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NASB | Matthew 18:15 ¶ "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 18:15 ¶ "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens and pays attention to you, you have won back your brother. |
Bible Question: This question is concerning a true event that was recently related to me and is not hypothetical. A woman told her husband, a church deacon, that she could not longer stand being married to him. She moved out and within two weeks moved in with another man. She continued to attend the church with the new boy friend. The pastor spoke to her about the unappropriateness of her continuing to attend church under the circumstances. She replied that she loved the church and the congregants and had no intention of leaving their fellowship. The minister next visited her with several other deacons to discuss the situation, but she still continued to attend services with her new man. Finally, the minister brought the situation up in a church service attended by the woman and the man, and she ran out the door in tears and never returned. These are the only details that I know. Was this the correct way to handle this? How would your congregation have handled it? |
Bible Answer: Dear newold; In the situation you mentioned, the church has been given guidelines, and instruction to follow. Found in Matthew Chapter 18. Below is part of that instuction. Mt 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Mt 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. Mt 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Grace to you New Creature |