The Watchman’s Job Description

In the recent election of a new pope it was reported that if any cardinal broke the oath of silence while deliberations and voting was in progress that cardinal could be excommunicated. Now, this is an abuse of the process. It is using the power of excommunication to make men follow the rules of men, not as Jesus intentioned it-a taste of separation that could occur if the offending party remained in error and did not repent. Excommunication also does not mean as Christians we stop praying for the individual. Jesus says, "Treat him as you would a pagan or tax collector." Yes, there is a sense of shunning there. But remember who wrote this Gospel-Matthew, a former tax collector who came to faith and turned from the error of his sin! Just as we continue to reach the lost outside our fellowship, so we also continue to reach the lost whom we have separated from our fellowship because of a steadfast maintenance of a sinful lifestyle. When the person repents, we also welcome that person back into our fellowship. In our epistle this morning Paul wrote to the Corinthians that they needed to carry out this discipline among one of their fellow members, a member who was committing adultery with his father's wife. Well, the Corinthians seemed to have carried this out. But as a pendulum swings back and forth, the Corinthians went the other way. In 2 Corinthians chapter 2 Paul had to tell the Corinthians that now that the erring brother has admitted his sin and repented and turned from his error, they need to accept him back as a redeemed brother in Christ, lest he be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Notice, Paul doesn't speak about "displaying true repentance, with tears and wailing." He simply says if the erring brother has repented and turned from sin, then the brother is restored to grace, in grace, by grace.

We are called to be watchmen in God's kingdom for the benefit of God's community of believers. When we call an erring brother or sister to account for himself or herself, we do, as James tells us, "cover a multitude of sins." Jesus tells us that there are two results of this action: harmony among the believers and God's presence among a group of believers.

The NIV uses the words "I tell you if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask

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