Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." The body of Christ is comprised of those twos and threes coming together. Each set contains imperfect humans. Sin, disappointment and differences are inevitable. God foresaw this and gave mechanisms, commands and principles to His people so that they could live in unity. Three select scriptures give us an understanding of God’s heart toward challenging and humbling ourselves before one another.

Matthew 18:15-17 deals with two individuals where one has been (or feels) sinned against. It begins as a talk between two people. The matter is escalated if resolution (repentance) is not found. If necessary, disciplinary action is taken.

The heart of the passage from Matthew 18 is to help the brother in sin. At no time is there implication of disparagement, humiliation or disdain for the offending member. When challenging our brothers on sin in their lives, is it to help them? Do we keep a picture in our mind of how refreshed the other brother will be when he repents? Matthew 18 is not about discipline as much as it is about helping one another.

In Acts 15 the church is faced with some weighty salvation issues. Approximately 15 years into the church’s existence and they are debating issues concerning how to be saved! This is not some peripheral question, it is who is going to heaven and how.

Note that each party gets a say (v5, v6, v12). Although it is a contentious topic, there is respect. Open minds and hearts can see God. It was a discussion, not finger pointing or accusations. They came together to debate. Members did not retreat and hide behind letter writing; they stated their position to the brotherhood and were willing to accept what was decided. Openness, honesty and humility were signatures of this touchstone in Christianity.

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 is often (correctly) used to dissuade brothers from suing one another. Although this is the face value application of the passage there is more. What is the real problem addressed by 1 Corinthians 6? What are the real consequences? What are the contemporary equivalents beyond lawsuits?

Dirty laundry stays inside. The family of God should deal with its own issues in a private manner. God charges us with the competence and authority to deal with conflict (v4) and thus keep it from becoming a public spectacle.  A narrow application of this passage has unfortunately left us blind to principles we are violating within our brotherhood.

The internet is a wonderful tool for quick dissemination of information. Whether email or websites, thousands (millions?) can be reached within moments. Therein lays the rub. Satan has tricked us into believing it is acceptable to challenge, insult and demean one another from a distance over the internet. A forwarded email disparaging the character of a brother with whom we disagree or and web page open to the public deriding other opinions are tools of Satan and are not in line with the passages we have examined. Why has this become such an epidemic? It is easy to forward an email or post on the web. You may never have to look that brother in the eye and challenge (or apologize to) him face to face. Web postings also violate keeping conflict in the family. It exposes God’s church to humiliation from the outside.

When challenging one another, let’s keep the principles of humility, help, openness, submission and respect in mind. Let us also not air our dirty laundry in front of the world, we are family. God says we are competent to deal with issues in the body, do we believe it? Applying these Godly principles and commands would go a long way in laying a foundation of unity within Restoration churches.