Restoring a Believer!
How are we to handle conflict and discipline among the believers? I have addressed this before, but it bears looking into again. Jesus instructs us that we are to hold one another accountable in the Lord. Now, I know that some folks will tell you we’re not to judge. But we are to rightly judge. If your brother or sister in Christ sins, the Word is clear, we must gently restore them.
Jesus says this in Matthew 18:15-18
15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.
17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 “Truly I say to you, what- ever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. (nasb)
So, what is our Lord saying here in regard to a brother who is sinning? If a fellow believer sins then go to him in private and show him how he must turn away from such sin. Now understand, you better be prayed up and make sure that you’re not also passing judgment on your brother’s sin. Does what you are telling him line up with God’s word? It must! And know that before you can remove a speck out of our brother’s eye, you need to first make sure there ain’t a big ole’ timber stove up in our own eye. (see Matt 7:3-5)
Also understand that you shouldn’t ought to share what your brother has done with your buddies down at the coffee shop. And don’t share it on social media. And please don’t share it in the form of a prayer request down at the church prayer meeting. There just ain’t room for gossip mixed in with the prayer requests. It would do several of us a lot of good to get a case of closed mouth disease. It would sure help keep the foot out!
Jesus says that when someone has done something wrong, whether it be against you, others or God, you are to first go talk to him one on one. So make sure there ain’t no timber in your eye and put down those rocks. Also remember, church is a place for second chances! If you go talk to the person who has sinned, most likely the situation will be cleared up right then.
But if one on one won’t work, then you will have to take one or two brothers with you and talk to him again. Remember, before y’all go, first look for the eye logs and make sure there’s still nothing in your hands.
If the “take a friend” method don’t work then you are to tell it to the church. Again, not as a prayer request and don’t announce it. Take it quietly to the pastor and the leadership. And again (no timbers, no rocks) just go talk to him.
After much prayer and after all resources to win him back have been exhausted; then, we are to remove him and treat him as a lost person outside of the church! Now, that don’t mean throw him to the wolves, either. The church has a job to do. We are to share Christ and His love.
Okay, but what about a non-believer? If someone that isn’t a Christian commits an act against you. then pray for them, love them anyway!! They don’t know the Way. So pray, love them, and tell them all about the good news of Jesus in your life!
Choose Jesus, choose life! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! And y’all KEEP PRAYIN’ for RAIN! Amen