Should We Shoot First and Ask Questions Later?
In Joshua 22, when Joshua released the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh to return to their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan, they built an altar named Witness to remind them and their descendants that they and their children were one with their brethren on the west side of the Jordan.
When the ten tribes heard about it, they prepared to go to war against them because they thought they were setting up another place of worship. They learned that was not their intent after investigating and listening to their motives.
Great idea — don’t shoot first and ask questions later.
When some hear a Brother in Christ say something they disagree with, they preach about it, label him as a false teacher, warn others to have nothing to do with him in public and private discussions, write about him in newsletters, and post it on Facebook. When asked about Matthew 18:15-17, the answer is, “We are marking him” (Romans 16:17, 18). They say Matthew 18:15 is about a personal issue. The conclusion is we don’t have to follow the principle Jesus taught in Matthew 18.
However, there is another rule I would violate if I shot first and asked questions later:
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. — Matthew 7:12
How would I want someone to deal with me? If they heard, first-hand or second-hand, about something I said or did they thought was wrong, would I want them to post first on Facebook, tell friends, neighbors, elders, and others, or contact me for clarification and exhortation?
Did Aquila and Priscilla fail when they took Apollos aside and taught him? — Acts 18:24-26
He was missing the plan of salvation. John’s baptism was out of date. That’s a serious topic. He was teaching a non-valid baptism. But they didn’t interrupt the service. They took him aside.
That’s the way I want to be treated. That’s the way I need to treat others.
There’s more than one verse on most topics. Jesus said to teach others “all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20).
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Jerrie, I’m in agreement with all you have written. An additional thought came to mind. Jesus did a lot of teaching on the New Covenant long before He hit the Jewish leaders hard at the end of His ministry in Matt. 23. He was very patient and continued teaching before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. He had several discussions with them with a goal of helping them see the truth. He never let them get by with error of any kind. The scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees were the worst among the Jewish teachers and leaders in Jesus’ day. How did He deal with them? He often asked questions for them to reason in their own minds. He’d ask what the Scriptures said. We see this over and over in the gospel narratives. When they tested Him in Matthew 16, He taught them how to reason. Then He warned His disciples about them. But His goal was to teach, help them to change, and save their souls. So, in view of all you have written, we have to ask ourselves: What is our goal or purpose when dealing with someone in the church who is teaching or practicing error?
Roger,
Good point. When I enjoy someone making another mistake after I’ve labeled them to prove I was right when I labeled them, I have a problem. Jesus wept over Jerusalem when they failed to take advantage of His love.