WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER (PART VI)

“Where Two or Three are Gathered”

By Akin Ojumu

Anyone can quote a Bible verse, out of context, and make a case for a particular viewpoint or doctrine. A Bible text without a context is a pretext for a proof text. Proof texting is the practice of using a Bible verse or passage, which has been scrubbed of its proper context, to promote a preconceived theological notion and to push a predetermined doctrinal opinion. 

Essentially, proof texting is taking a single verse as “proof” without considering the surrounding text, intended meaning, or wider biblical teachings, often leading to misinterpretations of the Scripture. This method of biblical interpretation is flawed and extremely dangerous.

Matthew 18:19

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

Often misinterpreted and misapplied, the above passage is another one of those famous Bible texts that church folks rip, kicking and screaming, out of context. This text is the prooftext for the “prayer of agreement” doctrine, which is the belief that man can force God to grant a request simply by two or more people uniting to pray about the request. 

Now, this belief in the efficacy of prayer of agreement is not simply about two or more people coming together in prayer to humbly seek the face of God concerning a matter. Proponents of the idea strongly believe that they have a formula to get God to act concerning a pressing need. And the formula is to join together in agreement with someone to pray concerning the need. They see this approach as an automagical way to move the hand of the Almighty God. 

What makes such an understanding of praying together erroneous is that it negates the sovereignty and prerogative of God. The notion that mortal men have the magic formula to compel an immortal God to act against His will is nothing short of preposterous. It is extraordinary hubris and great folly to think that man is powerful or important enough to do anything to make God act on their behalf if God is not already disposed to doing so.

1 John 5:14

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”

Before somebody misunderstands the point I’m trying to make, let me state that it’s a spiritually healthy thing for people to unite in prayer. In fact, it’s biblical for Churches, families, friends, etc., to corporately lift up the sacrifice of prayers to God. That’s always a good thing to do and we must never cease to do it.

2 Chronicles 7:14

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

James 5:14-15

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

Nevertheless, it’s important to understand that, ultimately, it’s not the unity in prayers that makes God answer the prayer. God alone is the one who determines which of our prayers He will answer. And the prayer that God answers is the prayer that’s consistent with His will. We must trust that God knows best and has our best interests at heart. It’s also important to realize that God answers all our prayers. But sometimes, His answer will be a “No!” As believers in Christ, we must be ready and willing to accept no for an answer.

Matthew 18:19

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

As we saw last time, Matthew 18:19 occurs within the context of the Church discipline of a sinning believer who, after repeated attempts at getting them to repent and be reconciled back to God, has rebuffed all rapprochements and the Church is left with no choice but to excommunicate such an impenitent member from the congregation.

Because the excommunication of a believer from the Church is a grave decision that many Churches may be reluctant to take, God gives a reassurance to those faced with making such a weighty decision that they have His full backing. As long as they follow the divine guideline established in Matthew 18:15-20 and have afforded the offending believer their due process, a Church that expels an impenitent believer has God’s approval. God is with them when they make such a consequential decision.

Earlier in this commentary series, we described the 4-step process for dealing with a believer who sins. Because God does not wish for any of His own to perish, He established a blueprint for the restoration of a believer who has transgressed. This 4-step process starts with a private one-on-one attempt by a believer to confront the Christian who has sinned with the goal of leading them to repentance and restoration. This man-to-man approach is similar to what obtains in the secular world where two parties agree to settle their differences out of court without the involvement of the judicial system.

Matthew 18:15

“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.”

If the offending believer admits their sin, confesses and repents, the sins are forgiven and they are completely restored. Should they, however, remain impenitent, the second step kicks in. At this stage, the believer who has come to the knowledge of the sin of the fellow brother goes back to the latter with two or three witnesses. 

Matthew 18:16

“But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”

The purpose of the two or three witnesses is a throwback to the rule established by God in the Old Testament to ensure that the people of Israel are afforded due process before getting punished for an offense they might or might not have committed. 

One aspect of worshipping the Lord is understanding that His laws are given to safeguard His people, not as punishments. God established rules of justice to prevent unfair, arbitrary, erroneous, or dishonest treatment of an individual. These judicial requirements are known as procedural due process and substantive due process. (Source: Got Questions).

The third step in the protocol for the restoration of a believer who has sinned is triggered only if the transgressing believer remains unrepentant even after the testimonies of two or three witnesses. At this stage, the matter is brought before the whole assembly of the Church where, in a gentle and loving manner, the Church attempts to talk some sense into the sinning believer and make them see the folly of their recalcitrance.

Matthew 18:17

“If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

After all attempts at getting the believer to repent fails, the Church is instructed to regard the individual as a “Gentile and a Tax Collector.” A believer who rebuffs all attempts and endeavors to get them to repent of their sin must be viewed as an unbeliever and an infidel who has never known Christ. Such a person is a deadly disease in the Body of Christ and must be excommunicated before the disease spreads and infects the whole Body.

When the Church has followed this stipulated 4-step process for the expulsion of an unrepentant believer from the Church, it has Heaven’s approval. The reason the decision to excommunicate the impenitent believer is sanctioned by God is because the Church is simply effecting on earth a decision that has already been implemented in Heaven.

Matthew 18:20

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

In Matthew 18:19, we find the assurance that our Heavenly Father is there with the Church when they meet to decide whether or not to expel an unrepentant believer. He promises to give His divine stamp of approval for their decision. Here, again, in Matthew 18:20, the Lord assures the Church that not only is His Father present, but He also is there with them as well to approve their decision to excommunicate the wayward believer. 

To reiterate what we previously said, the context of Matthew 18:20 is Church discipline and how the Church must handle the unrepented sin of a wayward believer. Earlier in Matthew 18:16, we see that two or three witnesses are required to establish a charge of sin against anyone in the Church. And we did say that the “two or three witnesses” requirement is a stipulation in the Old Testament legal procedure to ensure that the accused is given fair hearing and afforded their due process. 

Here in Matthew 18:20, the principle of “two or three” is again re-echoed as a prerequisite for making a decision to expel a sinning believer from the Church assembly. These “two or three” are not gathered for worship service or a prayer meeting. These are the two or three people who serve as witnesses when the Church is deciding the case of an unrepentant wayward believer. When two or three witnesses are present when the case is being decided, the Church is following God’s prescribed pattern. And because the Church is in obedience to God’s command, Matthew 18:20 is God’s reassurance that He is there in their midst.

When the erring brother or sister in the church is confronted by “two or three witnesses” and refuses to repent, these witnesses bring the matter before the church. Jesus assures us that, when this happens, it is not just the witnesses who are bringing action against the wrongdoer, but He is there with them. Church discipline is sanctioned by both the Father and the Son. This is important because we live in an age when it is not fashionable to confront or “judge” anyone’s lifestyle as sinful. Those who do step forward to call out sin in the church can take heart in the fact that they are not acting alone; Christ is with them in the endeavor (Source: Got Questions).

To be continued.