Life in the Spirit – Relationship – Overseeing 3
Matthew 18:15-20 (NLT) [Jesus said] “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
“I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.
“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
When one Christian brother or sister sins against another, creating relational discord, the Christian’s responsibility is to not push them away, but rather to lovingly confront them. And leaders must lead the way, modeling how to rebuild trust in broken relationships. We have to protect the relational unity of the church.