Looking for some specific Scriptures

[billie]

Hi everyone. I'm looking for the passages that tell us how to handle conflicts between members of the Body. I know they're there because I've read them, but can't remember where, and I'm not exactly sure what words I should even use to do a search. Just wondering if anyone can recall them offhand. Thanks.

[Iryssa]

Do you mean this one?

"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 your 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 refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." Matthew 18:15-17

[billie]

Yeah, that's one of them. Is someone giving you the cold shoulder and ignoring you "sinning against you", though? I'm not really sure if that would fit into that category.

[Iryssa]

Well, it's certainly not acting in love, is it? Is it obvious that they're doing it on purpose? That might mean that there are some unresolved issues there. It's certainly worth approaching them about.

[billie]

She told me she was doing it on purpose.

The problem with approaching her is, she won't answer the phone when I call. The only place she'll speak to me is in public at church. I don't want to cause a scene. How would I go about finding out what I've done to offend her if she won't talk to me?

[Iryssa]

She told me she was doing it on purpose.

The problem with approaching her is, she won't answer the phone when I call. The only place she'll speak to me is in public at church. I don't want to cause a scene. How would I go about finding out what I've done to offend her if she won't talk to me?

Well, I guess you'll have to do it at church. It doesn't need to cause a scene...keep it about you. "I know you've been avoiding me, and I must have done something to make this happen. I would like to know what it is, so that I can make it right." instead of "I can't beleive you've been avoiding me, it's completely unreasonable since I didn't do anything wrong."

Failing that, you will need to bring a couple people in, and involve the church authorities. It sucks, but if you want it resolved, the Bible says that's how.

[billie]

Okay, to complicate things a bit, she's married to my cousin, and my son's godmother. Who would be the couple people to bring in? Some older ladies in the church who I know she respects?

[Iryssa]

Okay, to complicate things a bit, she's married to my cousin, and my son's godmother. Who would be the couple people to bring in? Some older ladies in the church who I know she respects?

That's a good idea, yup. If you make it someone like that that she respects, she's more likely to listen.

Also...have you asked your cousin if he knows why she's mad?

[billie]

No, I don't want to put him in a bad position, feeling like he's in the middle.

Think I shouls ask him? Or go to her in church first?

[Masked Chris]

Hi everyone. I'm looking for the passages that tell us how to handle conflicts between members of the Body. I know they're there because I've read them, but can't remember where, and I'm not exactly sure what words I should even use to do a search. Just wondering if anyone can recall them offhand. Thanks.

this seems to be the most popular and I agree it's the most effective method... plus as an added bonus it was taught by Jesus himself

Matthew 18:15-18 (New International Version)

15"If your brother sins against you,[a] go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But 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.' 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be[c]bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d] loosed in heaven.