Why don’t you follow Matthew 18?
By Bro. David Cloud
Bro. David's Cloud's TestimonyUpdated January 11, 2006 (first published July 2, 2000) - David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143. Send e-mail: fbns@wayoflife.org
From time to time I am asked if I follow the guidelines of Matthew 18 before I publish a report. For example, when I published a gentle warning about some of the newer Patch the Pirate music, I received three or four notes from readers asking if I had first approached Majesty Music and its leaders. Following is one of these:
“I am writing to ask if you follow the principles of Matthew 18 when writing about a brother in Christ? Have you gone to Brother Hamilton about your concerns alone, before writing your critique? Did you find no satisfaction and take another brother in Christ with you? I recognize these are steps to be followed in a local church context, but it seems prudent and wise and God honoring to follow similar steps when dealing with brothers and sisters from other churches.”
Another man gave the same sort of challenge in regard to my warnings about Chuck Swindoll as follows:
“I have read your article on Chuck Swindoll. It is not our job to judge our fellow man. If you have concerns with Swindoll and his teachings then your job is to confront him personally, speak to and with him, find out where he is coming from. If you still believe he is wrong then bring it before your eldership and let them confront. Then, and only then, if there is still no change, you bring it before the congregation, and then you leave it and him in God’s hands.”
REPLY FROM BROTHER CLOUD
Matthew 18 has nothing whatsoever to do with my analysis of published materials. Matthew 18 specifically deals with personal trespasses. Consider exactly what the passage says:
“Moreover if thy brother SHALL TRESPASS AGAINST THEE, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, TELL IT UNTO THE CHURCH: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican” (Matthew 18:15-17).
Majesty Music has not trespassed against me individually. Chuck Swindoll has not trespassed against me. That is not the issue here, and it would be impossible to follow Matthew 18 in this situation. Even if I were to attempt to follow the first part of the passage, it would be impossible to follow the last part. I have no way to take this issue “unto the church.” I am not a member of Ron Hamilton’s or Chuck Swindoll’s church. Their churches have no authority over me, and I have no business with them. Similarly, these men are not members of my church, so they have no business with it and it has no authority over him.
To attempt to follow Matthew 18 in such matters would be confusion.
My sole issue here is to critique published material and to warn people when I feel that a danger exists. Majesty Music, Chuck Swindoll, etc. have published materials and distributed them widely to individuals and churches across the land. I am merely analyzing their published works in obedience to the Word of God. Material that is distributed publicly should be analyzed publicly. Following are some of the verses which give me Scriptural authority to do so:
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
“The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going” (Proverbs 14:15).
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2). “
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11).
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).
By the way, my personal correspondence with Majesty Music has been completely ignored, even though I approached them humbly as a friend who has advertised their music for many years (and continue to do so) without charge.
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