Rev Gideon Lee
Before we read this passage, I want to make a disclaimer. What I'm going to say, I'm not talking about you. But on the same note the bible has said the word of God is like a mirror to us. It reflects what's actually happening in our lives. And often it points to things that has to be rectified in our lives. And sometimes we feel it when we hear the word of God. And that's the difference between a motivational talk and the word of God. God works something in our heart. I did not plan to preach this particular message this morning but it is part of a plan or series of messages I wanted to preach. Hear what the Holy Spirit is saying. That's important.
Matthew 18:15-20
A Brother Who Sins Against You
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
When I read this passage I thought it was odd that it's there. Jesus was telling his disciples how to handle conflict. He was talking to his disciples, not those outside. Sometimes I thought there should not be conflicts in church right? Jesus is saying that this will happen. Sometimes Christians disagree in the congregation of believers. Sometimes they quarrel. Sometimes they hold grudges against each other. The Scripture for today says that we must never tolerate any situation in which there is a breach of personal relationship between us and another member of the Christian community.
Conflicts will happen in church but how we handle it is very important. It will determine how powerful the church is. How the world will look at us. The world handles it by going to court. How the world view us will depend on how we handle them.
The bible says we should forgive our enemies and to pray for them. Very often we also need to forgive our friends and to pray for our friends.
1. Put your complains into words.
For example if I have a problem with Lin Ken. Or Lin Ken has a problem with me. For example he said he saw me take two curry puffs instead of one. He has to come and speak to me in words. Talk to him. But often, we don't talk but keep it inside us. Often there are two sides to a story. Maybe even three sides. When we talk about it, it does not become resentment. And it makes the person a grouchy person. The bible says we need to talk to the person one on one.
The bible didn't say to write to the person. Don't SMS or write emails. But to talk face to face. When words are said the emotions are not seen. Only what's written. Talk face to face. These words can be spoken in anger or in love. And the motive is always reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
The objective is to reconcile. So when we talk about conflict it is about reconciliation. And not just about who's right or wrong. We may beg to defer but it does not become a problem.
We do that in private on a personal level so that we can reconcile with one another.
The bible teach us to sort it out with the person one to one.
2. Take one or two others along
Many a times when we handle a problem, and the person refuses to believe, we bring two or three person who is on OUR side. The bible says two or three person who is neutral. So that they can be peacemakers. In court, you bring witnesses who is on your side but we bring peacemakers. We have a ministry of reconciliation. They are there to help in reconciliation, not to add salt or sugar. Peacemakers will be called the sons of God.
3. Tell it to the church
Tell it to the leaders, the cell leaders. My SOP now would be if you come to me with a problem with another, I'll ask if you have spoken to the person one on one. And if this person still won't listen, the bible says treat him like a pagan or tax collector. Does it means we ostracize the person? God convicted me and asked me how did Jesus delt with pagans and tax collectors? He loved them even more. So that in that love, they may come back to God. How do we have a ministry of reconciliation if we ostracize them?
This will be our standard procedure. Address your complain in words. Bring two or three peacemakers. Or as a last resort bring it to the church leadership. Ultimately it will be how to restore the person back into the fellowship.
Finally, in verses 18 and 19, Jesus says we are to be united in handling conflicts. The church become powerful. When we ask as two or three, in unity, it will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God will do what you ask for.
We will save a lot of problems if we go talk to the person who offends you one on one. The church will be strong if we do that. The fight is not here. The fight is out there. Will there be conflicts? Yes. How we handle it is important. Reconciliation. All of us are peacemakers. When we do that there will not be gossips in church.
If we can follow these steps that the bible teach us, we will be a strong church. I purposely hold the communion at the end of the service because we need to search our hearts. If God is speaking to you about someone, make right.
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