Matthew 18: 15-17- Compassionate Correction

Read Matthew 18: 15-17-

We are all human and we all make mistakes. That is a given. Jesus is teaching us we need to be very careful when we know someone in our congregation is doing something that defies Christian principles. If we take this to a logical conclusion, this approach to correcting someone’s behavior could impact all of us. Whether it is gossiping about other people, cheating customers at businesses, stealing money, or committing adultery, many people attending churches could be the target of this type of correction.

This is a way to approach leaders in our churches or congregations also. Unfortunately, too much of this is needed at this time as we see church leaders resigning from their positions because of sins against others.

As Christians, Jesus shows us how to respond also. Verse 15 says, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”

Other steps are outlined but we need to learn to be receptive to the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives and sometimes that is admitting we have sinned, and it is time to change that bad behavior.  

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