Matthew 18-15

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won you brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if he refused to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

Is this being practiced at your church?

I have been a volunteer evangelist for a several years so I have been to many churches and talked to many pastors and churchgoers.

from my experiences most churches are not practicing it. When I talked to pastors they did not want to discuss it.

Why are we so telerant about those disobedient to His teaching? Are we sure we are saved with this kind of mentality? Jesus tells us to "Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." Are we being truthful to Him?

All of His teaching is blessing. We should respect and honor it by our obedience.

gingercat,
Faith to speak be upon you through the LORD Jesus Christ.

You bless me..and more importantly you bless Jesus. Of course we are one.

The scripture you quoted from Mat.18 is there for direction to the church for the
purpose of purging and cleansing the church(the body) of sin.
The reason you don't see it active in todays churches is because all the members
have unrepented of sin in their own life.
The counsel Jesus gave in that passage is so healthy for the body to walk in yet
the 'so called' believers don't believe to do even the simplest of things in obedience
to the Lord.
The most important thing for each individual in the body to do is be obedient 'themselves' in what God shows them in scripture. We live it ourself first
and then teach and preach it to others. Some will follow..if they Love Jesus..and those that don't are in for a rude awakening on judgment day. There will be wailing
and gnashing of teeth.
As for the wise ones that hear and 'DO' the word of God...They will hear "enter into
your rest"

you asked..
"Why are we so telerant about those disobedient to His teaching?"

I have to confess my own sin of being to tolerant in the past but it was because of
sin in my own life. Jesus, in his kindness allowed me confession and repentance
and restored me to my first works. Praise His name. God did not tolerate my disobedience but showed mercy. I will not tolerate the sin in the body now either
but I look to show mercy on the repentant brother or sister. To sweep the sin under the carpet in the name of love and mercy is neither love nor mercy. That is
sin in itself. To demand confession and repentance to remain in the congregation
is the Godly action to take.
The steps in Mat.18:15-17 is the counsel of God and must
be followed. There are no exceptions.

Peace to you in the midst of your persecution as you continue to admonish the
'sickly' body of it's sinfulness.

Much love,Tom

This is being practiced in my church...

But I wouldn't touch this issue with a 10 foot pole with a "traveling volunteer evangelist" if l was a Pastor...

It should only be addressed by strong wise men of God that have shown their fruit and been tested in the furnace of time. And it's private.

Those Pastors probably saw the writing on the wall and politely declined comment.

I'm not going to sit back and listen to somebody slap the church down and not respond. These people are doing it in hateful wickedness and it is not Godly.

and how are we to treat pagans and tax collectors?

Mine too. That is used by a gentle and loving pastor who knows who the true leader of our cogregation is. praise the Lord, there is almost never any problems, only once in the life I have been there because we do not allow anything to come between us and the Lord, which is our focus and mission. But at the one time I remember it did happen, the message was upon the correct scriptural way to handle it. That must have been done because he next thanked the congregation for being obedient and it never came up again.

It is good to be pleased with each other in that regard.

I don't think it is really fair to say "churches" when it is not "chruches" but some.

I think that is being critical before knowing whether all the churches are doing that. Obviously they are not. Miki and I make two.

I am very sorry this must have been your experience. Perhaps if you try a place where the love and direction of Jesus is both shown and put into practice? I pray you find it. I know you can. They are out there.

leia

even the pagans can do that...

Don't underestimate us extreme right wing fundamentalists...

Our church also practise that.It is a hard scripture to follow, but I have been present when a man was cut off, for not repenting and the church wept. One can feel the weight of the matter and the consequence for the person involved. The pastors took one year of counceling though, but it did not change the man.