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NASB | Matthew 18:17 "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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 18:17 "If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile (unbeliever) and a tax collector. [Lev 19:17; Deut 19:15] |
Bible Question: In reference to Mat. 18, Does the church have the right to bring a person before the church body and tell their sins if the person has asked to be removed from the membership of the church. Should it be up to God to judge and discipline the person. Also, if bring the person's name in front of the congregation will damage the persons reputation to the point the person can not face these people is this not wrong. |
Bible Answer: Jesus says, 'tell it to the church.' There isn't much wiggle room there. Do you tell the church that the man/woman is in a sin [which shall go unnamed] and will not repent of it, or do you tell the church the exact sin being committed? The latter sounds extreme, but the exact sin may already be known. The sin will have to be told to someone, the 'two or three witnesses?' How else will the sinning brother 'listen to the church' that doesn't know about his sin? If the church doesn't know the man's sin, how would the church know if or when the sinning brother had repented? Maybe a few people know about the specific sin and the rest know that the brother is unrepentent of some unnamed sin. The upshot is that some people are going to know of the specific sin. "The persons reputation" is not harmed by the church, it is he who soiled his own reputation. It is up to him now to be humble, confess and repent. The church will welcome him back in open arms. "Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him" (2 Cor. 2:8). Paul publicly rebuked Peter in Galatians 2. He didn't hurt Peter's reputation, Peter hurt his own and 'stood condemend' unless he repented (which he obviously did). Paul didn't mind mentioning Hymenaeus and Alexander when they went astray, shipwrecking their faith (1 Timothy 1:19,20). Sometimes, confrontation can't be avoided. But it must be done with the right spirit (this is the hardest part for me). :) Good day. |