I am glad to see your answer because of course you are exactly right. Not only that but we are not given a choice in the matter. Even if we are out of sorts with a brother it makes no difference. When a brother refuses a brother, then some one is completely out of line or even worse fooling themselves about who they are following.
When a brother willfully and intentionally hurts a brother, that brother is in grat pain and distress and we are required to pray and render assistence to that one.
Following Jesus means following Jesus. Period. There are NO "buts." We can not be a little pregnant. Either we are or we are not. Either we are Christians or we are not. We follow Jesus or we don't.
I use strong language I know and I will be condemned for it. So be it. Jesus also used strong language.
I am very upset because of the shabby treatment I see brothers/sisters doling out to one another and justifying their actions.
In searching through the Bible, especially the New Testament, I can find no topic Jesus taught on that was not ultimately about love or the consequence/effects of not demonstrating it in our lives. God is love as defined by His Word, and Jesus was NOTHING but LOVE encased in a human body.
We, as Christians, fail time after time after time to exercise this Christian love we have been filled with when we were saved. By what right do we hate one another or treat one another with contempt? Where are we given that right? Because we are not given it in the Bible. NEITHER has God ever wispered in any Christian ear that they are exempt from the commandments of His written Word.
I am a Christian. When I ask you to pray for me, you are REQUIRED to do just that. You do NOT have the luxury of saying you will and then go your way and do not. You do not have the option of telling me no, you will not pray, even if I refuse to tell you my need you are still required to at least pray that God will work His will in my life.
If we are Christians we will prove it by our actions, or as Jesus said we will be known by our fruits. We will be unable NOT to love one another.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
The love of Christ "CONSTRAINETH" us. That means we simply cannot help ourselves. CANNOT. We are constrained.
Salvation Check:
Do we love our brothers/sisters?
Do we pray for them?
Do we follow Jesus?
Jesus said if we love Him we will keep HIS commandments!
Yes Badfish you are right. We are required to help our brother.
My only intent in posting this thread was to see if I am the only one reading the Bible that way, and if I am wrong, what is the right way?