The Doctrine about privacy Pastor Don Chapman 10-09-85
1) Privacy is the right to keep your thoughts, motives, beliefs and
past actions (good or bad - unless criminal) to yourself. It includes
the right to keep certain things (but not all things - such as that
asked on a job application) about yourself secret.
2) The violation of privacy occurs when someone interferes in
another person's business when it is not their responsibility. John
21:18-22
3) Privacy is part of Divine Institution number one.
4) Therefore, it is EVIL to violate the privacy of someone.
5) This doctrine, however, should NEVER create indifference,
coldness or isolation from others. Believers should care for one
another. They should exhort one another. They should comfort one
another. They should edify one another, NOT withdraw into seclusion. A
church which distorts PRIVACY is as cold as a morgue. What normal
person would want to attend a church like that?
6) The concept of privacy has to be balanced with other doctrines
taught in the Bible.
A) Edify one another by speaking Truth - Ephesians 4:12-16
B) Exhort one another - i.e., help others stick with doctrine and
the grace of God. Hebrews 3:13; 10:25
C) Comfort one another - I Thess. 4:18
D) Restore other believers with a spirit of meekness - Galatians
6:1-2; Jude 22
E) Help widows and orphans - I Timothy 5:3-16; James 1:27
F) Give to the poor - Acts 20:34-35; Gals. 6:10; Eph.4:28
G) Express love - Romans 12:10
H) Witness to unbelievers - Acts 1:8; Jude 23
7) The concept: "live and let live" is false doctrine. It creates
isolation, and seclusion in a believer's life. This is something which
is foreign to the teaching of the Word of God. Matthew 5:14-16; I
Corinthians 5:1-13; Galatians 6:1; I Thess.5:14; Hebrews 3:13; 10:25;
James 5:19-20; Rev.2:18-23
8) Privacy can be balanced by studying the example of Christ and
other believers mentioned in the New Testament.
9) Every believer is a priest. I Peter 2:5,9; Rev.1:6
10) As a priest, each believer has the responsibility of ministering
to God, to other believers and to unbelievers.
11) Your ministry to God (giving, worship, prayer, thanksgiving,
presenting your body as a living sacrifice, etc.) should be private.
But your ministry to other believers and unbelievers is NEVER fully
private. It cannot be; except when you send someone something in the
mail without your name and address on it. This is what Evangelist
Arnold Fruchtenbaum calls, "chicken evangelism."
12) Witnessing and edification can ONLY be private in the following
areas:
A) No one has the right to know who you minister to. They can ask,
but it is wrong for them to force you to tell them.
B) No one has the right to know how many people you minister to.
C) No one has the right to know what you said in ministering to
someone.
D) No one has the right to know how often you minister.
E) Note: You do, however, have the right to tell people, but you
don't have to.
13) The invasion of privacy is not always easy to detect. It is the
result of a person's mental attitude. Something which is NOT easy to
discern. Two people can ask the same question. One with a mental
attitude of love, and the other with a mental attitude of nosiness. The
one with love asks out of genuine concern, while the other invades your
privacy.
14) Believers are commanded to not invade the privacy of others. II
Thessalonians 3:11-12
15) The consistant violation of other people's privacy is a
characteistic of someone in reversion. I Tim.5:11-13
16) Believer's who violate the privacy of others always bring
suffering into their life. I Peter 4:15 "...let none of you (believer)
SUFFER (Divine discipline) as a busybody in other men's matters." The
greek word: "busybody - ALLOTRIEPISKOPOS" refers to someone who is a
meddler in other people's lives; someone who tries to live another
person's life for them; one who interferes with others without right or
legitimate reason.
Copyright 1989 by Don Chapman You are allowed to reproduce this
article only in its entirety and without additions or deletions. ../ |