Scriptural Approach to Confrontation

TLFisher · 01-21-2013, 07:24 PM

I believe many forum members and lurkers who have spent time in the Local churches, confrontation has a negative connotation. Yesterday I recieved a healthy word on the scriptural and proper way for confrontation. The issue is not vindication but to issue in God's glory.
Often the heart is not for confronation to result in reconciliation, but to seek ones own vindication. Among brothers not bearing administrative responsibility to the locality likely bears fewer obstacles than brothers bearing administrative responsibility.
Still in the local churches, it seems the Matthew 18 approach to confrontation is not wanted. One, we've been conditioned to avoid anything that's negative and two most brothers are not confrontational in nature.

More so if it involves church leaders as we've seen In the Thread of Gold , and with Steve Isitt, and the couple formerly from the Church in Ontario. To confront church leaders about an offense is regarded as going against God's government as the teaching of deputy authority seems to carry more weight than the Matthew 18 approach. Even if you wanted to take the Matthew 18 approach, how much receptiveness is there to meet one on one; brother to brother? How does Matthew 18 apply to 1 Timothy 6:19?

Ohio · 01-22-2013, 01:54 PM

1 Timothy 6:19?

Quote:

storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

TLFisher · 01-22-2013, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohio

1 Timothy 6:19?

Should be 1 Timothy 5:19.
Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.

TLFisher · 01-22-2013, 08:47 PM

The first point brought out is having the heart of a shepherd. The speaking brother pointed out usually when we come to Matthew 18, the focus begins with verses 15-17. Rather the focus should begin with verses 12-14. To have the heart of a shepherd. Each one of us matter. Too often if a brother or sister is too outspoken, too troublesome, etc. The wrong heart attitude is to write them off as being too difficult, to say "we can't handle your concepts", and prefer to let the wind blow them where it will instead of shepherding a difficult member of the flock.

“What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

Matthew 18:12-14

01-21-2013, 07:24 PM	#1
TLFisher Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Renton, Washington Posts: 3,545	Scriptural Approach to Confrontation I believe many forum members and lurkers who have spent time in the Local churches, confrontation has a negative connotation. Yesterday I recieved a healthy word on the scriptural and proper way for confrontation. The issue is not vindication but to issue in God's glory. Often the heart is not for confronation to result in reconciliation, but to seek ones own vindication. Among brothers not bearing administrative responsibility to the locality likely bears fewer obstacles than brothers bearing administrative responsibility. Still in the local churches, it seems the Matthew 18 approach to confrontation is not wanted. One, we've been conditioned to avoid anything that's negative and two most brothers are not confrontational in nature. More so if it involves church leaders as we've seen In the Thread of Gold , and with Steve Isitt, and the couple formerly from the Church in Ontario. To confront church leaders about an offense is regarded as going against God's government as the teaching of deputy authority seems to carry more weight than the Matthew 18 approach. Even if you wanted to take the Matthew 18 approach, how much receptiveness is there to meet one on one; brother to brother? How does Matthew 18 apply to 1 Timothy 6:19?

01-22-2013, 08:47 PM	#4
TLFisher Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Renton, Washington Posts: 3,545	Re: Scriptural Approach to Confrontation The first point brought out is having the heart of a shepherd. The speaking brother pointed out usually when we come to Matthew 18, the focus begins with verses 15-17. Rather the focus should begin with verses 12-14. To have the heart of a shepherd. Each one of us matter. Too often if a brother or sister is too outspoken, too troublesome, etc. The wrong heart attitude is to write them off as being too difficult, to say "we can't handle your concepts", and prefer to let the wind blow them where it will instead of shepherding a difficult member of the flock. “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish. Matthew 18:12-14