WRETCHED CONFLICT

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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In our last look at the teaching of Jesus concerning our calling to lovingly hold one another accountable before the Lord, we take on the challenge of helping communicate the consequences that come to those who refuse to listen to the Lord’s leadership. 

Let’s prayerfully and carefully read this teaching one more time:

15 “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. 16 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.’ 17 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 NIV11)

Challenging

In this last look at this teaching we hear the consequences given out by the Lord for those who refuse to repent of their sin after so much prayer, care, patience and mercy has been poured out by the community of faith.

As challenging as this consequence might seem, it has a purpose, and it might not be what you expect. 

If they refuse to listen…

Think about all that a person must be willing to reject and ignore to find themselves in this situation:

•   Reject the loving care of a close friend. 
•   Reject a prayerful and loving meeting with a few godly people. 
•   Reject the shared concern and serious plea for change given by the community of faith. 
•   And all along the way, reject the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the command of Christ, and the truth of God’s word. 

The Heart

This is not a small thing to be in this situation. What does the continued rejection of all that the Lord has called the believer in Christ to be about show us about the condition of the sinner’s heart?

This person has demonstrated over and over that they love their flesh and their sin more than they love the Lord’s command, the movement of the Spirit, and the loving care and concern of God’s people. 

Treat them how?

And so the Lord Jesus Christ teaches his disciples to, “treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” 

•   Taken at face value, this sounds harsh and even a bit unloving. After all, a tax collector and an unbelieving pagan are routinely named in the Gospels as being the object of the faithful’s ire and scorn. 
•   Does this mean that the Lord is telling us to treat the sinner who refuses to repent with contempt and scorn, as one might one of the reprobates?

Jesus

How did Jesus treat the sinner, tax collector, and reprobates of his day? 

Jesus routinely spent time ministering to these very people. He met their needs and spent time with them, helping them to see and understand his love. In fact, on at least two occasions Jesus Christ went into the home of such a sinner (Matthew and Zacchaeus). 

And when the religious crowd challenged Jesus for his treatment of the sinners and reprobates he gave the following response:

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

(Matthew 9:12-13 NIV11)

Needs Jesus

The one who rejects the counsel of his friends and community of faith and returns to his habitual sin is to be treated as one of those who needs Jesus. They are not to be hated and cast out as unclean, but they are to be treated as Jesus would treat them. 

They are to be shown mercy and love. They are to be welcomed as we might welcome any sinner in search for the fellowship and company of the Lord. 

See Fruit

No, we should not allow them into places of leadership and responsibility in the community of faith until they demonstrate that they have repented of their sin, sought the Lord Jesus by faith, and are now demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. 

Those that fall away like this need to be treated with love and care. They need to be evangelized, shown the gospel in our actions and taught the truth in our words. We should pray for them as we might any loved one that we know is not walking in faithfulness to the Lord. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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