The leader and resolving interrelational conflict

For any organization to maintain health and have any possibility at all of thriving, there must not be any ongoing animosity among its members. If folks within an organization are at odds with each other, it will act like a cancer that could spread and undermine the organization’s success.

So, it only makes sense that Jesus would give us instruction on how to resolve those interrelational issues. It is found in Matthew 18:15-20. (While this instruction is specifically given for church life, it could apply to secular business life as well.)

Some call this the “church discipline” passage. It is unfortunate that too many people have misunderstood the true nature of what Jesus is saying. People have come to think that “church discipline” is akin to a witch hunt. They think the church finds someone who is doing wrong and, just like the self-righteous Pharisees, pick up stones and prepare to throw them at the guilty one.

Nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, to set the tone for the instruction found in these verses, Jesus told a parable in the verses immediately preceding this instruction (Matthew 18:12-14). That parable tells us that if a shepherd had 100 sheep and one went astray, he would leave the 99 and go after the one with the intention of bringing it back into the fold. It was out of love for the helpless stray sheep that the shepherd went looking.

That is the same motivation we should have when someone is caught in sin that has caused discord in the organization. We go after the guilty one not with the intention of condemning them but of restoring them. We long for confession, repentance and restoration to take place.

To that end, Jesus gave us a general rule as to the step-by-step process that should take place. We don’t begin with broadcasting the offense to as many as possible. (That would undermine any possibility of restoration. It is sin!). The process begins small and only progresses if there is no resolution.

Yet, Jesus makes it clear that if the process is followed and the offender still refuses to acknowledge their sin and make it right, then they are to be treated as someone who is lost and needs to be saved. Why? Because folks who are followers of Jesus will not live in perpetual, unrepentant sin.

This is a tough, uncomfortable principle but if the leader genuinely loves the organization that he/she leads as well as the individuals within that organization, then this instruction is a must.

Matthew 18:15-17 (New Living Translation)
“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.”