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Some Thoughts On Correcting Others

1. I will walk in the light as he is in the light. (1 John 1:7)

2. I will forgive others as in Christ God has forgiven me. (Ephesians 4:32)

3. In judging others I will do so only if I have taken the splinter out of my own eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)

4. In correcting another it will be with the intention of restoring the other person to close fellowship with God. I will do it in a biblical manner. (Matthew 18:15 and 18:35)

5. I recognize there is a difference between those who are forgiven and those who are qualified to be teachers.

6. I will not spread rumors about the life of a fellow believer unless his life is a positive testimony to God’s saving grace. If the rumor is negative I will check with the person himself.

7. If a believer is a public figure and there is a rumor of moral impropriety about his life, that rumor should be brought to his attention. He should be encouraged to straighten out the story if it is untrue. If it is true and he has repented he should be encouraged to make that known to the public. If it is true and he has not repented then there should be an attempt to restore him to fellowship.

8. If the man is an elder who has repented, he should be forgiven and restored to fellowship, but he might have lost his qualification to be an elder.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Is Matthew 18 primarily for pastors/elders to use in church discipline situations? Can a person in the pews ever go to a pastor regarding a sin on this basis?
10:20 PM
quilnigh said…
The Lord's teaching from Matthew 18 is applicable to all believers for the hope of restoring any other believer. The guidelines in this blog excerpt, http://rootsbytheriver.blogspot.com/2007/03/some-thoughts-on-correcting-others.html
are an effective gathering of Scriptural principles that always need to be preceded in action by confession of sin (see #3) and then complete forgiveness (see #2). Confession usually needs to include confessing unforgiveness (blaming). This often results in complete solution of the problem (it was always the obstacle in my eye, not theirs), but is essential to be ready to love and restore fellowship (see Galatians 6:1-5). Charlie Baker, quilcene guy
3:17 AM
Jameswilson said…
Yes, a person in the pews can and should go to a pastor regarding sin. There are, however, different conditions. You find them in 1 Timothy 5:19, 20.

Here they are.

"Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning." 1 Timothy 5:19, 20
2:41 PM
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