“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
Matthew 18: 15 - 20 NASB95
We see here a continuation of the restoration process. Actually, up to the end of verse 16, this applies to every believer as well as ministers, and completes the first 2 parts of the process. Before we move on to part 3, let me remind you of a some principles from parts 1 and 2:
NO RESTORATION WITHOUT RECONCILIATION. NO RECONCILIATION WITHOUT REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION.
In verse 17, we see part 3, and then things can get complicated during this step. Depending on the situation, the process could end here, or, it could get very involved.
Let's walk through the entire process in different scenarios.
1. A "rank and file" believer has offended another believer, and they seek reconciliation according to Jesus' instruction in Matthew 5. The offended party forgives them and the two parties are reconciled. Process is complete.
2. The offender does not seek reconciliation, and so the offended party confronts the offender. The offender confesses to the wrong, apologizes, and asks forgiveness. The offended party accepts the apology, and forgives the offender. The two are reconciled and the process ends.
3.The offender does not seek reconciliation, and so the offended party confronts them. The offender denies committing the act. The offended one comes back with one or two other believers to witness a second confrontation.
The two witnesses are there to hear both sides of the story. They agree with the offended party, and the offender admits their fault. Again, reconciliation occurs, and the process ends.
4. Same as #3, except the offender continues to deny any fault. The offended party and the the witnesses report the offender to the congregation. The offender then admits their fault, the offender forgives, and again, the process ends with reconciliation.
5. Same as # 4, except the offender continues to deny any fault. The congregation then must decide the outcome. If the leaders and the other members judge the evidence presented is factual, they must call for the offender to repent. If the offender still denies guilt, the congregation must refuse to accept the offender as a brother in Christ until he repents.
The last three verses of the above Scripture apply here. People often pull them out of context and use them to create a form of witchcraft. But Jesus is talking about His assembled disciples - what we call "church." He is saying whatever the congregation decides must first align with heaven, and then when it does, heaven backs up the decision. Jesus shows us here how His followers can maintain unity and integrity though accountability.
Accountability has levels. Private offenses have personal accountability, and should be handled privately. If reconciliation does not happen privately, then the offense should be taken to the next higher level - the local congregation. That should be enough to reconcile the offender with the offended individual, and the Body of Christ.
But, so far we have looked only at offenses between two "rank and file" individuals. Let's now consider how the above scenarios change when the offender is a minister.
In scenarios 1, 2 and 3, the process ends with reconciliation, and nothing more needs to be done as far as reconciliation goes. But, when the offender is a minister, in scenarios 3, 4, and 5, another issue comes into play - faithfulness. In the Body of Christ, minsters must prove themselves faithful.
"Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy." 1 Corinthians 4:1 -2 NASB95
We will examine this and another issue more fully in Part 4.