Sin. Sin is a big deal to Jesus. He’s not about it at all. He especially doesn’t want us leading others into sin. In His teaching, Jesus warns against causing others to stumble:
Matthew 18:6-7 “But if anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!”
Jesus is clear: sin is serious, and leading someone else into it is even worse. He goes further, saying if any part of your body causes you to sin, it’s better to cut it off than to be cast into hell with it. Yet, there’s also a message of redemption; Jesus speaks of the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, likening it to a shepherd finding his lost sheep.
So, how do we address a fellow follower of Jesus who is sinning? Jesus provides clear, practical guidance:
Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they 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 they refuse to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
Today, sin is often minimized, rationalized, or pathologized, but Jesus calls us to identify sin for what it is and address it directly and lovingly, one-on-one first.
It’s easier to gossip about someone’s faults than to confront them directly, but gossip only adds to the sin, harming both the speaker and the one spoken about.
The fear of confrontation or the anticipation of justification from the sinner might make this seem futile, but Jesus offers no exceptions for avoiding this process. There’s no room for gossip, cancellation, or demonization; our approach must be direct, loving, and aimed at restoration.
Jesus gives us a clear path: if someone won’t acknowledge their sin one-on-one, bring another person as a witness for more accountability. Only then, if they still refuse to listen, should you involve the church. This public acknowledgment isn’t just about embarrassment but about clarity and accountability, preventing gossip and misinformation.
Our culture often prioritizes protecting victimhood over confronting sin, leading to confusion and inaction within the church. But Jesus is explicit: confront the sin first alone, then with a witness, and finally before the church. When someone refuses to heed this process, their unwillingness to repent becomes evident, and their fellowship with the church is naturally affected.
Jesus has laid out these steps not just for discipline but for restoration. What might the church look like if we truly followed His instructions? It would be a place of love, accountability, and genuine transformation.
