Friday, September 14, 2007

Make an even bigger impact

Read, and apply, Matthew 18:15-19 to the way you interact with those you believe have sinned against you. Why do I say this? (and probably not for the first time on this humble site?)

Well, I see too often how fellow believers run roughshod on the principles here; for this or that reason, they decide that they're somehow entitled to ignore these principles, especially the first and second; confrontation for sin ought to be done in private whenever possible. They might appeal to their authority, or position, or the fact that the sin was in public (aren't they all, in a way?). Therefore, they have a right to berate others in public.

And then they wonder why the fight gets out of hand, and the next thing you know, they get a chance to see whether they'll be faithful to 1 Cor. 6:1-11 (prohibition against going to law with believers), and then finally they are wondering why they fall into grievous sins.

So do something profound. The next time someone says something that offends you, approach them discreetly and say "what did you mean by that?" Interact with them in private--don't treat them like an unbeliever until they prove they want to be treated so.

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