — something like a wedding ring. To lose that coin was considered unlucky and detrimental to her marital security. She could even be ostracized by her own parents. The loss of such a precious possession therefore, would require a “diligent” search for its recovery. The word “diligent” speaks of using all practical means. This is what she did. She lit the lamp and swept the room in order to ensure that even the smallest speck could be recovered. This was the best effort to recover the lost coin. So, too, the recovery of a lost member requires our best effort.
In all the cases of loss — whether of sheep, or coin or son — recovery is followed by rejoicing. This is how a returning brother or sister should be received. The practice of requiring a brother or a sister to confess before the entire ecclesia the reason for his or her absence is an adoption of the unworthy attitude of the elder brother (Luke 15:28), and contrary to the teaching of Christ.
This violation is even more distressing when it is applied to the first convert who, because of distance from the meeting, is in isolation and therefore unable to attend the meeting with any kind of regularity. Paul makes special mention of Epaenetus who was the first convert in Asia for Christ (Rom.16:5). But here, our first convert, Sis. E, has been disfellowshipped because she lives in isolation and cannot attend with regularity. The assertion, “we have our rule here,” has been advanced as the reason for the obstructive action taken against returning brethren. Yet, only recently in the Sunday reading we read Christ’s stern warning against man-made rules. “In vain,” he warns, yes, “in vain they worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7).
Preaching without giving equal consideration to the lost sheep is like filling a leaking cistern. Time, money and effort are being used to bring people to Christ, yet when they come to Christ, the burdens of life or ecclesial disenchantment may keep them away. And their attempt to return is met with this obstacle of confession. Our special efforts to fill the cistern receives the desired publicity, but are we aware of the leak which causes much of what we fill up to leak out?
Let us heed Christ’s warning. Let us observe his teaching. Let us have rejoicing rather than humiliation for the returning lost sheep. Let us know, says James, “that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins”(5:20 RSV).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One