Matthew 18: By the Book – Part 9
November 5, 2009
Dear Friends,
While there is not one clean and simple “one size fits all” approach to recovering someone in Matthew 18, the idea that seems to come from the third step is that we start over at square one with this person and figure out how to save them. If they don’t leave us and forsake us entirely, which is often the case, we should figure out a way to get them to respond while at the same time protecting the flock. One of the most effective ways to recover them is to allow them to suffer the consequences of their actions by being left to their own devices.
In the parable referred to as the Prodigal Son, God is portrayed as the father in the parable. While we often focus on the father’s joyous reaction to his wayward son’s return, we may lose sight of the fact that the father let the son go and let him suffer the consequences of his decision. Rather than following the son begging him to change his sinful path, the father simply allows the world to show the son the error of his ways. He allows his son to squander his inheritance with prostitutes. He lets his son starve. This doesn’t seem very charitable until we realize that the young man was already lost before he left home. His heart had already left his father long before he physically left. The father allows his sons desires to run their course to their obvious conclusion and thereby saves his son. The son is, in a manner of speaking, saved by the world’s brutally and the consequences of sin.
This method of punishment of allowing the person to experience the error of their ways in the world is referred to Biblically as “handing someone over to Satan.” In 1 Cor. 5, Paul says,
When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.(NIV)
Paul further uses this description of the discipline of two other enemies of the Gospel.
Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1Tim. 1:20 NIV)
Notice in both cases that allowing these people to reap the reward of their sin has an end in mind - recovery of the individual. In the 1 Corinthians case, it is “so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord” and the 1 Timothy case it is “that they may learn not to blaspheme.” In both cases as well as in the case of the Prodigal Son, all that is really happening is that we allow the person to follow their sinful thinking to its obvious conclusion. Too often we shield brethren from the consequences of their sin when they might otherwise learn a lesson that will save their lives eternally.
If we were to spell out the message in clear language of the “handing over to Satan” treatment for the wayward brother, it might go something like this,
Our dear brother, you seem to be convinced by your comments and/or actions that what the world has to offer you is much better than what God has to offer you. We have tried to convince you of the error of your ways by coming to you according to Matthew 18 to convince you that God’s way is the best way. Since you have refused to listen, we are allowing you to pursue your lusts by giving you over to the world you so crave. We really have no choice since you have made it clear to us that you intend to follow this path regardless of our wishes. When and if you finally see that the world has nothing to offer and you see the error of your path, please know that we will be here waiting for you with open arms.
In following this path if the circumstances dictate this approach, we follow Jesus’ advice to make the man as “an heathen man and a publican.” This person’s faith is such that we really can’t refer to them literally as a “believer” any more because their actions are not those of a believer. As believers, we don’t dictate morality to the world. The world hasn’t made any commitment to follow Jesus. For former believers who no longer wish to follow that moral code and which the ecclesia has “handed over to Satan”, we are saying that we no longer hold them accountable. We give them back to the world so that “his spirit [may be] saved on the day of the Lord.”
Have a great week,
Comments»
In the case of the Prodigal Son there is NOTHING to suggest that the father let the son go. He went – young people still do today. Did the father know he was going? We are not told – we don’t know that. Maybe the father could not follow. Maybe he did and had no success. We simply don’t know!
The reaction of the father on the son’s return does not remotely line up with his being content to let his son go in the hope that he’d have a bad time and return. It would have been a massive risk. The father does not seem that type in my reading of this passage.
The elder son seems to have known what the younger had got up to so the father would have too. But how do we know how he knew? The Prodigal was in a “far country”. We don’t know if the father tried to do anything or not. Travelers may have said something and we don’t know if he moved on to the swine farm. That is likely if only to get away from jeering “friends” – but we don’t know that. Anyway – it’s a story and to be read that way.
The point of the story is to demonstrate forgiveness. A very wonderful attribute. We must not shift that to something else. If we extend this passage to make our own point it is at our peril as we must not add to scripture.
As to the passages in 1 Cor 5. Paul had the Holy Spirit. He could make such decisions and be correct. He makes some interesting comments in 1 Cor 7:40 about his own judgment which could otherwise have been questioned where he says “…and I think I also have the Spirit of God.” In that instance he states that he used the Spirit to make his comments. And of course he wrote some of the Scriptures – “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” 2 Peter 1:21.
We do NOT have the Holy Spirit Gifts! We must use Scripture VERY carefully to follow & develop its tenets. It can be used for reproof (2 Tim 3:16) but if we decide to deliver someone to Satan, we’d better be VERY sure about what we’re doing!
Jesus did indeed say to regard a sinner as “an heathen man and a publican.” What did Jesus do with “heathens and publicans?” He ate with them. He influenced them. He was castigated by the rulers of the day for doing it. Do I detect that if we followed Christ’s lead that the Christadelphian leaders would castigate us too? I sincerely hope not! Let’s not follow that one through!
Paul’s example in 1 Cor 5 is very extreme – it is a case of extreme immorality & some in the church being lead away & condoning evil behavior. It’s light years away from anything that I personally have heard of in Christadelphia (although it probably happens). My point is that we should not use it to condone far lesser perceived “transgressions”. Because that is easily where this could head – and it might be doing that!
We all know that if we slip and let it go we are highly likely to be lost. Psa 1.1 has the sequence (“walk – stand – sit”). As early as Gen 4:7 Cain was told by God that “…sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” He had to do that… If someone is “delivered to Satan” it’s highly likely that they will stray ever further. We can’t just wash out hands. We’re not directly Divinely inspired.
I generally agree with Kyle’s messages & sincerely support them & admire his mind. But this one is dangerous & we act on it with extreme peril to others and ourselves.