Matthew 18 and 'lone wolf' discipline...

Chris · #1 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 03:58 PM

I've been reading Macarthur's 'Ashamed of the Gospel' where he describes Spurgeon's one-against-the-world stance in the 'downgrade controversy'.

Admittedly, Spurgeon wasn't working within a local body, but within an association of churches, but I've been wondering:

How do you fulfill Matthew 18 if you're the ONLY person who sees the problem? What do you do if nobody will go with you to establish the conversation? What do you do if nobody accepts your premises?

Do you just walk away, shaking the dust off your feet? Or do you stay until you have gained a sympathetic ally?

(Which, of course, would look dangerously similar to sowing discord...)

Coram Deo · #2 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 04:30 PM

Of course I have seen the reverse of this....

One man who believes he is right (But way wrong theologically) with strong hyper-seperatist stance and everyone else is wrong and nobody can tell him he is wrong or he will dismiss you and seperate from you even over secondary and thirdery issues like the rapture.

Tries to starts a church in his house everywhere he goes because everyone else is wrong in the world and the church only consist of him and his family.

He believes he is called to be a minister but never receives the outward call from any person and has not been a part of a real church in over 30 years or submit to any authority other then himself.

Talk about a lone-wolf.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I've been reading Macarthur's 'Ashamed of the Gospel' where he describes Spurgeon's one-against-the-world stance in the 'downgrade controversy'.

Admittedly, Spurgeon wasn't working within a local body, but within an association of churches, but I've been wondering:

How do you fulfill Matthew 18 if you're the ONLY person who sees the problem? What do you do if nobody will go with you to establish the conversation? What do you do if nobody accepts your premises?

Do you just walk away, shaking the dust off your feet? Or do you stay until you have gained a sympathetic ally?

(Which, of course, would look dangerously similar to sowing discord...)

KMK · #3 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I've been reading Macarthur's 'Ashamed of the Gospel' where he describes Spurgeon's one-against-the-world stance in the 'downgrade controversy'.

Admittedly, Spurgeon wasn't working within a local body, but within an association of churches, but I've been wondering:

How do you fulfill Matthew 18 if you're the ONLY person who sees the problem? What do you do if nobody will go with you to establish the conversation? What do you do if nobody accepts your premises?

Do you just walk away, shaking the dust off your feet? Or do you stay until you have gained a sympathetic ally?

(Which, of course, would look dangerously similar to sowing discord...)

I would err on the side of caution and wait until there are two or three witnesses. If you do not agree with something that is going on I would concentrate on prayer and fasting for the church remember that "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

North Jersey Baptist · #4 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 08:40 PM

Opposing a mass movement heresy is not in the same genre as church discipline. I am not willing to concede that Spurgeon was completely and utterly alone in his fight against the downgrade controversy. He may have been the pivotal figure but I doubt he was alone.

We speak out all the time against heresies and false teaching. While we don't need a quorum to label a teaching false, it is a good idea to make sure we aren't off in left field. But this should not prevent us from taking a strong stand.