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Matthew 18: Get Your Programs Here!
Posted by Chris Johnson in Baptist Life, Bible & Theology, Church & Missions
In an attempt to engage the believer in a love commanded by our Lord in Matthew 18, even though most admit that it is often ignored these days, let’s turn our attention to what has emerged as a worthy contender in its place. It is amazing what many churches have promoted as a replacement for unity. The creativity and packaging gets more appealing every year.
When you get offended, what could be better than confronting the offender? According to Christ, not much else. While on the other hand though, it appears we have discovered many other ways to creatively cancel out Matthew 18,… and do it in a more pragmatic and acceptable way. Today, it is trendy for churches to create a self-help program or class in an attempt to control the myriad of deficient character flaws (anger, adultery, abusive behavior, gossip, etc.) than it is to confront and seek the Spirit’s unity. Pragmatism and hedonism have infected the churches to a level that Matthew 18 is just a “buzz” word, where finding my way to the next fixit group cancels out the need for real love. Some churches are less creative and skip over the Matthew passage on purpose altogether, finding it a bit abusive and unpleasant.
The one main ingredient that goes out the door when programs replace the command to love, is people never meet face to face, and in private. They are taught to prefer shoulder to shoulder in a group setting. The opportunity to meet nose to nose is avoided. Pragmatic and hedonistic churches do not allow for sin to be challenged and unfortunately the disastrous result is a brother or sister is often never won over and unity is rarely comprehended. Churches that do not practice our Lord’s command in Matthew 18 simply become superficial cozy places to attend with a lot of programs that can help us live better and safer lives, ….where confronting sin simply becomes a deflection of bad behavior and an invitation to a classroom or program. Sadly, the truth for most churches is…the command is simply ignored.
Matthew 18:15-18 “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, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
So what do we do? Is it better to deflect our brothers and sisters into programs and classes?…. or is it better to “go and show” and allow the Holy Spirit to change heart and lives and maintain unity as Christ’s church?
How do you teach Christians, who make up Christ’s church, to respond?
Blessings,
Chris
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Matthew 18 is not a suggestion, but a command to be carried out by the local church. Where there is no discipline, there is no church.
We must stop trying to avoid confrontation anfd hurting feelings, and obey our Lord’s injunction.
what is more important-God’s favor or Man’s/
Brother Chris,
Thank you for the post. I do share the concern that true love, unity and accountability are often little more than buzz words in churches. I do not know that it is necessarily a new problem, however. It seems to me that the gospel has been demanding on folks from the start. I am having a difficult time understanding how programs may have contributed to the breach of unity. Can you help?
Blessings,
Zach
Dr. Foltz,
You have brought up a similar rebuke that we see given to the church in the book of the Revelation…. They remained a church, yet were admonished and exhorted to return to Christ
Revelation 2:1-5 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: (2) ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; (3) and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. (4) ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (5) ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place–unless you repent.
Ephesus had left their first love, which is Christ. He gave a certain confirmation of this during His ministry….
John 14:15-17 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (16) “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; (17) that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
Love is recognized by obedience, and the abiding Holy Spirit allows us to bring unity in the church by going to our brother and sister as we are offended by sin so that they may be won over through the work of the parakletos. That “is” returning to our first Love recognizing Christ as head of the church.
Thanks for the comment,
Blessings,
Chris
Brother Zach,
Since the post was very brief, I do want to be clear that “some” programs are very beneficial. The main thrust of thought here, is that leadership in the churches must be intentional and deliberate to teach and live out confronting sin (going to our brother and sister in Christ) opposed to creating programs, coddling or forming self-help groups to try and shape behavior.
To use an example: subject – gossip
If I walk up on a couple of men that happened to be discussing another brother in the fellowship and how they had observed this brother in just another one of his outbursts of anger during a squabble a couple of days back and because of his selfish behavior this was now spilling over to other members and upsetting a couple of families in the church……as a leader, what is my first inclination.
a. Start thinking about a six week anger management class that many in the church can benefit from and invite this “brother” to attend.
b. Tell the men to break it up, and tell them they shouldn’t be talking about such stuff in the church.
c. Tell the men to pray for the “brother” and that God will convict him of his sin.
d. Teach the men that what they are doing is gossip,… make sure they understand why gossip harms the church…., if you have won them over, ….then instruct the men to go to the brother they had observed in sin and confront him concerning this sin that is now beginning to upset families.
The answer is pretty obvious…. But the point I am trying to raise, is that leadership has a tendency to move toward a path of least resistance and will typically opt for a,b,or c,….shying away from d. because d. requires face to face action related to the command of Christ. It is more difficult,…but it is does bring edification to the church.
Hope that helps some,…
Blessings,
Chris
Brother Chris,
Thank you. I do understand your point now.
Chris,
There is a whole list of scriptures we “believe” but do not really believe. Love your enemy. In everything give thanks. Don’t worry about anything. In humility, consider others as better than yourselves. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.
Rare is the believer willing to even attempt to get these verses worked into his or her life in reality.
thanks for a thought-provoking post.
Chris,
This has been one area that I have been assertive in as a Christian throughout my lifetime. It goes both ways, too. It either reconciles or separates. It also stimulates our new man to growth and conforms us to the image of Jesus Christ.
The one thing I think affects us most is the forgiveness that reconciles. I believe forgiveness is the main thing that conforms us to the image of Jesus Christ more than any other. I would urge pastors to train and encourage their people in this one activity until they got it. Certainly, our world would change by dimensions if this one truth was understood and implimented.
Great topic.
Brother Bruce,
I completely agree brother…. “I would urge pastors to train and encourage their people in this one activity until they got it.” The process of loving someone as Christ commands is intentional and it begins with the leaders. If the leadership is unwilling to teach the command,….then it will never be accomplished. That is why we can clearly see the result and reason for its illusiveness in this lifetime. Many Pastors may find their jobs more important than to risk teaching this specific command.
Thanks for the input,
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Brother Dave,
What you have said is very true. We would rather go to a program and learn “about a solution” than turn to the truth and be broken and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Sinners are consistent creatures.
Blessings,
Chris
Bro. Chris,
At the close of every service, my pastor, Paul Davis says, ”Jesus said, ”By this shall all men know you are my diciples if you have. . .”
The people respond, ”love one to another.”
Then he says, Go show someone you love him.”
People visiting the church say, ”They sure do love each other here.”
Every pastor needs to do this in his church.
Brother Foltz,
It is a good thing that the visitors get a glimpse of your family love, and that your church family is allowing that love to show.
Love is a lean objective these days and was also lean in the days of the Corinthian church. When Paul said that….
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, (5) does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, (6) does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
….it is all those attributes that bring substance and vitality to real love. If the offended, when in the process of confronting sin, is not willing to “bear” what he are she may receive, or is less than determined to not be “provoked”, or has little faith and does not truly “believe” that the Spirit (paraklete) will intercede, or is not ready to “endure” the look of surprise or harsh words that may be returned and even better a “won” brother or sister, or is not willing to be “kind”, then there will be little “hope” of restoration and unity of the Spirit.
Its time that we do not “seek our own” and think that a retaliation as we obey Christ command to love is “wronging” us. Its time we know Love and teach it.
Blessings,
Chris
One of the individual life-changing affects about this is knowing that the brother or sister you are approaching may end up being cast out of Christian fellowship if they refuse to repent. Just telling them isn’t enough. Once you begin, you must be willing finish the task whether restoration occures or expulsion is necessary.
When Jesus went to the cross it was not just to save souls, it was also to pronounce the condemnation on those in unbelief simply because a way out was provided. The cross was the verdict for all mankind.
Approach this task with the same love that Christ approached the cross.
Brother Bruce,
That is the reality of restoration and knowing that the gospel needs to be clear and presented in love in those situations where repentence is nowhere in sight….and then often thereafter.
Good word,
Chris