A lot of people are, sadly, a lot like Judas. They follow after
Christ with their feet, but they fail to follow after him with their
heart. These people associate themselves with the Christian Church,
even though they do not really belong there. Often their true natures
will be revealed through their actions. They will commit terrible
sins that are destructive to themselves and others. John 13 does not
tell us what we should do when people commit destructive sins, but
Matthew 18 does.
Matthew 18 tells us to do three things when someone commits a sin that
cannot be overlooked. First, we should go to that person personally,
and seek to understand what he has done and why he did it. If he is
indeed in error, we should use the Bible to show him his fault,
seeking his repentance. If this does not work, we should get one or
two others to go along with us as we seek his repentance. If this
does not work, we should expel this person from the church.
The approach that Jesus gives to deal with sin is the best thing for
the sinner, since it pushes him towards repentance. It is the best
thing for the church, since it ensures holiness within the church and
protects the honor of God’s name. Indeed, if a church habitually
neglects this responsibility, Jesus will not be “among” them.
