Uncovering Your Brother’s Sins

Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah; and from these the whole earth was populated.Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. And he drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father’s nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him. So he said, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants he shall be to his brothers.” --Genesis 9:18-25


There is a lesson for us. Are we to uncover the nakedness of our brother? Many believe it is their job to find the sins of others and then expose them to everyone. Not only is this contrary to Matthew 18, but it will bring a curse upon the fault-finder insofar as he is complicit with the enemy, who accuses the brethren before our God day and night (Revelation 12:10). Let God deal with a man's nakedness. I know a pastor who discovered a hidden sin that another pastor committed some thirty years ago, and out of spiritual jealousy he made sure that everyone found out about it. Is this how we treat the people of God? Yes, if we want to be like Ham. Should we not rather prefer to be like the other two brothers, backing up with the Blood that covers and not publicizing the failures?

It is remarkable that many Christian fellowships will not follow God’s uncomplicated directives for handling discipline among its membership.  Very clearly, all discipline begins with the individual accused of some infraction (self-discipline).  If self-discipline were followed by each, no other discipline would be necessary.

If there is cause, one person (the “accuser”) is to go to that brother (the “accused), and the accused has a choice to “hear” the accuser, and change his ways, OR to not change.  A change ENDS all discussion.  Goes no further.  Goes to no one else.

Only if the accused brother does not “hear” and “change,” is the one accuser to go to a couple more who go with the accuser to the “offending” brother.  Once more, the accused can “hear” and change, OR not.  A change ENDS all discussion.  Goes no further.  Goes to no one else.  Finally, IF necessary, the accused is to be taken to the Fellowship with the same process.

It is incumbent on brethren to do as God directs, and take no action to the contrary.  Otherwise, as Michael points out, the fault-finder(s) become complicit with the enemy, and ultimately God will deal with them.

May we all be found to act as Shem and Japheth did, and never like Ham.  The end result is not good.