Geno Smith

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith will miss at least 6 to 10 weeks after being punched by teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali in the locker room. Smith suffered a broken jaw that required surgery to repair the injuries. Coach Todd Bowles said that altercation was over a trivial matter, and that the blow from Enemkpali was a sucker punch. Enemkpali was immediately released by the team. It seems like a fitting punishment for a teammate who put his team’s on-the-field leader out of commission for so long.

Many controversies that erupt in churches are over trivial matters. And sometimes a leader will be “sucker punched” by a verbal assault. Many times, however, the offending “teammate” will never be disciplined in any way. It’s a shame that secular organizations sometimes have a better grasp of biblical leadership principles than local congregations.

“Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”—Titus 3:10-11.