Sentimentality vs. Obedience

“Sentimentality is an enemy of church discipline. Sentimentality is the love of man divorced from the love of truth. Under the specious guise of broadened sympathies it cloaks a big lot of hypocrisy and moral decay. The church sentimentalist is so kind to his fellow church member that he is willing to ignore the plain instructions of the Book of his faith rather than bring him to account for unchristian conduct. ‘Judge not that ye be not judged,’ he quotes, but he forgets to quote 1 Corinthians 5:12, 13, ‘Do not ye judge them that are within, whereas them that are without God judgeth’”

Victor Masters, “Church Discipline,” Baptist Courier, South Carolina, Aug. 21, 1902

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