Church Discipline (Part 2)

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:15-19)

In this passage Jesus makes the exact steps for carrying out discipline within the Body perfectly clear. There is safety for all involved in the process, including the accused, if we will closely adhere to the words of Christ when confronting a brother who has sinned. It is interesting to note in the passage that Jesus makes it clear that this is for "your brother (who) sins against you." Jesus doesn't necessarily suggest or imply that we make discipline a daily part of our community walk for every sin a man commits. He is very clear that this discipline is to be conducted when the sin is against the Body.

Here are the steps that one should follow:

1. Go to your brother and tell him his sin between you and him alone.
2. If he refuses to hear you, in other words, refuses to repent, then you are to return with 1 or 2 other witnesses to confront him with his sin once again.
3. If he still refuses to repent, then you are to take him before the entire Body and confront him once again, in hope that he will repent.
4. If he refuses, he shall be to you like an IRS agent - oops! I meant like a tax collector and a heathen.

First and foremost, Jesus begins this passage with a presumption. The presumption is that the brother has indeed sinned. In order for this presumption to be true, there must be clear, conclusive evidence of the sin or error. If one is to confront or accuse a brother of sin, then the law must be presented. Without presenting the law there can be no knowledge of transgression against it. And without transgression, there can be no repentance. This removes any room for error or misinterpretation. This is vitally important to understand. Jesus here presumes and assumes that the brother is indeed guilty of sin. Sin is not based upon anyone's opinion. Sin is based upon fact, evidence and truth. It is not subjective. It is objective. That means there can be no room for interpretation. Truth is absolute, and evidence is firmly established.

Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)

If there is in fact conclusive evidence of sin, then the injured brother should confront the offender face to face. This is imperative that it be face to face, privately. Notice that Jesus did not advise the injured brother to go seek council at this point. Why? Because, it is a personal, private matter. To go to someone else - even someone in authority or leadership, would compromise the situation. Why, because they are not yet a party to the case. It would dishonor your brother to uncover his sin, without first giving him the opportunity to repent. Uncovering your brother's sin is commonly called gossip.

And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. (1 Timothy 5:13)

Then if your brother refuses to repent, after you have remained in honor toward him by providing him opportunity to do so, you may go to 1 or 2 trusted brothers. You should return with them to once again seek the offender's repentance. The reason that to take 1 or 2 trusted brothers is to protect yourself in case you too are in error. You are to present them with the truth and evidence, and they are to rightly discern if your case is worthy. One should not assume that a brother is in sin, simply because they are approached by someone who has been offended. Many times we are unable to rightly discern situations when we are offended, and seek revenge from our brother rather than repentance. The 1 or 2 other brothers should be able to rightly discern whether the offended brother has in deed been sinned against, before returning with him to confront the offender.

Jesus continues the assumption that the injured brother is in the right. However, I think one can read into the text a bit that the brother in error is given the chance to present his case before the witnesses. Could it be that this brother also has evidence that would exonerate him of the charges levied against him? This is why Jesus says: ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ Judgement has to be executed in the case. The two witnesses are not to side with the injured brother, simply because he has come to them. No, because the injured brother may be in the wrong. When the brother in error has had the chance to defend himself (should he have any defense), the witnesses shall establish the truth by examining the evidence. If the accusation stands, he is again offered the opportunity to repent.

If the brother still refuses to repent, he is to be taken before the church and confronted one final time with the nature of his transgression. At this point there should be no questions or doubts as to the validity of the transgression. The action is taken to provide a final opportunity to repent. If the brother in error remains defiant he is to be dis-fellowshipped from the body. Jesus says you should treat him as if he were an IRS agent or an unbeliever. Why? Not because of his sin, but rather because he is unwilling to repent.

One should note that nowhere does Jesus ever recommend or command the church to seek justice. They are to seek repentance. Justice is to be left in the hands of God. Jesus did not institute this policy for revenge, and church discipline should never be used in that light.

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

Look at the life of Zaccheus. Jesus did not seek justice for all of the many transgressions that Zaccheus had committed against God and the people. Rather he sought Zaccheus' repentance. His repentance was proven to be true when Zaccheus responded by executing justice himself, as a result of his change of heart. It was the work of the Spirit that suggested Zaccheus make amends for his sins. It was not done at Jesus' bidding. Did Jesus require self or human justification for Zaccheus? No. Zaccheus stood justified the moment he believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.

So to recap the process for confronting sin within the body:

1. There should be clear evidence of sin. The law must be presented for transgression to be realized.
2. The confrontation should be done in private first.
3. With no repentance, a few (1 or 2) others should be brought in to help establish the truth.
4. With still no repentance, the brother is to be taken before the church.
5. If still defiant, the brother is to be ex-communicated and dis-fellowshipped.

The goal of this process is always for God to receive glory through the repentance and restoration of the transgressor. It is not to exact justice nor for revenge. It is not to maintain a healthy public image at an individual's expense. But rather it is for the good of all involved.

Now let me propose a question. How closely do we adhere to Christ's manual? Don't we generally skip ahead to step 3, and neglect steps 1 and 2? How often do we accuse our brethren based upon our opinion or interpretation of scripture, rather than the truth established in God's word? How often are men convicted without any evidence of transgression? How often are men condemned without ever presenting the Law that they have transgressed? And then further: How often do we look away and turn a deaf ear when someone is desperately in need of discipline?