This is another "Straight out of Context" episode. This week we discuss Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." I think every young Christian has taken encouragement in this verse and thought "when I sit down and pray or read my Bible with another person, God is present." Surely you have heard this verse read in a worship service before. Is this the context of the verse? When you begin to read it, start in verse 15, and read it in the context in which Jesus spoke. Something you will notice, Jesus says "If your brother or sisters sins..." This does not seem like he is discussing worship or your Bible Study.
Like most verses though, taking it in the context in which it is written is much more powerful. We as brothers and sisters need to have an authority and accountability in our lives. True love of a friend is giving that friend the ability to hold you accountable for your actions. We also need to give authority to our local church to hold us accountable, and when we step in sin, the church needs authority in correcting us. In the context of this verse we see the process of dealing with a brother or sister that has stepped into sin and how to handle the situation in a loving way.
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The Laymen,
Kemp, Patrick, Shaun, and Wes