Forgiving a Brother

Last night and the night before, as I was on my way back to Delhi from Chennai by a train, the Lord reminded me about my attitude towards an elderly brother who opposed the ministry of brother Watchman Nee and Witness Lee to the extent that he warned and spread false accusation of the ministry of the word being a "cult" to many believers, which he himself have not read even one book by Witness Lee. This is how Satan attacks the Lord's work subtly through so-called "Christian leader" who has not even bothered to study the truth and check with the Bible like the Berean.

Acts 17:11 Now these people were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

In 2012, the Lord graced me to meet this brother at a Christian book exhibition in Bangalore, I was further graced to confront against his lies and false accusations with facts. He blindly accused Witness Lee without any basis of truth, nor has he read any book by Witness Lee, nor did he have any solid biblical point to dubbed somebody as "cult". Whatever his stand may be, to me, he is still a brother in the Lord. His misinformation is not going to hamper the Lord's work in any way. Anyone who dares to fight against the truth would be the greatest fool. A few years later, I met him again, though we greeted with smiles in Delhi, and then again last year at Mumbai. Though he addressed us as brothers and we addressed him too as a brother, he still seems to subtly warn people of his misunderstanding and misinformation.  

As a man, I did have some feeling, and the Lord reminded me to simply forgive him for whatever he said or did. It was not easy for me to easily forgive someone who arrogantly and blindly attacks the Lord's work. But, I simply gave in to the Spirit's leading within me, and said, "Lord, only You can truly forgive. May Your forgiveness be my forgiveness." And I prayed for that elderly brother that the Lord would open his spiritual eyes and repent. Whatever damages he might have caused, it may be restored fivefold. The Lord may grace him to not linger in his blindness and ignorance. Rather, he would be graced to be instrumental for His move on this earth at this age.

Now, the Lord's work in me is to change my attitude towards him. This is also not easy. I simply look to the Lord that as he leads me to forgive him, I must also have a proper heart and attitude towards him; he is a dear brother in the Lord. The Lord will grace me so.

As the Lord graces me, I decided to help him in the matter he requested a help from me the last time I met him. No matter what his attitude towards the ministry may be, still he is my brother and I should treat him as a brother in the Lord, and maintain a good relationship and fellowship with him.

Much grace to me and my brother.