What is the main point of this passage? The main point of this passage is how to properly deal with sin and discipline in the Church. Jesus encourages us to confront a person who has sinned against us one on one (So that it will be private and if things are worked out - it ends there). If that does not work, we are to bring a few other Christians along with us and lovingly confront the person again. We have to remember that the whole purpose of this confrontation is to bring about life-change and offer forgiveness to the person with is living in sin. If the first two steps do not work, then the person refusing discipline must be brought before the church and if they still refuse to listen and change they will be treated as a non-believer.
What part of this passage spoke most deeply to you? The initial verse really just met me where I am in my life right now...I will explain more in my response to the last question...
What kind of questions come to mind for you? Two initial questions jumped to my mind: what does it mean to treat someone like a non-believer, and what does Jesus means when he is saying that the church has the power to bind and loose things on earth and heaven? For the first question, the answer is pretty cool even though a lot of people misinterpret this. Usually Christians read this passage and they that they are supposed to shun the sinners and kick them out of the church. I don't really think that is what Jesus longs for in a relationship between fellow Christians. Think about it - what do we treat non-believers like? We try to do whatever we can to bring them into a relationship with Jesus Christ...and that is the kind of attitude we should take towards unrepentant sinners in the Church...we should treat them like the don't believe. Continue to invite them to hear the Gospel presented at church...continue to pray and seek to lead them back to Christ. They may have to be removed from positions of leadership or deeper community, but they should always be welcome to hear the Word of God with the hope that they will repent. The second question also addresses another big misunderstanding with many Christians. Is Jesus saying that we have some sort of supernatural power to wield eternal consequences over people around us? No! He is simply affirming those who have to be a part of church discipline. It is a scary thing to confront someone about sin (Knowing that you yourself are a sinner) and discipline them so that they might be able to come back to a better way of living. It is easy to question your own motives and your own right to do something like this. Jesus is telling us that if we confront others out of love, with the hope that they will return to Christ...we will have the full support of God. Human beings aren't really capable of that kind of forgiving love and so the Spirit of God has to be involved for real loving confrontation and discipline to happen. Jesus is simply affirming the power of the Church when it acts through the Spirit of God in love.
What do these verses challenge you to do? What steps do you need to take to meet that challenge in your life right now? In my prayers this morning I was wrestling with some internal issues I have been having with someone in my life. There is some deep seated bitterness I have been feeling and I have refused to deal with it...I just shove it down and ignore it. I was praying this morning that God would show me what I need to do...I open up my bible to this passage and the first thing I read has me screaming internally, "NO NO NO!" I don't want to deal with this. I don't want to have an awkward confrontation and conversation...the other person is not really living in sin and what had been bugging me was not necessarily sin in and of itself...it is more a bitterness about things that have been said in the past. But they need to be dealt with, and so I am being challenged to have a tough conversation. The only steps I need to take are to pray about it and then go have the conversation. It is that simple. I think it can be easily resolved...I just don't look forward to the confrontation...it's not fun, but I believe that God has told me what to do.
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