sastark
Puritan Board Graduate
The passage reads (NKJV):
This passage is used time and again to determine the proper biblical way of reconciling with a brother in the Lord who has offended you. First, you talk to him privately, then with one or two witnesses and lastly you take the matter before the church. That is usually where the line stops. But, my question for you is: what is the significance of "let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector"?
I ask this in specific reference to 1 Cor. 6:1-8 where Paul rebukes the Corinthian church for Christians taking other Christians to "court" before heathen magistrates. Paul says that Christians ought to work out their problems between one another and not let our controversies spill over for the world to see.
But, if after following the steps Jesus gave us in Matthew 18 the offending brother does not repent, then is it ok to take him before a "heathen" magistrate? We are to treat him as a heathen and a tax collector. Does this mean that he loses the "right" to be protected from "worldly" lawsuits? I realize this only applies to non-spiritual issues. We obviously are not going to take someone to court for believing in paedocommunion. That is an issue where the church is the final court of appeal, so to speak. I'm talking about non-spiritual issues.
Your input, please.
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. 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.' 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.
This passage is used time and again to determine the proper biblical way of reconciling with a brother in the Lord who has offended you. First, you talk to him privately, then with one or two witnesses and lastly you take the matter before the church. That is usually where the line stops. But, my question for you is: what is the significance of "let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector"?
I ask this in specific reference to 1 Cor. 6:1-8 where Paul rebukes the Corinthian church for Christians taking other Christians to "court" before heathen magistrates. Paul says that Christians ought to work out their problems between one another and not let our controversies spill over for the world to see.
But, if after following the steps Jesus gave us in Matthew 18 the offending brother does not repent, then is it ok to take him before a "heathen" magistrate? We are to treat him as a heathen and a tax collector. Does this mean that he loses the "right" to be protected from "worldly" lawsuits? I realize this only applies to non-spiritual issues. We obviously are not going to take someone to court for believing in paedocommunion. That is an issue where the church is the final court of appeal, so to speak. I'm talking about non-spiritual issues.
Your input, please.