Twelve Rules for Promoting Harmony among Church Members by Thomas Smyth:

1. To remember that we are all subject to failings and infirmities, of one kind or another."”Matt 7:1-5; Rom 2:21-23.

2. To bear with and not magnify each other's infirmities."”Gal 6:1.

3. To pray one for another in our social meetings, and particularly in private."”James 5:16.

4. To avoid going from house to house, for the purpose of hearing news, and interfering with other people's business."”Lev 19:16.

5. Always to turn a deaf ear to any slanderous report, and to allow no charge to be brought against any person until well founded and proved."”Prov 25:23.

6. If a member be in fault, to tell him of it in private, before it is mentioned to others."”Matt 18:15.

7. To watch against shyness of each other, and put the best construction on any action that has the appearance of opposition or resentment."”Prov 10:12.

8. To observe the just rule of Solomon, that is, to leave off contention before it be meddled with."”Prov 17:14.

9. If a member has offended, to consider how glorious, how God-like it is to forgive, and how unlike a Christian it is to revenge."”Eph 4:2.

10. To remember that it is always a grand artifice of the Devil, to promote distance and animosity among members of Churches, and we should, therefore, watch against everything that furthers his the Devil's end."”James 3:16.

11. To consider how much more good we can do in the world at large, and in the Church in particular when we are all united in love, than we could do when acting alone, and indulging a contrary spirit."”John 13:35.

12. Lastly, to consider the express injunction of Scripture, and the beautiful example of Christ, as to these important things."”Eph 4:32; 1 Pet 2:21; John 13:5,35.

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Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project

"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole

And, may I guard my tongue and speech. Disagreeing with one over something (i.e. theological position) is one thing, but this malicious spirit of gossip is uncalled for. I am tired of all the discord by malicious gossips and have rebuked several people throughout the year. I have seen the perils of conflagration that others have lit up, and the damage it sows is repugnant.

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Ryan
1689 London Baptist Confession

Peacemaker.net

Ken Sande's book is excellent on this stuff. Definitely worth a look.

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Chris Rhoades -33
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church (PCA) Nashville, TN-Under Care

Vera theologia non theoretica, sed practica est; Finis siquidem eius agere est hoc est vitam vivere deiformem. - Martin Bucer
""True theology is not theoretical, but practical. The end of it is living, that is to live a godly life."

Wonderful stuff.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 1John 3:14

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1John 3:16

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Donald Jacobs
Marysville. WA
Cascade Church (CRCNA)

Cum vero infirmor tunc potens sum.