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Handling Someone Else's...

          “If your brother or sister sins go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17)

This is Jesus’ teaching about church discipline. This is how the church and its members are supposed to work. Sadly, our society (including our churches) has chosen a different direction. Sometimes, we just skip the first two steps and opt to call some part of the church together and tell the person to go away. With the internet, the prime means of “discipline” is to ridicule anyone who disagrees with you. I’ve had people claim that Jesus ridiculed the Pharisees, so it’s OK to call someone out and ridicule them for doing something we disapprove. “That’s the American way!” Well, no. That’s bullying.

But, some may say, we have to let everyone know the truth. Yes, but what truth? This candidate wants to do this - we need to know that. But photoshopping their heads into memes that make them look evil, bad, stupid, etc? “That’s the American way!” Well, no. That’s gossip, slander, and deceit.

If you have a problem with someone, take it to the person.  If you can’t, keep it to yourself if it’s personal. If it’s not personal, keep it impersonal. No name calling. No ridiculing. No treating them in a way you would not want to be treated- because what you do to them, you are justifying their doubling it and returning it to you -and that is not what Jesus taught.

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