Remember that we are all subject to failings of one kind or another.

Bear with (not magnify) each other's infirmities. (Galatians 6:1-2)

Pray for one another in our meetings, and particularly in private. (James 5:26)

Avoid going from house to house for the purpose of bearing news and interfering with other people's business.

Always turn-a-deaf-ear to any slanderous report and lay no charge against any person until well founded.

If a member is at fault, tell them of it in private, before it is mentioned to others.

Be careful of avoiding someone because of some action that has the appearance of opposition or resentment.

If a member has offended, consider how Godlike it is to forgive, and how unlike a Christian it is to seek revenge.

Remember that it is a giant artifice of the devil to promote animosities among members of the church. So we should therefore try hard not to let him succeed.

Consider how much more good we can do in the world and in the church in particular, when we are all united in love.

It seems that many of our brethren are determined to be 'non-traditional' in their beliefs and practices. It has almost reached the point where being 'traditional' is now the uncommon thing! The approach and mindset of some is apparently: 'If this is the way it has always been done, it must be wrong — let's change it.'

Concerning this 'non-traditional' way of thinking, let us offer these observations:

If any 'tradition' is being bound in place of, or in favor of, God's law, then such 'tradition' should be immediately exposed, denounced, and discarded. In rebuking the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus said: "For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men … Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition … Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition …" (Mark 7:8-13). Let us never be guilty of binding our human traditions as they did.

Remember that some 'traditions' are handed down to us by divine inspiration, and these are important and necessary to our salvation. Paul said: "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle" (2 Thess. 2:15). And he instructed this: "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2 Thess. 3:6). Therefore it is essential that we honor every God-given 'tradition'.

Finally, think about this: Things that are done 'traditionally' (based upon lawful areas of judgment) have become 'traditional' for a reason. Basically, these specific ways and means have been chosen because they work well. Good and wise brethren have seen the expediency of these methods over time, and thus they have grown to be the 'norm'. Changing these things just to demonstrate that we are 'non-traditional' is neither prudent nor necessary.

Think!