Long Division
For the last month we have asked the question “how far should I go to preserve unity in the church”. We have looked at what unites us as Christians. Where can we agree and where do we have to break fellowship. So what happens when you cannot find unity in the essentials? What do you do when liberty leads to heresy? How do you have charity if there is open hostility?
First you have to attempt to resolve the conflict. You will find Christ’s guidelines in Matthew 18:15-19 (ESV)
5 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
It really can fall into 4 steps
1. Confront them privately
2. Confront them with a few witnesses
3. Confront them with in the church
4. Treat them as if they were a pagan or a tax collector…treat them as outside the church
It’s important that two points be made. First, the church needs to maintain its integrity. It can not confront sin while ignoring or justifying sin. At the same time it also needs to maintain its mission.
If you remove someone from the church how are you to treat them…as pagans and tax collectors. Who was the church sent to? Pagans and tax collectors. Discipline does not mean abandonment. We are not called to hate the pagan or loathe the tax collector. Instead we are to invite them into fellowship, or, in this case, back into fellowship. Does this mean they will have to repent and change, certainly, but the opportunity for repentance needs to remain available.
And let’s be honest, that is hard. A broken relationship, a dissolved fellowship is painful. It may leave scars if the process does not lead to restoration. That is why Paul writes in Romans 12:17-21 (ESV)
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
So as we wrap this series up I hope you are taking a moment to reflect on who we are as Christians, what we have been commissioned to do, how important our integrity is, and how essential God’s grace is.
In Essentials Unity,
In Non-Essentials Liberty,
In All Things Charity.
God bless,
Pastor Dan